why most anglers struggle with summer bass

Had a buddy ask me yesterday what techniques I rely on when summer heat hits and bass get finicky. Got me thinking about my most consistent producers over the years. Here's the thing about summer bass - post-spawn they split into two groups: shallow cover huggers (mostly males) and deep structure females. Understanding this changes everything. My go-to tactics: 1️⃣ Early morning topwater - Dawn to 9am is magic hour. Buzztoads tight to cover, ploppers in open water. Even big females move shallow during low light. 2️⃣ Sinking stick baits - Deadstick heavy salt baits under docks. Cast, let it fall on slack line, watch for that subtle line movement when they suck it in. 3️⃣ Deep diving crankbaits - Bang bottom structure with baits diving 2+ feet deeper than water depth. Crash sandy/rocky bottoms, run just above weedy ones. 4️⃣ Spinnerbaits - Perfect search lures for covering water. Add trailer hooks when they're short striking - ups my catch rate dramatically. 5️⃣ Punching rigs - Flip through matted weeds where bass hide from sun. Reaction strikes are instant when your bait crashes through. What's your summer bass secret weapon? Anyone else notice that shallow/deep split? #fishing #SummerFishing #BassFishing #FishingTips