End-of-summer fishing
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It doesn't seem possible, but autumn is fast approaching.
In fact, in some places it's already here.
There are many signs that summer is winding down. Youngsters are getting ready to go back to school or they're already in school. It's the beginning of football season.
It's also a time when fishing can be a little tough if we don't make some adjustments in the way we go about our fishing. And, if we make those adjustments, fishing can be very good.
Here are some fishing adjustments to consider for the next few weeks.
Right now is a time of plenty for predator fish. There is lots of food in the water. The baitfish that were born this spring are now at a size where they can be eaten by the bigger fish.
In many bodies of water, the gamefish don’t have to look very hard for a meal. All they need to do is open their mouth and swim and they get a mouthful of minnows.
When there is a lot of food in the water, often it works well to abandon the "Match the Hatch" theory.
"Match the Hatch" suggests that we use a bait that looks like the dominant baitfish. Let’s say you’re fishing for walleyes on a lake that has lots of perch, and many of those perch are in the three to four inch range. Perfect walleye food.
The walleyes see perch every day. Maybe the walleyes get tired of eating perch, maybe they don't. But I’ve seen lots of times when a bait that looked nothing like a perch out-produced a bait that looked like a perch on a lake that had a strong perch population.
It's kind of like people. Many of us don't get tired of eating pizza, but if we eat enough pizza, sometimes a cheeseburger will look even better. Give it a try. And if that doesn’t work, try a bait that does look like a perch, or go larger or smaller, or faster or slower.
If what you're doing isn't working, try something else.
If you want to catch largemouth bass, move through an area faster than you would in the spring or early summer. Fish are willing to take a fast moving bait when the water is warm. Also, by moving your bait faster, you’re covering more water and showing your bait to more fish.
Try working a weedline with a crankbait, something like a Hybrid Hunter or a Salmo Hornet. Move them fast. When you catch a couple of fish close together, and you often will, slow down and work that area thoroughly.
Throw a jig rigged with a Ned Ocho or an Ocho Worm. Either will get reluctant fish to bite.
After you’ve worked the area over thoroughly, pick up the crankbait rod and start moving quickly again. You'll catch largemouth, but you'll also catch walleyes and northern pike. By the end of your day on the water, you’ll have caught a good number of fish with this faster approach.
Fishing in late summer can be challenging, but it can also be productive and rewarding. Wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, keep changing baits, and move quickly until you find the fish.
You're chances for fishing success will be very good if you do-so. The weather might be hot, but if you show the fish what they want and how they want it, the fishing can be good.
Sometimes very good.