ERRATIC WINNER
The Vision 110 is a favorite for MLF pro Alton Jones Sr . when conditions are favorable for forward-facing sonar .
MEGABASS ITO VISION 110 COLOR : THREADFIN SHAD
lunkers have to go somewhere . By late summer , that zone typically lies within 8 to 12 feet of the water ’ s surface .
“ In late July through August , those mega-schools of bass in deep water break up , and the bass transition back shallow ,” says Jones , who competes on the Bass Pro Tour alongside a successful son of the same name .
Moving “ shallow ” doesn ’ t necessarily mean moving shoreward , however . Some bass will occupy open water in the middle of a lake ; others will move to shoreline cover .
“ I almost always target that upper layer of water , whether it ’ s shallow or deep ,” says Jones .
He takes a parallel approach to each group – a high-low strategy centered around isolated , fish-holding habitat . Brushpiles and similarly distinct cover located on flats , points and other prime bottom structure are typical offshore targets . Jones notes that they are easily detected with forwardfacing sonar and sidescan .
Key late summer habitat has two defining characteristics : isolation and vertical elevation .
“ I ’ m not looking for a lot of brushpiles in a pack ,” stresses Jones . “ I want to find isolated brushpiles , so if there are two bass on that point , I don ’ t have to fish 20 brushpiles to find them . And I want water above that brush – not 4 feet , but at least 5 or 6 or 7 feet . Vertical elevation is important . Isolation is important .”
He may catch multiple bass off an isolated brushpile at this time of year , but taking one or two at time is more typical during this doldrum period . He
takes a “ milk run ” approach , making stops at a series of prime locations , often repeating that run three or four times in one day .
Lure selection is broad . First choice is a moving bait – typically a crankbait , though a jerkbait ( the Megabass Vision 110 is a favorite ) frequently gets the call when forward-facing sonar is in play . His presentation is erratic , punctuated with plenty of stop-and-go . Next up is a 5-inch Deps Sakamata Shad on a jighead , then a slower , bottom-related presentation like a Texas-rigged worm , jig or drop-shot . He may cycle through several or even all of those options at each stop .
As August advances , Jones ’ attention turns to the shallows . Again , he looks for isolated cover , now in stained water less than 5 feet deep . By late
OTT DEFOE : PLAY IT COOL
“ DURING THE AUGUST HEAT , you can be competitive fishing shallow ,” says Ott DeFoe , MLF star from Blaine , Tennessee . And that ’ s fine by him .
Two “ Cs ” direct his late summer strategies – current and cooler water . “ Typically , my fishing revolves around current , whether it is a creek or river system ,” says DeFoe . “ A spot with just a little current can make a difference . Multiple options are better . Any place with cooler water – and not necessarily cold – is likely to hold more oxygen and more active fish , too .”
DeFoe ’ s favorite locations are off the beaten track . He may follow a big bay back to where it necks down to a creek entrance , then to where it gets deeper again .
“ Maybe it is silted in a bit , and as you follow it further , you find a defined channel with some wood ,” says DeFoe , fleshing out his summer scenario . “ You will see a water temperature change there , and it tends to hold baitfish and create a productive zone .”
Such areas are often rich with fish-holding cover – undercut banks , logs , patches of grass , stumps , assorted growth and deadfalls . DeFoe keeps his late summer bait arsenal simple , generally keeping four styles of baits at the ready :
RAPALA OG TINY 4 COLOR : HELSINKI SHAD
Shallow crankbait – First choice for late summer comes from Ott ’ s Garage – the Rapala OG Tiny 4 , a flatsided crankbait with a 4-foot depth range . “ The shad from the spring spawn are still small at this time ,” explains DeFoe . “ The OG Tiny is a smaller , more subtle imitator . With its tight wiggle , it can sneak up on a bass until it finds it in its face . It ’ s a natural bait , not like a big crankbait that it can sense from a long ways off . The bait deflects off cover well , too .”
Small buzzbait – Topwater presentations often shine far back in creek arms where cover and shade are plentiful and the water is fairly clean . A downsized buzzbait of 1 / 4 or even 1 / 8 ounce is DeFoe ’ s choice in these
PRO TIP : Look for any part of the system where the water is a little cooler and baitfish are present .
narrowed confines . “ I feel these fish have seen big baits all season long , and that bait with smaller blades and a smaller profile is more productive .”
Frog – Largemouth lying in wait around thick cover and overhanging tree limbs can be suckers for a hollow-bodied frog . “ If there ’ s grass , the area becomes that much better ,” says DeFoe . He likes the Terminator Walking Frog .
Plastic worm – A Texas-rigged or drop-shot worm is a summer standout almost anywhere . Ott ’ s workhorse is a Bass Pro Magnum Fin-Eke Worm . He opts for a drop-shot rig with a short , 8- to 10-inch leader and 1 / 8- to 3 / 16- ounce dropper weight when conditions call for finesse .
28 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024