When fishing slows on the lake because of hot weather, try these tactics to improve your chances of catching more fish:
1. Source your bait local - try fishing the current
Head to the local smallmouth river or creek that is a feeder into the Lake and turn over rocks to gather a bunch of hellgrammites with a small net. Run a size 4 or 6 hook under their collar, then add one or two split shots, make sure and grab them by the head since they pinch. Drift them around shady, grassy areas around bankline where Bass like to hole up.
I also feel that sourcing your own bait, if allowed, from local small river or Lake feeder creeks is the best approach for bait to provide good fishing on any given day. But, always make sure it is allowed, you're not on somebody's property, and follow the rules of 'sourcing' bait from these areas. *For more information be sure to check out our Live Bait Trap article.
2. Fish With a Worm
You can catch stream trout with minnows, crayfish, and leeches, but nothing works better than a worm. Thread a whole garden worm or half a nightcrawler onto a size 8 or 10 fish hook; cover the shank and leave the rest to dangle.
3. Fish a Shallow Shorline
When you see panfish along shallow shoreline cover, thread a small garden worm onto a size 8 or 10 light-wire hook, letting just the ends dangle. Now tie on a small bobber to keep the bait 1 to 2 feet beneath the surface. Add a split shot and cast it to edges and pockets of weebeds and around timber. This can work well, but, watch for a lot of panfish/baitfish in the area or cove. An abundance within the area can mean what you're fishing for is already being well fed (especially when they're scooting up and out of the water, trying to get away from predator fish).
4. Go Night Fishing
Pick a lake that you are comfortable with and one you have fished in the past. The most productive nights usually occur after a hot, sunny and calm day. The full moon period also sees an increase in fish activity and gives anglers a bit of an edge by increasing their own visibility. No matter what specie you plan to target, there are a few simple rules for selecting fish baits. Offering the fish a silhouette at night is your best bet for getting a strike. Since the sky will be lighter than the water, the color black will be most visible, and is a nighttime standard when it comes to fishing.
1. Source your bait local - try fishing the current
Head to the local smallmouth river or creek that is a feeder into the Lake and turn over rocks to gather a bunch of hellgrammites with a small net. Run a size 4 or 6 hook under their collar, then add one or two split shots, make sure and grab them by the head since they pinch. Drift them around shady, grassy areas around bankline where Bass like to hole up.
I also feel that sourcing your own bait, if allowed, from local small river or Lake feeder creeks is the best approach for bait to provide good fishing on any given day. But, always make sure it is allowed, you're not on somebody's property, and follow the rules of 'sourcing' bait from these areas. *For more information be sure to check out our Live Bait Trap article.
2. Fish With a Worm
You can catch stream trout with minnows, crayfish, and leeches, but nothing works better than a worm. Thread a whole garden worm or half a nightcrawler onto a size 8 or 10 fish hook; cover the shank and leave the rest to dangle.
3. Fish a Shallow Shorline
When you see panfish along shallow shoreline cover, thread a small garden worm onto a size 8 or 10 light-wire hook, letting just the ends dangle. Now tie on a small bobber to keep the bait 1 to 2 feet beneath the surface. Add a split shot and cast it to edges and pockets of weebeds and around timber. This can work well, but, watch for a lot of panfish/baitfish in the area or cove. An abundance within the area can mean what you're fishing for is already being well fed (especially when they're scooting up and out of the water, trying to get away from predator fish).
4. Go Night Fishing
Pick a lake that you are comfortable with and one you have fished in the past. The most productive nights usually occur after a hot, sunny and calm day. The full moon period also sees an increase in fish activity and gives anglers a bit of an edge by increasing their own visibility. No matter what specie you plan to target, there are a few simple rules for selecting fish baits. Offering the fish a silhouette at night is your best bet for getting a strike. Since the sky will be lighter than the water, the color black will be most visible, and is a nighttime standard when it comes to fishing.
