I'm having trouble catching bass this summer. I've been using the carolina rig rigged with zoom u tale in motor oil and junebug. I also tried a floating worm, crawbug and shaky head worm both rigged on a shaky head jig (gamakatsu). the waters i fished on are dark, fallen trees, weeds, and points are the cover and structure. thought about trying the senko and rebel bumble bug but ran out of options. Help!!!!  :-[

try to fish that cover as close as possible with senkos and texas-rigged worms . often times when it is hot those bass are gonna be holding tight to the cover. the shakey -head around the cover can also work too but make sure when u hook up u keep light pressure on those bass and guide them away from the cover.. trying to horse them will only lead them to burying themselves in cover and breaking you off.. also try working those points over thoroughly  with the carolina rig( i prefer to rig a watermelon fluke. they seem to love them) as well as a deep crank. often time those bass will be on the deeper ends of those points waiting for food to come swimming by. remeber that when the sun is blazing these bass are going to be lethargic so you are going to have to be patient and methodical with you retrieve. But when you get some cloud cover they will be more active and willing to bite a reaction lure.. I hope this helps and best of luck to you. Tight lines!

I have had some luck this summer fishing with wacky rigged senko style baits.

Have you ever tried a spinner bait or a crank bait ?

At times so far this summer I've found it beneficial when the heat is intense to really rough the water up a bit before going finesse.  This tactic may be purely coincidental but it seems to work occasionally.  Everyone is always saying to fish slow, slow, slow in the summer because the bass are lazy.  I completely agree with this.

If I go to a spot where I know there are absolutely bass there but they aren't taking on anything slow-moving I'll start ripping big weighted spinnerbaits down around them just trying to make all the racket in the water I can.  If the bass are being that lazy you shouldn't scare them off doing this.  After I feel like I've roughed the water up a bit I'll go back to the finesse fishing.  Seems like sometimes they come out a bit just to see what the hell is going on.  Then it is easier to get their attention.  Some more experienced people here may dismiss this claim.  Like I said, there is a high chance this has been purely coincidental for me, as it is nearly impossible to induce bass into a feeding state.

well, according to your theory I think you want to combine those to elements..

Solution: Some brand of Rattling jig w/ a 4in worm/grub trailer.  

the last couple times out i have caught a couple SM on a Bomber Square A crank bait.  i have tried all baits in my box but the crankbait is delivering!!!  heres a link to the crankbait that im using

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_61257____SearchResults

Its rattle trap time!

At times so far this summer I've found it beneficial when the heat is intense to really rough the water up a bit before going finesse. This tactic may be purely coincidental but it seems to work occasionally. Everyone is always saying to fish slow, slow, slow in the summer because the bass are lazy. I completely agree with this.

If I go to a spot where I know there are absolutely bass there but they aren't taking on anything slow-moving I'll start ripping big weighted spinnerbaits down around them just trying to make all the racket in the water I can. If the bass are being that lazy you shouldn't scare them off doing this. After I feel like I've roughed the water up a bit I'll go back to the finesse fishing. Seems like sometimes they come out a bit just to see what the hell is going on. Then it is easier to get their attention. Some more experienced people here may dismiss this claim. Like I said, there is a high chance this has been purely coincidental for me, as it is nearly impossible to induce bass into a feeding state.

This can actually be really good advice. When fish are stale, making a racket can induce a bite to start. Sometimes triggering that first bite is the problem.

I like to use buzzbaits in the early morning or right after dark.

The cover and structure sound ideal to me. We have been "killin" them with Rage toads, Spro 65 frogs and Rat-L-Traps in the early morning around cover. Once the sun is high and hot we have been doing great forcing the bite by flippin T-rigged plastics right on there nose. Also, if there is a little chop on the water try a big spinnerbait on those points man! BEST OF LUCK

Summer is one of the best times to catch 'em on a number of different things, really. You can get 'em early on topwater, then crankbaits, jigs, worms, c-rig, etc... I feel like location is paramount during this time period simply because the fish are more concentrated in certain areas and on spots. They are less prone to roaming around setting up here and there as, say, in the springtime where you might catch them anywhere and everywhere, up and down the banks.

Do some map study and find some things on the bottom that stand out from everything else around it. You can find points under water, humps, depressions, ditches, etc....and, its my opinion that the closer these spots are to the main channel, the better off you will be. If you can find some cover on the structure near the main channel, you've probably located a hot spot.