Summer Weedline Bass Fishing
Al Lindner outlines to son Troy the key to consistent summer success: understanding fish behavior and the structure of the lake. He describes the fish, including bass, walleyes, and muskies, as being fully committed to their summer patterns for the next three months. The lake itself is perfectly suited for bass fishing—featuring productive docks, expansive shallow and deep weed flats, bullrushes, and a distinct weedline at around 13 feet.
This diverse structure offers numerous options, from flipping jigs in heavy cover to casting frogs across the slop. However, one of the most reliable areas throughout the summer is the weedline, where fish can be found along the drop-off—either on top, along the slope, or just outside the edge. Their positioning is often influenced by bluegill activity, which in turn is dictated by weather conditions.
Reading the Conditions
On warm, sunny days with mild humidity—like this one—bluegills tend to rise above the weeds or suspend along the edge, which pulls the bass up into a more active, aggressive mode. These are perfect conditions for a mixed-bag approach: topwaters, drop shots, jigs, neko rigs, and Texas-rigged plastics are all in play. Troy and his dad are fishing a range of setups, noting that the fish are showing a preference for bottom-oriented presentations today.
That bite response is telling—rather than soft or tentative strikes, the fish are thumping baits with authority. And while the bluegills may not be seen suspended high in the water column, bass are holding in predictable areas and feeding with purpose.
Getting Dialed In
After a few productive casts, it’s clear this is going to be a good day. The bass are “gobbling” baits and coming out of the weeds strong. For these anglers, who usually chase smallmouths together, the change of pace with chunky largemouths is both fun and refreshing. The action is steady, and the camaraderie high—particularly when both hook up at the same time and engage in a light-hearted size contest.
The lake they’re fishing is well-known, popular with locals, and home to strong populations of walleye, crappie, and bass. Yet despite its reputation, the midweek outing offers solitude—only a couple of boats on the water, and conditions are perfect for fishing all day. Unlike busier lakes plagued by wake and boat traffic, which can restrict feeding windows to early morning and late evening, this lake’s color and weed structure allow for consistent action under the midday sun.
Targeting the Right Depths
As the day progresses, they refine their depth strategy. Initially casting along a 12-foot contour, they slide out to 16 feet and start picking off fish from slightly deeper zones. The key is using the trolling motor’s spot-lock function to stay in place while fan casting in every direction. This technique allows them to pinpoint and work schools of bass without spooking the fish.
The structure here has a steep drop, so even subtle adjustments in boat positioning can make a big difference. By slicing across the weed edge—first shallow, then deeper—they figure out the most productive depth range. The reward: consistent bites from healthy largemouths, many of them thick-bodied and aggressive.
Locating the Summer Sweet Spots
Weedline bass fishing requires adaptability. Every year, the weeds shift—some grow stronger in new areas, others thin out or disappear. Even on lakes where patterns have held for decades, the precise spots change slightly year to year. Finding these productive zones early in the season is critical, and once you identify them, they tend to hold fish reliably all summer long.
Troy and Al mark these spots on their electronics, locking them in with GPS for future reference. The key to these “spot on the spot” locations is not just structure, but the combination of cover, depth, forage, and access to deeper water. Once located, they can return to them again and again with confidence.
High Action, Low Pressure
Not every fish is a trophy, but the numbers and quality are more than satisfying. As the bites continue, the duo switches spots, experiments with different rigs—including the sneaky-effective “sneak rig”—and continues pulling bass from the weeds. Even the smaller fish provide a thrill when they come ripping through vegetation.
The best part? They’re doing it together. Just a father and son, sharing time on the water, catching bass, and savoring the simplicity of a summer day well spent.
Fine-Tuning Gear and Tactics for Big Bites
As the day wore on, Troy and his dad continued dialing in not only the fish but also the gear that made their success possible. One piece of equipment that stood out was the new VMC Redline series hooks, specifically the Finesse Neko hook. Crafted from ultra-strong vanadium steel and coated with a slick finish, these hooks penetrate with ease and hold fish more securely. Troy emphasized how impressed he was with their strength and reliability—once a fish was hooked, it wasn’t coming off easily. His firsthand experience touring the VMC factory in France confirmed the meticulous care that goes into every product they make.
In this case, a simple peanut butter and jelly worm, rigged with a weight inside and paired with a Redline hook, was enough to entice another nice largemouth. Switching to a craw tube for the first time that day also paid off immediately—another fish in the boat. The flexibility of these new hooks across different bait styles and techniques proved invaluable. As Troy noted, if a better hook means catching even two more fish in a day, it’s worth every penny.
Spot Lock and Precision Presentation
Throughout the outing, spot lock on their Minn Kota trolling motor played a pivotal role. On lakes with subtle structure and no obvious visual markers, it’s easy to drift off productive areas. But by locking down when they got bit, Troy and his dad were able to capitalize on tightly schooled bass—sometimes clustered in groups no bigger than the boat itself. This tactic allowed them to fan-cast efficiently and avoid spooking the fish.
Their setup was equally refined. Troy fished with the redesigned St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Series rod, a 7’1” medium power, fast action model. Its versatility made it perfect for various finesse applications like drop shotting, Neko rigging, and Ned rigs. He paired it with a Daiwa Kage LT 2500 CXH spinning reel, spooled with 10–15 lb Sufix 832 braided line and an 8–10 lb fluorocarbon leader. The braid’s high visibility—available in neon green and high-vis yellow—made it easy to detect subtle bites, while the fluorocarbon’s near-invisible refractive index ensured stealth beneath the surface.
Quality Gear, Quality Fish
Just when they considered relocating, Troy landed another impressive largemouth. The fish were clearly feeding on bluegills, judging by their thick bellies and aggressive behavior. Even late into the session, the action kept coming. One more solid fish tugged drag, possibly a holdover from a previous pike encounter, prompting a quick drag adjustment and another successful landing.
These were the kind of bass that make days memorable—thick, healthy, and strong. But even more important than the fish was the shared experience between father and son. With low boat traffic and peaceful surroundings, they were able to fish with focus and joy, appreciating not just the catch but the quality of the time spent together.
