Bass Fishing Report - August 21, 2025
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August 21st - 25th, 2025 Bass Fishing Update 🎣
Bass fishing fanatics! Dive in and explore all three Bass Fishing Report heat maps below. Make sure you don’t miss it — scroll down to check out the latest Bass Season and Bass High Wind maps to stay ahead of the game. Know-Adapt-Catch® more Bass.
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🎣 U.S. Bass Trend Overview: August 21 - August 25, 2025
MAJOR BASS FEEDING EVENT ALERT: FIRST FALL FEEDING FRENZY INCOMING!
Hold on to your rod—a major cool front is coming next week, and it’s about to ignite the first true fall feeding frenzy across much of the country. While much of the country is still locked in a SUMMER or DOG DAYS pattern, a slight cooling trend combined with a new moon on Saturday (8/23) is set to boost bass feeding activity this weekend. That’s why you’re seeing a surge of BLUE >>> EPIC Bass Forecast Ratings across the map.
Water temps are finally dropping back below the bass’s thermal red zone, and that shift is going to flip the bite fast—changing locations, lures, and strike zones overnight. Focus on early mornings, dusk, and pre-storm pressure drops for your best shot at active fish. If skies stay overcast, expect the bite to last all day.
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Learn how fishing swim jigs can increase your catch rates!
When fishing swim jigs, Shimano Pro Alex Davis emphasizes simplicity in jig color (white, green pumpkin, black and blue) and prefers a ½ oz size for control and depth. He mainly uses the "Alabama Shake" to trigger bites but also slow-rolls the jig in submerged vegetation.
Shimano Curado 7'3" Medium Heavy-Plus rod, a technique-specific rod that was designed specifically for swim jig fishing. This Curado rod combines a strong backbone with a soft tip, allowing for precise bait presentation and powerful hook sets. Built with Shimano's Hi-Power X rod blank technology and tangle-free Fuji K Fazlite guides, it's engineered for durability and sensitivity. Paired with the Curado 150 XG reel, featuring high-speed retrieval, a large handle, and 13 pounds of drag, the rod and reel tackle system is ideal for handling aggressive fish, especially when fishing with 50-pound PowerPro MaxCuatro line, which offers both enhanced casting distance and strength.
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August 21 – August 25, 2025
Regional Bass Fishing Forecast Breakdown
Because the weather and water conditions are rapidly changing this time of year, be sure to check your local bass fishing top 5 baits and lake location recommendations using your Bass Forecast mobile app Adapted Patterns® feature.
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho)
Above-average temperatures will push water temps higher. Bass will likely stay deep until early or late in the day. Key targets: deep structure near drop-offs and shaded riprap. Use spinnerbaits, soft tubes, and swimbaits in 15–25 ft.
Top Bait Pick: Throw Spinnerbaits
Southwest (California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico)
Extreme heat persists, with water temps soaring. Bass are holding on deep ledges, humps, and channel swings. Early morning topwater near vegetation transitions quickly to slow-rolled Carolina rigs and swimbaits in deep water.
Top Bait Pick: Cast Swimbaits
Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah)
Warming continues at high elevations, triggering strong early-season summer activity. Focus shallow mornings on points and humps with walking baits. Midday, fish 10–20 ft structure with small jigs or wacky-rigs.
Top Bait Pick: Throw wacky-rigs
Great Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, South Dakota, North Dakota)
Persistent heat and drought push bass deeper. Mornings offer bait-fish feeding opportunities along wind-swept shores. Use buzzbaits or flukes early, then shift to deep brush or timber with creature baits or jigs.
Top Bait Pick: Cast early morning buzzbaits
Midwest (Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota)
Heat continues—though scattered afternoon storms in the Ohio Valley may dial in afternoon activity in those areas. Bass are deep but respond to breaks. Fish thermoclines and structure using craw-pattern soft plastics and jigs.
Top Bait Pick: Cast out craw-pattern
Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky)
Hot and humid, with frequent pop-up storms. Early topwater around grass and docks works well. Once skies cloud, flip vegetation or drag deep rigs for late-day activity.
Top Bait Pick: Throw early morning Topwater
Northeast (New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New England)
Temperatures skew above average, especially inland. Bass are deep, holding on rock points and deep grass lines. Early topwater near cover, switching midday to drop-shot or deep crankbaits. Afternoon rain may trigger second crunch time.
Top Bait Pick: Cast out Deep Diving Crankbaits
Bass Forecast ratings brought to you by:
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🔥 PRO TIP: Even a slight pressure dip or passing cloud cover during peak heat can flip on the bite—if you’re rigged and ready. Use the Bass Forecast PRO app’s hourly weather graph to watch for cloud cover, pressure drops, or temps cooling overnight.
The key is timing: Be on the water when that first break in the heat hits—not after everyone’s already talking about it. That’s where Bass Forecast PRO gives you the edge—with 7 to 10 days’ notice of EPIC and GOOD days, you can plan ahead and be there when it turns on. Don’t wait until it’s obvious. Fish the front edge of change.
Bass Forecast season brought to you by:
Stay ahead of the bite by leveraging your Bass Forecast app's features, including the Adapted Pattern® Top 5 Baits and Lake Locations, to maximize your success this weekend. To see exactly when bass will be turned on in your area, open your Bass Forecast mobile app and get PRO.
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Bass Forecast Tip:
Over 1.5 million+ Bass Forecast anglers have used these tips to boost catch rates during the cooler season.
1. DO NOT rely on “what worked yesterday”. It's not a solid strategy. The trickiest part of figuring out the bite in bass fishing is that patterns can change daily based on the weather, thus changing the feeding behavior of bass. Use the Bass Forecast app feature Adapted Patterns® to help adapt your strategy in real time. Bass Forecast Adapted Patterns® has predicted the winning pattern in 86% of top flight bass fishing tournaments 7 to 10 days before the tournament began.
2. Select best odds days up to 10 days in advance by getting Bass Forecast PRO inside the app. While there's no ‘guarantee’ of success on any single outing, double blind research has shown that season long average catch rates during GOOD/EPIC rated days are 68% to 305% higher than the average. Fisheries biologist research has also proven that bigger bass are caught during GOOD/EPIC days due to proactive vs reactive feeding behavior.
3. NO MATTER WHEN YOU GO, the BFR combined with the Seasonal Pattern (see map below) guides the 3 key elements of a successful bass catching pattern: 1. Baits to use. 2. Best bet fish feeding locations. 3. Best bet presentation speed.
Tight lines and happy fishing!
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