Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 09/06/08: Locating Bass When It Is Hot!

It's a hot day outside but you've got the itch to go bass fishing so you hitch up your boat and make the trip to your favorite lake. Once there you decide to go to the spots you caught some nice fish on back in April. You commence to start casting a Texas rigged worm in 2 to 3 foot of water near some weeds. After four hours of fishing and quite a few gallons of gas resulting from running spot to spot and no fish you simply give up and head on home.

This used to happen to me quite a few times in the heat of the summer, but through experience and reading I've learned how to minimize these "dog days of summer".

Here's some things you can try to keep the "skunk" off your boat when it's hot outside:

1- Just because you caught a lot of fish in the shallows during the spring or cooler months doesn't mean the fish will still be there. Bass habits change with the change in the seasons and in the summer months, bass usually move deeper. Try moving out to 8-15 foot of water looking for drops and humps. Fish these depths with Carolina rigs or crankbaits keying on edges.

2- If you want to fish shallow try to fish these areas early in the morning. Use Texas rigged worms, topwaters, rattletraps and spinnerbaits. After 8 AM, you'll need to look for deeper water.

3- Another shallow water tactic that may work all day is flippin' heavy mats. Look for hyacinths, topped out hydrilla, chomped up Kissimmee grass or other weeds that form an umbrella in shallow waters. These mats can harbor some huge fish.

4- Flowing water is another good "hot day" fishing spot. Water coming in from creeks, canals and rivers often have higher oxygen content and cooler temperatures. This combination attracts bass and many of the fish found in these types of spots will be actively feeding.

5- Timber or weeds near deeper drops are very good for hot weather bass.

So when it's smoldering hot outside, try these bass fishing tips and you'll be doing more catching with less fishing.

Largemouth Herald