So far this year fishing has been pretty good. The unsettled spring weather kept bass in the pre-spawn feeding spree and then you could catch bedding bass longer than usual. Post spawn bass bit good for several weeks. But now fishing can be tough.

The water is getting clearer as it gets hotter on most lakes and that usually means fewer bites. Bass are deeper and in tighter schools. Running the banks won’t produce bass like it did during the spring. When fishing gets tough you can probe the depths or you can go to lighter tackle and baits and still catch shallow bass.

Light line is often the key to getting bites from finicky shallow water bass. I like six and eight-pound fluorocarbon line and it works well with the smaller baits that will get a bass’s attention. Line lighter than six-pound test makes it very hard to land a bass since they like to head to cover when hooked, but four-pound test line would probably produce even more strikes.

A six foot light action spinning rod teamed with a quality reel with a good drag system works well for finesse fishing. I always turn off the anti-reverse on reels so I can back reel when fighting a strong bass. It takes some practice to get used to fishing with a reel that will turn backwards but it is a big help when you need it. A good drag is essential so you don’t break your light line on the hook set.

A fisherman once explained the importance of smaller baits this way. After a big meal when sitting watching TV and rubbing your stuffed belly you probably won’t grab a full size candy bar. But it is hard to pass up nibbling on a few chocolate-covered peanuts on the table in front of you.

Present a four inch worm or small spinner in front of a bass and it will hit it, even if the fish is not in a feeding mood. Tiny crankbaits also work well this time of year. Try a Texas rigged four inch curly tail worm on a 1/16 ounce sinker or put it on a slider type jig head the same weight. Tie on a small in-line spinner or tiny 1/16 ounce spinnerbait to get a bite. Crankbaits 1/8 to 1/16 ounce will also work.

Two things attract shallow water bass this time of year. Current and shade will both make the bass feed and if you can find a combination of the two your odds go way up. Bridges, docks and overhanging brush provide shade while normal current upstream or generated current on the lake give you the conditions to catch shallow bass.

Throw your small Texas rigged worm under shoreline brush even if the water is only a couple of feet deep. If there is some current moving under the bushes bass will hold there and feed better. Run up the river feeding the lake to find more overhanging cover that has current on weekends since power is usually not generated as much.

Bridges offer the best of both worlds. The bridge and pilings offer cover and shade and, since they are on the narrowest place on the lake, they concentrate current. Work a slider worm, small crankbait or spinner along the rocks in the shade or by the pilings. Try to cast up-stream and fish with the current since that is the way the bass will be facing.

The shade under docks holds bass and they are even better if there is some brush around them. Current moving under them helps, too. Cast a Texas rigged worm under them or swim a crankbait or small spinner along post and under floating docks. All will draw bites.

Go light this time of year for more action. You will get more bites and the fight will be better on the light tackle.