Capt. Rick Rawlins took this “hawg” from the St. Johns River near Deland. Photo by William J. Bohica.

Some anglers feel that the season for "big bass" ends about the same time the spawning season does. But others have learned differently.

In fact, a number of experts feel that the summer months provide excellent opportunities for a trophy.

One reason why is that higher water temperatures increase bass' metabolism, which requires more feeding on their part.

Another is that mid-summer fish are often easier to locate because they have certain habitat requirements -- and those aren't hard to predict.

There is truth in both explanations. And surprisingly, some of the biggest bass taken each summer are caught in the middle of the day.

There's logic in that as well: Feeding bass are likely to be roaming bass.

During the midday hours, they've stopped roaming and are just hanging out where they feel comfortable.

On many waters, those areas can be identified. Anglers can concentrate their efforts in the "high probability" areas instead of casting at random.

Not every lake can provide that scenario. But if you're looking for a trophy bass this summer, here are five top lakes that do -- along with expert tips on how you can capitalize on the situation.

LAKE KISSIMMEE
The entire Kissimmee Chain ranks as some of Florida's better bass waters. But when it comes to big largemouths during the summertime, veteran guide and tournament competitor Rick Gibbs narrows down his search to just one lake -- and one very specific depth and cover situation.

"In July and August, the bigger bass are going to congregate on the deepest maidencane edges they can find," Gibbs stated. "And Kissimmee has the best deep grass.

"Those are the maidencane points in five to seven feet of water that jut the farthest from the shoreline to deeper water. I like to fish the thickest, densest grass points I can find. Those bass are basically going to live there for the summer months.

"Early and late, they'll slip out to the edges to feed and then bury back inside during midday. If I'm looking for big fish, I spend the whole day on those deep Kissimmee grass points."

The early-morning hours invariably find Gibbs tossing a topwater plug along the outer grass fringe.

He favors a Bomber Long A in gold shiner color and generally starts by twitching it softly on the surface.

If that fails to produce, he gets a little more aggressive with his retrieve and works it like a jerkbait.