Summer Fishing and Beating the Heat
By Bruce Callis
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The dog days of summer can be very taxing on the body and mind, not to mention, it is just down right hot. We go out during the day, sweat off a few pounds, fight dehydration, and search out those beautiful bass. But there are ways to get around the heat of the day, if we aren’t fishing a tournament, and can do it. We do have choices.
The first is to split the day. This does require some work or planning. Many a time I have done this, and have been so glad I did. I will launch the boat at first safe light just like normal or hit the bank. This gives me the opportunity to get out before the sun starts to bake the sky with its heat. I will make the most of the morning with the topwater action that is available. Working my way around the bank, searching for that trophy bass that is still up shallow feeding on the baitfish. As the day starts to heat up, and the heat starts to become unbearable, I will make my way back to the launch. Here is where you have options, depending on where you are and what is available. I have been know to hit up a local restaurant at the ramp or to go over to the shade and have a peaceful lunch in the cool.
At other times, I pack up and pull the boat out of the water, or find a shady spot to fish from on the bank. I will then come back later in the day, say 5 or 6 pm, and fish until last safe light, taking advantage of the evening bite and the bass that are moving back up to the bank. By splitting the day, I avoid the heat of the hottest part of the day. But we do not always have this option, so some times, we are only able to take advantage of one of these options.
A lot of anglers will opt for the night when the sun has gone down. They will launch the last couple of hours of safe light and make their way to where they plan to fish. And most stay out all night, chasing that big bass that are up shallow.
Night fishing is not always the easiest, as it has its own dangers. While we don’t need sunscreen, we will need something to fight the nighttime bugs, especially those blood-sucking winged creatures we cuss at, the mosquito. Whether we use the store bought diet or a homemade mixture, it is a must. There are also options, a special bracelet, candles, and the ThermaCell brand bug repellent. We have to find out what works best for us, and the safest.
Then there is the fact that we can’t see all that great, especially on moonless nights. But that same fact is also one of the things that entice us. The fact that we can go out and toss a noisy topwater lure and hear the explosion of the strike. The night air amplifies the sound, causing the adrenaline to pump even harder. Feel take on a new meaning, as we have to now depend on feeling the bass before we set the hook. But we are not limited to topwater baits.
I have been out at night and fished it hard. We had lights so we could change or retie our baits. But you do have to be careful. You must know where everyone is before you make a cast. And depending on where you are, you have to be careful reaching down to land your bass. No one wants to reach down and find a gator waiting for you.
Night fishing also means you can’t see dangers that lie in the water. A floating log, stumps, alligators, bugs, and loss of sight, all hidden dangers of night fishing. But the lure of big bass is well worth it. We just have to be prepared for whatever happens. Beating the heat of summer and the lure of giant bass will always keep us doing whatever it takes. Be safe, be ready, and be careful, just be prepared to land that personal bass on any cast.
