June is one of my favorite months to fish because it’s a month of transition. We’re moving from springtime patterns into summer patterns, and that means bass are constantly changing. Water temperatures are rising, baitfish are moving, and bass are shifting from spawning areas toward summertime spots. Depending on where you live, fish might still be spawning, guarding fry, feeding on baitfish spawns, or already moving offshore. Just like I always do in these Top Baits blogs, I’m going to break it down into two baits for my northern anglers and two baits for my southern anglers so you can dial in your fishing no matter where you live.
Northern Anglers (Virginia and North)
Bait #1 Soft Jerkbait
For my northern anglers, bait number one is a fluke-style soft jerkbait. This bait is usually thought of as a fall bait, but honestly, June is one of the best times of the year to throw it. My favorite is the Berkley Powerbait Jerk Shad in the 5-inch size. I like natural baitfish colors like white, pearl, shad, and chartreuse. If your lake has more perch or bluegill, green pumpkin and watermelon colors work great too.
The reason this bait is so good in June is because it covers multiple patterns at once. If bass are still spawning or guarding fry, twitching that bait over the bed drives them crazy. It looks like a baitfish trying to eat their babies, and those bass will absolutely smash it. But if the bass are done spawning and baitfish are spawning instead, it’s still perfect because it imitates wounded shad, herring, or alewives.
One of my favorite tricks is rigging the bait with a silver barrel swivel about a foot above the hook. I use a short fluorocarbon leader tied to a 4/0 or 5/0 Berkley Fusion Offset Hook. That swivel adds weight, stops line twist, and gives the bait extra flash as it jerks through the water.
Key Targets:
- Spawning bass
- Fry-guarding bass
- Baitfish spawns
- Shallow flats
- Around grass and docks
Bait #2 Soft Tube Bait
Bait number two for my northern anglers is a tube bait like the Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Tube. Guys, June and tube fishing go together perfectly. Whether you’re targeting largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, a tube catches fish this month. I usually throw two sizes:
- 3 to 3½-inch finesse tubes
- 4 to 4½-inch power tubes
For open water, sand, gravel, or bedding fish, I use an internal jig head. That internal head gives the bait an erratic spiral fall that bass can’t stand. Once it hits bottom, the tentacles flare out and look alive when you shake the rod tip.
For heavier cover, especially around largemouth, I Texas rig the larger tube with a Berkley Fusion EWG Hook and a pegged 3/16- or ¼-ounce weight. Whether fish are spawning, guarding fry, or moving toward summer spots, a tube bait gets bites.
Key Targets:
- Gravel and sand flats
- Smallmouth transition areas
- Bedding fish
- Docks and scattered cover
- Fry guarders
Southern Anglers (Virginia and South)
Bait #1 Crankbait
For my southern anglers, most of your fish are already done spawning by June. Bass in places like Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and the Carolinas are moving away from spawning pockets and starting to settle into summer patterns. That makes bait number three a perfect choice: a diving crankbait.
I love the Berkley Dime series because the number tells you how deep it runs. A Dime 6 runs about 6 feet, a Dime 10 runs 10 feet, and a Dime 15 gets down to around 15 feet. In June, I’m targeting secondary points and transition areas where bass stop before heading to deeper summer water.
The key is matching the crankbait depth to the depth you’re fishing and keeping that bait grinding the bottom. When it crashes into rock, shell beds, or isolated cover, that’s when you get those reaction bites.
Key Targets:
- Secondary points
- Hard-bottom transition areas
- Rock and shell beds
- Early summer staging spots
- Offshore structure
Bait #2 Football Jig
Last but definitely not least is one of my all-time favorite June baits for catching giant bass: a football jig. My favorite is the Missile Jigs Headbanger Football Jig in heavier sizes like ½-ounce, ¾-ounce, and even 1 ounce.
I fish this bait in the same places as the crankbait — secondary points, hard-bottom areas, ledges, and offshore structure. The football-shaped head keeps the jig upright and allows it to crawl over rock without tipping over. I slowly drag it, hop it, and pause it every time I hit something different.
For trailers, I want more action because the water is warming up. The Berkley Shape 108 Craw is perfect because those claws kick hard and create a bigger profile. Big bass love that larger meal in June.
Key Targets:
- Offshore rock piles
- Secondary points
- Deep transition areas
- Ledges and hard spots
- Big postspawn bass
June is an awesome month because there’s so much happening at once. Bass are feeding, moving, and changing every day. If you keep these four baits tied on; a fluke, tube, diving crankbait, and football jig, you’ll be ready for all the major June patterns across the country. Tie these on, hit the water, and go catch some big ones.
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