The Reaction Bite - Late Summer Bass Fishing

It’s the dog days of summer- the cicadas and tree frogs are singing their songs in natural cadence, the tar on the road bubbles beneath your truck tires in the summer heat, dogs are lying in shaded front yards under Indiana maples, and we’re huddled in air conditioned living rooms, longing for November deer season weather.  Me, I’m hooking up the boat, barely able to touch the metal tongue that has been absorbing the summer sun all day.   It’s August in Indiana, and the fish are feeding, so that means I’m going to be on the water. 

There are two problems with late summer fishing, one being the heat- it makes the fish act like those dogs under the maples, they look for shade or simply suspend in a lethargic haze while waiting for the cooler temps of dusk. The second is that the forage within the lake itself is in full bloom, and why bite your crankbaits or flutter worm, when they have huge balls of shad to feed on?  Well to avoid these two issues, there are two words that come to mind while fishing in the late summer…. REACTION BITE. 

If you watch FLW or Bassmasters on TV, then you’ve probably heard the hosts or fisherman saying they’re after the “reaction bite.” 90% of my fishing in the late summer revolves around this tactic, and there really isn’t much to it. All year long, anglers are using tactics that trigger the fishes’ natural instincts.  The reaction bite is no different. This type of bite is when the lure zips by a fish quickly, loudly, and with a flash, and the fish bite on pure instinct or reaction. 

It’s my opinion that the fishes’ fight or flight instincts are engaged when this loud and flashy bait swims by. They either have to stay and fight, or spook and flight. This is different than the early season slow fishing that is based on enticing the fish to eat your bait with tactics and finesse.  The fish will also bite this way during other times of the year, but to me, late summer is when I target these deeper fish with this maneuver.

So, now that we understand what the reaction bite is, what tactics and lures do you use to trigger these bites?  Well this depends on water temperature, wind, natural forage, and how you like to fish.  In Indiana in August, the water temperature is usually between 80°F and 85°F; with these temps, I usually mark fish on my sonar suspended at 10’-12’ in 15’-19’ of water.  When the fish are suspended at say 10’, then I usually rely on my Rapala Deep Diving Shad Rap  in holographic silver and black or purpledescent.   If you find a nice shaded cove, and the water temp is 78°F, then you’ll probably see fish suspended around 6’-8’ in 10’-14’ of water.  In this scenario I usually go with a chrome and blue Rat-L-Trap, or a Foxy Shad Bomber Square A.  You’re just simply picking your lure that will run at the depth of the target suspending fish.

Now, one thing I love about late summer fishing is that the reaction bite is down, dirty, and quick! It’s true power fishing, and that’s what I love to do.  I’ll leave the slow dock and ledge jigging to the other anglers, give me a crank and let’s move!  With this in mind, you’ll want to reel that crank bait as fast as you can.  This quick presentation will force a bass to play his hand based off that fight or flight response.  The bite can be fairly aggressive, and you usually hook the fish on the first bite, unlike the earlier bites where they’re just toying with your lure. 

If you’re having a hard time finding suspended fish, look at wind direction, then head to the area where the wind is blowing to. The wind will move pods of baitfish around, and the bigger fish follow. Seagulls will also alert you to these areas.  Find the fish on the sonar, pick the correct lure for the depth of the suspended fish, make long casts ensuring your lure is reaching its maximum depth, and reel that thing in like Indy car.   

Like I mentioned before, this bite isn’t just a late summer bite, and it isn’t just for largemouth bass.  Anglers rely on the reaction bite for walleye, northern pike, musky, and many other types of fish, too. The bite also works with other lures and presentations as well, but the cranks are my favorite way to target these hot water fish. Get out there, give it a try, and hopefully you’ll catch a big largemouth bass in the late summer.

Written By: Joey W. Buttram