Summer Offshore Bait Rotation
When summer’s heat turns southern reservoir shallows into bath water, Arkansas pro Dylan Hays knows that the offshore realm offers the consistency he seeks. Whether he’s guiding, tournament fishing or spending a casual day on the water, Hays heads to his favorite deep water spots with a diverse array of baits and a singular purpose — finding big bass cooling their heels during the dreaded Dog Days.
First things first, and Hays spares no diligence in locating the right spots. It often takes a lot of looking, but the reward justifies the effort.
“You want to find bait, current, and hard bottom,” Hays said. “A lot of times, I’ll scan, scan, scan, but the big thing is bait. If you don’t find bait, you won’t find the fish. On the Tennessee River, with a lot of current, I look for shell bars, or anywhere the current is hitting directly on some kind of structure. They like for the current to be hitting them in the face, and that’s almost always a hard spot; otherwise, it would be washed away.”
The Arsenal
Always prepared to show the fish a diverse array of looks, Hays typically starts his offshore trips with these baits on his deck.
- Crankbait: Size and color will vary by location and daily conditions, but Hays always retrofits his baits with Mustad KVD Elite Triple Grip Treble Hooks.
“The angle of the hook keeps the fish on longer,” Hays said. “In the winter, when the fish are less active and they just slap at the bait, I’ll go with a Mustad Round Bend treble hook, but the fish are more active during the summer, so those Triple Grip trebles are important. Also, there’s a lot of brush on those offshore spots and the angle of that hook comes through the brush. Cranking that brush is a good way to trigger a big one to bite.”
- Carolina Rig: Hays rigs a creature bait on a Mustad KVD EWG Grip Pin hook with a 3/4-ounce Mustad TitanX Carolina weight. Some may opt for round bend hooks with Carolina rigs, but Hays believes the EWG does a better job of securely holding bulkier baits.
“I also like the 6 mm Mustad TitanX Tungsten Beads, instead of glass beads, because tungsten makes more noise,” Hays said. “They also help protect your knot.”
- Big Worm: Rigged on a Mustad AlphaPoint Tak Round Bend hook with a Mustad TitanX Worm Weight, the classic 10-inch ribbontail offers a great tool for dragging along ledges, bars, and points.
- Neko Rig: One of the most effective finesse options for summer offshore fishing, a stick worm or a finesse worm on a Mustad Wacky/Neko/Dropshot hook with a Mustad TitanX Nail Weight will get a couple extra bites when the action starts to dwindle.
“I’ll often use a 1/8-ounce weight, but I try to get away with a 1/16-ounce when I can,” Hays said. “The slower the fall, the more bites you get.”
Bright Prospects
Hays fishes his Neko rig on medium spinning tackle with 15-pound TUF-LINE Addicted Braid and a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. The braided line is essential for quick hook sets in deeper water, but he also points out another key performance point.
“I really like the orange color because it helps you see your line a little better,” Hays said. “When I’m guiding, it helps me keep track of everyone’s line to prevent tangles. Also, when I’m tournament fishing in windy conditions, you might not feel a light bite, but with that orange color, you’ll see your line tighten.”