Fishing in July: What's Biting
The species with the strongest bite in July across the lakes in our guide, how to fish each one and where to go.
Smallmouth Bass
They favor clean, cooler water and hold on rock humps, current breaks and gravel points at 10-30 ft. Mornings and evenings bring them shallower. Drop-shots, tubes, ned rigs and crankbaits that bump the bottom are dependable.
Try: Tube jigs, Drop-shot with small minnow plastics, Ned rig.
Largemouth Bass
Once water tops 80F, fish feed best at dawn, dusk and after dark in 4-8 ft, then hold on shade, docks, weed edges and ledges around 10-25 ft by day. Fish slow, heavy cover with plastics, frogs over matted weeds, and deep crankbaits on points.
Try: Plastic worms (Texas, wacky, Carolina), Jigs with craw trailers, Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.
Channel Catfish
Water above 70F brings nighttime feeding on flats and shorelines from 3-15 ft. During daylight they rest in deeper holes, 15-30 ft, or around wood. Chicken liver, cut shad and dip baits are reliable.
Try: Cut shad or bluegill, Chicken liver, Nightcrawlers.
White Bass / Wiper / Striped Bass
They form open-water schools chasing shad at 10-40 ft. Watch birds and surface splashes. Topwaters, spoons, and slabs work early and late, with downriggers and live bait for deep fish.
Try: White jigs and curly tails, Spoons and slabs, Inline spinners.
Full White Bass / Wiper / Striped Bass guide →
Lake Trout
In summer they move deep to cold water under the thermocline, 40-100+ ft. Jigging tubes, spoons and cut bait with downriggers or heavy jigs. Fish rocky structure.
Try: Jigging spoons, Tube jigs, Cut bait.
Bluegill
They scatter along weed edges, docks and shade, 5-15 ft, and mornings and evenings are most active. Crickets, worms, and small poppers under a bobber are classic.
Try: Worms and crickets, Wax worms, 1/64-1/32 oz jigs.
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