Home > Outdoors > Archives > 2008 > June > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFishing is hot, but is it too hot?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is it ever too hot to go fishing?
I suppose the answer is dependent on how well they’re biting.
If you’re drop-shotting over a deep brush pile and you’re catching fish, then the answer is probably no, it’s never too hot to go. If you’re not, well, then air conditioning sounds awfully good. Aluminum hulls and searing heat are not a good mix when there’s little action at the end of your line.
Still, I go and I’ll tell you why. I remember an interview several years ago I had with Doug Hannon, the “Bass Professor.” Hannon has caught more 10-pound bass than most people on this planet.
The thing that most stood out in the interview was that Hannon said he always had high anticipation for trophy bass to bite in the dead, and hottest part, of the summer. The reason? Big bass, he said, are simply different than run-of-the-mill 2-pounders. They feed when smaller fish don’t. They’re more apt to bite a lure when smaller fish aren’t. Whatever the reason — genetics, etc. — they have to eat more to grow large.
“The times when I’ve caught the truly big bass were when you couldn’t buy a bite, ” Hannon said in the 1999 interview, explaining that only skinny or extremely large bass will feed when other bass aren’t. “I used to take heart in those times when they weren’t biting, because I figured this may be my day.”
The same may be true during the middle of winter, when the fishing slows as the water temperature drops. The Massachusetts state largemouth record (15 pounds, 8 ounces), for instance, was caught while ice fishing.
We all know it’s hot outside. It’s summer in Georgia and 90-degree days can make a trip outdoors a miserable one. What do you do to get your outdoors fix? Grin and bear it, or catch those TV fishing shows from your air-conditioned den?
Do you have a tip to share?
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Comments
By David P.
June 17, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
I struggle to catch deep-water fish, which makes the summers and winter difficult for me. If I was going to Lake Varner on Friday early, what would you suggest? I really don’t want to go throw deep diving crankbaits and carolina-rigged worms in the creek channels .. anyone got an idea or an area to focus on?
By max gryder
June 18, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
I fish Lake Lanier,all i catch is 1 to 2 Lb maybe 3lbs if im lucky. How do i catch BIG daddy? Somebody help me!!!
By Windknot
June 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
The hotter the weather, the more likely I’ll be found knee-to-hip deep in a creek or river. Relief is just a dip away, and the fishing is hot.
All things considered, I still prefer early mornings in truly hot weather.
By Jay
June 18, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Fished Lake Sinclair last weekend. I read all the articles about catching deep water bass and went out and bought some ol’monster worms, football head jigs and DD22s to fish deep. In the past I have fished finesse baits under docks during the summer but thought I would do something different this year. I tried for two days to do something different to no avail. I went back to my spinning reel with 10 lb. line and my Zoom finesse worms and Zoom ultra vibe craws and found some docks in 8 to 12 feet of water and caught a limit Friday morning and then again Friday afternoon. Don’t think I will try anything different from know on. I’m sticking to my docks and finesse baits. Anybody interested in some ol monsters and DD22s?
By Jim Maxon
June 19, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Scott,
Wingman Lures creates new category of fishing lures.
Wingman Lures of Alpharetta, GA. has created an exciting new category of swimbaits, called wingbaits.
WINGMAN™ is the Original Wingbait. Every angler needs a competitive edge and loves to fish with lures that fish have never seen. You won’t believe the incredible undulating action of this new bait! www.wingmanlures.com
If you will be attending the upcoming ICAST, I invite you to stop by booth # 2157 to learn more about this amazing breakthrough design. Wingman products are coming to retail stores in late 2008.
By **Scott Bernarde**
June 19, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Jim, thanks for the info.
David P, sorry but it’s summer in Georgia. Leave your spinnerbait in the box and go finesse fishing. And, yep, you’ll need to be deeper. Varner bass, I’ve heard, have been suspended over deep water in the past week. Those are hard fish to catch unless you’re on the pro tour. Still, Varner is your best public-water bet for a 10-pound bass in North Georgia.
Windknot, that’s a good idea. I need to get the belly tube out and cool off in the Hooch.
Max, don’t know what to tell you. It’s deep brushpile time on Lanier and hey, a 3-pound spot up there is a quality fish. Maybe with the weather “cooling” off this week a bit, things might change too. I keep hearing Lanier’s usual early-summer topwater bite was either short-lived or nonexistent this year.
Thanks for the responses, everyone.
By Notre Don't
June 20, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Scott … Tell Jim he needs to take out an ad if he wants us to by his “Wingman” junk.
Jim … I’ve created an exciting new category comment for you. You need to hit the bricks with your “Wingman” products. This is a blog … not the classifieds.
By Riverpirate
June 20, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
That’s why I fish the rivers mostly. It’s alwasy cool and the fish are always biting on the river.
By Gene
June 24, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
I have never noticed much difference in hot weather for bass, but the biggest trout I have caught in the Hooch was in really hot weather in July and August. The big brown trout will sit in deep pools and wait for a meal to drift by. In my experience, the best snack for a brown is a fat night crawler, although I don’t object to people using streamers and nymphs and do that myself from time to time. Given the choice, a hot weather brown will take the night crawler every time—particularly if you hit him in the mouth with it.
By Jim W Harrison
August 7, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Usually, large bass leave the shorelines after the water temperature gets above 80 degrees Farenheit because the bait fish leave the shallows. The same is true during the coldest part of the winter when ice flakes the shore. At the thermocline, during dog days, there will always be some fish in the 20 ft. to 40 ft. range.