June is here, and the month may have a claim as the best month of the year to go fishing. No matter where you live, the fishing can be excellent, and many different lures will catch fish this month. In some regions, the bass may still be spawning, while in others, they are already firmly established in their summer patterns. No matter where you are fishing, the following lures are must-haves for bass fishing in June.
These Three Soft Plastics Styles Are King
Soft plastic lures are always popular for bass fishing, but they are almost a necessity for fishing in June. Plastic worms of all shapes, sizes, and colors are great when the water is as warm as it is in June because they can have plenty of action and appeal to fish that are hungry, either from spawning or because they are feeding as much as they can due to their higher metabolism in the warmer waters.
Some of the best baits for June include finesse worms, such as the popular Roboworm straight tail, which has caught bass for decades and remains one of the most popular bass lures. They come in several sizes, but a 6-inch version is a good all-around size that you can fish on a drop-shot rig and catch plenty of bass this month. These baits are also excellent because they come in many colors to match different forage and water clarities. The morning dawn, margarita mutilator, bold bluegill, and Aaron's Magic colors are hard to beat no matter where you are fishing.
Another must for June, and almost any month, is a soft plastic stickbait like the Yamamoto Senko. These lures catch bass in all months, and they work great in June when fished weightless on a Texas rig, a wacky rig, or a Neko Rig when fishing slightly deeper. It's a good idea to focus on slightly deeper areas than you would in April or May, but there will still be some bass shallow around docks and other cover, so don't completely overlook the ultra-shallow water.
The third soft plastic design that works wonders this time of year is the tried-and-true ribbontail worm. These can be fished on a Texas Rig and cast to visible targets underneath the surface, such as submerged trees, brush piles, dock pilings, and rocks. Some of the best in this category are the Berkley PowerWorm and Zoom Ol' Monster, both excellent for summertime fishing.
Time for Topwater
One of the best things about June is that it marks the official start of topwater season. You can catch them with topwater baits earlier in the year, but June is when the action heats up everywhere.
One of the best designs for topwater fishing is a walking topwater bait, such as the original Heddon Super Spook. However, there are also other outstanding options, including the Lucky Craft Sammy and the 6th Sense Dogma. All of these baits come in multiple sizes and colors to match a variety of baitfish hues and sizes. No matter what you do, fish your favorite walking topwater bait this month. Some of the best times to throw them are first thing in the morning and again right before it gets dark. However, don't be afraid to throw them all day long, even in bright sunshine, as many times, bass are looking up to feed this month.
Some other topwater baits to consider fishing this month include poppers, which work well around shallow cover and in areas with shade. These popping topwaters are also great for fishing around spawning bluegill, as bass will often be nearby. Other good choices are buzzbaits, as they allow you to fish quickly as you move down the bank and search for bass, and the crazy commotion they create is great for triggering bass to bite even when they are not actively feeding.
Deep Water Staples
After the bass spawn and head out to deeper water, whether it's a river ledge, a deep point, or an offshore structure like humps, islands, or reefs, fishing deep is often a great approach in June. Some of the best ways to catch these deeper bass is with moving baits like deep-diving crankbaits, but you can also catch them by dragging a Carolina-Rig or football head jig.
Some really good deep crankbaits are on the market, including the Strike King XD, Rapala DT, and Berkley Dredger lineup. All of these baits come in multiple sizes and will reach different depths. Generally, pick a diving depth slightly deeper than the water you are fishing so the crankbait can dig into the bottom and cause a disturbance to attract bass. Additionally, this deflection, as the bait's bill hits the water and redirects, is a great way to trigger a bass to bite.
For dragging along the bottom, it's hard to beat a big football head jig with a soft plastic trailer that imitates a crawfish. This can be either a crawfish trailer or double tail grub, and both are the perfect pairings for a football head jig. They come in many different head sizes, and a ½-ounce jig is a good place to start; you can go lighter or heavier as needed depending on how deep you are fishing as you want to keep the bait on the bottom as much as possible as you drag the bait for your next June bass.
The same is true for Carolina rigs, and ½ ounce is a good weight size to start with. There are many options for plastics on your "C-Rig," from creature baits like a Zoom Baby Brush Hog to soft stickbaits and even soft plastic jerkbaits like the Zoom Super Fluke. Feel free to experiment with different baits, and don't be afraid to drag this rig around, as it is a great way to get bites this month.
Get ready to catch some bass if you are heading out this month. June is a premier month to go bass fishing, and many lures will work, but the baits listed above are ideal for catching bass as the calendar switches to summer.
