Shade
Bass want to stay out of the direct sunlight as much as possible when the temperatures are soaring. This means that bass will flock to cover provided from such objects as docks, bridges, heavy weed beds, lily pads on the surface and trees along the river banks. Find shade and you will more than likely be able to locate bass enjoying it. Cast as close to possible to docks and along the banks where trees hang down. Throw Texas rigged plastic worms onto and near lily pads and be prepared for a strike as they settle down through the vegetation towards the bottom. In hot conditions, the edges of weed beds will contain the more lively bass. Remember that bass will be less likely to want to have to exert themselves for a meal; slow down your retrieve of your bait.
Current
Go fishing for bass in the local rivers and creeks when the summer heat becomes intense. Stay clear of the ponds and lakes as the bass there will tend to be more lethargic. The reason is that bodies of water such as lakes will have a much lower level of oxygen than a river, due to the fact that the current in a river churns the water up and keeps it oxygenated. Even a river that has lowered water levels resulting from heat and a lack of rain will produce bass, especially smallmouth bass. The ideal way to fish for them is to wear old sneakers and shorts and go in the water after them. This gives you access to the entire waterway and allows you to cast to the spots that will hold bass, such as under trees, near sunken logs, where fast water flows into slower water, and into the deeper pools.
Timing
The best times to fish for bass in the summer are at dawn and dusk, as well as at night. The sun has not yet begun to provide scorching heat in the early morning and as it sets its effects are much less than during the peak daylight hours. At night bass will begin to become more active as the water temperatures cool down. The majority of human activity that can spook bass such as swimming, boating and jet skiing ceases at night, so bass will be more apt to be on the move looking to feed. Bass have the ability to look up and see topwater lures at nighttime and a slowly reeled in lure such as a buzzbait, which creates some commotion as it is brought in, will attract hungry bass.
