Top Water Lures
Bass can be caught all day on topwater lures. Bass will come out of hiding, out from under a log or lily pad, to crash a well-placed topwater bait. Throwing a popper or floating worm along flooded bush is a good idea.
Should the wind come up, toss a Zara Spook walking bait over shallow, flats areas and work the bait to entice a strike. Once you find a good rhythm, or speed that proves too hard to resist, bass will not be able to ignore the commotion.
The last topwater lure to consider for daytime bass is a floating worm. From the old school Cream nightcrawler to Berkley's scented worms, these floating plastics are deadly. The twitching, slowly fished bait can be tossed onto floating objects, driving the bass crazy below.
The key to catching bass on these baits is to remain calm when a bass hits. Many anglers swing to set the hook before the fish actually hits. Just give the fish time to get to the lure and take it under.
Jerkbaits
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Jerkbaits fished in the water column can also produce bass during daylight hours. If things are going slow and the topwater bite has slowed, trick the bass into hitting a jerkbait by casting out and keeping the lure in their zone for an extended period of time.
Jerkbaits are reaction baits. Maybe a bass is hungry or not even thinking of food, but a jerkbait will work either way. Bass will hit jerkbaits to protect its territory and it will also hit it if it is looking for a snack.
Jerkbaits come in many shapes and sizes. Try tying on a long, slender jerkbait like a LuckyCraft or Owner and be sure to choose a suspending model. Like a crankbait, get the jerkbait to the desired level or depth. Then rip the bait in toward the boat or shoreline at two- to three-foot intervals, pausing for a few seconds each time.
Finesse Worms
There are going to be those days when the bass won't hit topwater lures and simply pass up jerkbaits, but anglers can always count on finesse worms. Finesse worms are the go-to bait when the bite slows.
When bass aren't hungry or active, especially in colder or warmer water--less than 60 degrees F or more than about 78 degrees F--they will not swim far for a meal, so a tasty worm shaken for minutes at a time in front of them will tempt them into striking.
Rig these finesse worms through the nose or thread a small worm hook through the plastic exposing the point of the hook ever so slightly. You'll want to fish this rig with a little weight and allow it to rest on the bottom. Then shake the offering. The lightweight, thin plastic worm will vibrate and shake and appear life-like.
