Fishing In The Heat 2025
Jcraig359 reply :
For the past few months on my local lake I've pretty much been able to catch fish anytime of day on rocks and broken sea walls, the temp outside hardly ever broke 90° for the most part it has been around 75 to 85. Now the temp is hitting high 90's and the water has warmed way up and I'm not catching fish like I was obviously. I guess my question is now that summer is in full swing in Arkansas and the water has warmed way up what approach should I take to catch fish? I know deeper water is cooler water but what baits do I use? And do I look for underwater structure? I need help!
Smokinal reply :
My go to pattern in the summer is a t-rigged worm with pegged weight in 6-12 ft grass flats. I feel I can always catch bass in those situations.
Bruce424 reply :
Carolina rig
Jcraig359 reply :
When you
On 6/28/2015 at 11:29 PM, Smokinal said:My go to pattern in the summer is a t-rigged worm with pegged weight in 6-12 ft grass flats. I feel I can always catch bass in those situations.
When you say pegged wouldn't that be just about the same as using a shakey head hook?
BIGDFISHERMAN reply :
It has been in the high 90s for a while here in south central Kansas and I am still catching them shallow on lipless cranks and t and c rigged creature baits and worms as well as senkos. But, more oxygenated water is what you are after so shaded areas or slightly deeper.
What is the water like there, clear or stained or muddy?
Raul reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 12:11 AM, Jcraig359 said:When you
When you say pegged wouldn't that be just about the same as using a shakey head hook?
Not quite the same thing, a pegged bullet sinker is to penetrate and go through cover while the shaky head won´t do it.
Smokinal reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 12:11 AM, Jcraig359 said:When you
When you say pegged wouldn't that be just about the same as using a shakey head hook?
I suppose it's close. I just have more confidence in the worm t-rigged. I feel it comes through grass better and I also swim it sometimes and I like it t-rigged for that too.
EDIT: ^^^Wizard. Raul, you beat me to it!
BassinLou reply :
First things first. Hydrate like crazy and cover up head to toe. On to fishing. Look for cover. With the current temps and heat fish are either going to go deep to find cooler water and/or stay shallow under green vegetation. Take a stealthy and patient approach and dissect the cover. Fish during the cooler parts of the day and keep consistent. You will find fish. As far as baits or techniques. I jig, flip, punch, and frog during these situations. Top to bottom approach until I figure out what the fish are doing.
Jcraig359 reply :
It's pretty murky. Visibility is only about 1-2ft. There's a causeway I fish around and in the center it's about 10-12ft deep with a current I caught 2 there on a black and blue pig and jig but that's it for the past couple of days
Catt reply :
My goto in the heat is sun down 
CJ reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 11:26 PM, Jcraig359 said:For the past few months on my local lake I've pretty much been able to catch fish anytime of day on rocks and broken sea walls, the temp outside hardly ever broke 90° for the most part it has been around 75 to 85. Now the temp is hitting high 90's and the water has warmed way up and I'm not catching fish like I was obviously. I guess my question is now that summer is in full swing in Arkansas and the water has warmed way up what approach should I take to catch fish? I know deeper water is cooler water but what baits do I use? And do I look for underwater structure? I need help!
What kind of structure and cover does your water feature? Is it a river resevoir where current is involved? What is the main forage?
A-Jay reply :
Fish at night.
A-Jay
Catt reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 5:32 AM, A-Jay said:Fish at night.
A-Jay
Hey! I done said that!
A-Jay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:47 AM, Catt said:Hey! I done said that!
I know - I got your back ~
A-Jay
Mike L reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 1:05 AM, Jcraig359 said:It's pretty murky. Visibility is only about 1-2ft. There's a causeway I fish around and in the center it's about 10-12ft deep with a current I caught 2 there on a black and blue pig and jig but that's it for the past couple of days
You answered your question.
You found fish, you caught fish, you know the bottom contour and You remembered what you used.
Even tho you may not have got bit in the last few days, I would venture to say that an area like that, in mid summer would be an ideal place for fish to reload after a while.
If there is a flats area on either side of the 10-12ft causeway, hit that area hard when the deeper water bite slows.
That would be where I would begin and end my day.
Mike
K_Mac reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 1:04 AM, BassinLou said:First things first. Hydrate like crazy and cover up head to toe. On to fishing. Look for cover. With the current temps and heat fish are either going to go deep to find cooler water and/or stay shallow under green vegetation. Take a stealthy and patient approach and dissect the cover. Fish during the cooler parts of the day and keep consistent. You will find fish. As far as baits or techniques. I jig, flip, punch, and frog during these situations. Top to bottom approach until I figure out what the fish are doing.
If you are not able to fish at night the above advice is as good as it gets IMO. Deep structure has long been a favorite, but shallow grass can be amazing even in the hottest weather. I learned this lesson fishing on a day when the temperature was well above 100 and we could not find them deep. I was ready to call it a day when my partner, who grew up fishing on the river suggested going up into the creek. I thought he was crazy, and told him so. We had one of my best days ever on that lake. Stay cool!
Paul Roberts reply :
Check for a first-light bite. Can be a wild first hour or so.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Switch to the night shift. Fish bite better, it's more comfortable to you, and there's typically less people on the water.
greentrout reply :
Each to his own. I'm an old man and my regimen is on the water at the crack of dawn, weather permitting, and fish the morning bite for a few hours. Then done. Mist on the water with your favorite top water with a vicious strike is hard to beat to start the day.
The Old School Basser...
No Thanks I'll Bass reply :
Has anyone fished on Lake Atkins recently?? Headed there Monday and was just wondering what the fish were wanting. Have never fished up there but I am ready to check it out. Heard good things.
bigbill reply :
On 8/16/2015 at 6:23 AM, bigbill said:Plastics with a rattle pushed into them with a scent.
Murky conditions? Brighter colors....
Why do we have all these different shades of colors.
Throw a bright chartruse crank?
A hot chartruese spinnerbaits.(skirts) with a MT 4" split double tail grub chartruese. They will attack it. Watch the action.
Dark water conditions go to the brightest, largest baits.
Time to regroup and go for it.
When we're using the wrong color they can hear the rattle, smell the scent but can't see the bait. Brightest colors fished the slowest.
Sorry I get all hyper I want to fish with u.
I just ordered culprit worms in chartruese. From brannans bass.
bigbill reply :
Try at 5am
FinCulture reply :
Just work a jig or a plastic slow off the bottom in the heat of the day. My summer fishing is always early morning and evening. Its worked so far.
Turkey sandwich reply :
It's been toasty here in PA and I've been on the river mostly. I don't know anything about your lake other than what you've mentioned re:catching fish deep, but the above suggestions are all good. Forage is important also. Do you have schooling baitfish like Shad, alewifes, etc in the lake?
Creeks will provide current and often cooler water and shade near the shallows. If you can run them, you may find fish.
Cool water, and ambush opportunities are what active bass are looking for when it's hot. If the lake has Shad, look for deep water access near flats and keep your eyes open in the morning/evening for boils on the surface. Schooling bass will follow those schools and pop them from below.
Heavy surface vegetation (the green stuff, avoid anything dieing/dead) will provide a,bush points and shade. Flipping, pitching, and frogging is pretty money, but don't be afraid to work the edges with walking baits or popper in the morning/evening or T-Rig during the day.
Also, let the fish dictate your retrieve/presentation. Sometimes when it's hot, they want their food moving fast (reaction) and sometimes they're sluggish and want to stare at a dead sticked worm for 5 minutes before sucking it up.
ww2farmer reply :
Here ................"Hot" is a 85-90....and we don't get a bunch of days like that, and even when we do, I still fish. Often times the best bite is during the hottest, brightest part of the day, it puts the fish in predictable spots, like shade, or in thick grass. When and if we do get the rare "heatwave"...conventional wisdom says fish deep, and in the morning or evening, I go just about 180 degrees the other way, and fish in the dirt, during the heat of the day, and do just fine. Sunscreen up, bring lots of water and gatorade, and just go fishing. I have been known to take my shirt off dip it in the water and put it back on, the evaporating water off your shirt and skin have a cooling effect that really works. I hate night fishing......for one, I have terrible low light vision, and I really have never had the need to go at night, I catch them just fine during the day.
jaysen reply :
I also dislike fishing at night due to all the bugs, especially when my head lamp is on. I find that bass don't mind warm water and catch my lunkers shallow on the hot days (though they are more active in the evening). I love topwater and frogs so I stick to lilies whenever I fish. steep drop offs are also a good area. if they are biting, they rarely turn down a senko, and that is how I locate them before switching it up.
Neil McCauley reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 11:26 PM, Jcraig359 said:I guess my question is now that summer is in full swing in Arkansas and the water has warmed way up what approach should I take to catch fish?
Deeper.
On 6/28/2015 at 11:26 PM, Jcraig359 said:I know deeper water is cooler water but what baits do I use?
Deep diving crankbaits trolled, 1 oz jigs, drop shot rigs, wind drifted worms on split shot or texas rigs.
On 6/28/2015 at 11:26 PM, Jcraig359 said:And do I look for underwater structure?
Yep.
Re: summer time nightfishing...it can be slow going. IME you will catch a ton of great fish between 8pm-10pm then maybe just one monster from then until sunrise, at which point it picks back up. Those hours 10p-5a can be pretty boring.
Canyon explorer reply :
How I fish the dog days of summer would differ depending on the type of lake and cover/structure the lake has. In the larger highland reservoirs I fish hardwood brush piles 12-18' deep in secondary creek arms that are holding shad. I use t-rigged 10" black or plum power worms and black/blue1/2 oz. jigs with #11 pork frog or Zoom Super Hog trailer. On occasion at dusk I will go on up the creek until I find lily pads/grass where I use 60 lb. braid on the top.
If the really good fish have lockjaw then I go to the main lake and fish the corners of commercial condo docks with jerk baits. The kentuckies are always there so I don't go home grumpy.:-)
scaleface reply :
The only reason I dont fish in the heat of the summer is because I physically cant take it. I use to do it all the time and caught bunches of bass . Deep water is a good place to start , Windy banks can be spectacular . Steep banks almost always hold some fish .
einscodek reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 2:31 AM, Catt said:My goto in the heat is sun down
Yes agreed also its lots more comfortable but if ya need to tackle the heat.. ya need to go finesse.
papajoe222 reply :
You don't need to go deep to find cooler water, or the bass. Thick weeds are like a forest providing shade and cooler water for bass. Canopy types of weeds are the best as they provide plenty of shade and are easier for the fish to not only move around, but to see your offering. Docks that are low to the water don't allow as much sunlight under them
Rocks, rip-rap and wood will retain heat well into the night, but don't abandon them just because of the warmer water. The moss that grows on them attracts baitfish and in doing so attracts bass.
So if you're not confident with targeting deep fish, stick with the cooler shallower water,but change your target cover and you can continue to catch 'em.
basseditor reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 1:04 AM, BassinLou said:First things first. Hydrate like crazy and cover up head to toe. On to fishing. Look for cover. With the current temps and heat fish are either going to go deep to find cooler water and/or stay shallow under green vegetation. Take a stealthy and patient approach and dissect the cover. Fish during the cooler parts of the day and keep consistent. You will find fish. As far as baits or techniques. I jig, flip, punch, and frog during these situations. Top to bottom approach until I figure out what the fish are doing.
I agree mostly. But for me, the hotter the better from noon to dark. And calm too. I throw frogs all day in thickest cover I can get to. I might get only 5 fish, but I'll have 20+ lbs.
And don't forget to cover up. Sun hats (hoods), arm sleeves, gloves. Thin pants, no exposed skin any where. It's amazing how much better you feel when you get off the water.
Catt reply :
On 8/17/2015 at 9:27 PM, Neil McCauley said:Re: summer time nightfishing...it can be slow going. IME you will catch a ton of great fish between 8pm-10pm then maybe just one monster from then until sunrise, at which point it picks back up. Those hours 10p-5a can be pretty boring.
Absolutly fasle!
I have 45+ years fishing night & fishing is good all night long more often than it is good all day
K_Mac reply :
I don't have quite as many years night fishing as Catt, but I do have many. Night fishing can be great all night or have cycles just like any other time during the day. I have caught many bass during those "boring" hours mentioned above. Those include my three biggest bass. If you are bored you are not paying attention IMO. Being on the water at night is enjoyable even if the fish aren't biting!
Jaw1 reply :
I'm from arkansas also and the temps hit 100 for a few days the lake water temps are in the 90s and the fishing is slow. The river has been better but with all the high water flow we have had its made fishing the obvious places harder. If you are fishing the river and can hold a boat in the current off the the rock jettys pitch a heavy jig as close to the undercut where the water pours over. They are there ite just getting a bait down to them that's the problem. I've also had luck extremely shallow wherever there is the slightest shade throw a shallow crankbait. The river is starting to calm down and the temp is getting better but there for a few weeks it was brutal pretty much did me in after three weeks of daylight to dark fishing days. We have quit lake fishing until the temps come down the ones we fish have been dead but falls coming.
Catt reply :
I think the differences are where each member is located!
Dog days of summer here have had temperatures of 100/103° with heat indexes of 115/118° with little to no wind and near blue bird skies. We have had heat indexes of 90° @ 4:30 in the morning.
No Thanks I'll Bass reply :
On 8/18/2015 at 1:19 PM, Jaw1 said:I'm from arkansas also and the temps hit 100 for a few days the lake water temps are in the 90s and the fishing is slow. The river has been better but with all the high water flow we have had its made fishing the obvious places harder. If you are fishing the river and can hold a boat in the current off the the rock jettys pitch a heavy jig as close to the undercut where the water pours over. They are there ite just getting a bait down to them that's the problem. I've also had luck extremely shallow wherever there is the slightest shade throw a shallow crankbait. The river is starting to calm down and the temp is getting better but there for a few weeks it was brutal pretty much did me in after three weeks of daylight to dark fishing days. We have quit lake fishing until the temps come down the ones we fish have been dead but falls coming.
You fish the Arkansas River a lot? I'm in Arkansas as well. Just went to Lake Atkins Monday and caught a nice one. It has been hit or miss lately though. HOT. But hopefully we will see a drop in temp soon. If you haven't fished Lake Atkins I hear nothing but good things and big fish!
Jaw1 reply :
I fish the river some. I am not a river specialist be any means but I like to go with my friends that know it better than me. The last three outings have been to tarcamp and rising star and had decent days. I've said a few times in the past two years that l was going to fish Atkins but still haven't made it but I will sooner or later. The heat has made my lake fishing miserable but I don't enjoy night fishing so I'll just grin and bear it I guess.
No Thanks I'll Bass reply :
On 8/19/2015 at 1:02 PM, Jaw1 said:I fish the river some. I am not a river specialist be any means but I like to go with my friends that know it better than me. The last three outings have been to tarcamp and rising star and had decent days. I've said a few times in the past two years that l was going to fish Atkins but still haven't made it but I will sooner or later. The heat has made my lake fishing miserable but I don't enjoy night fishing so I'll just grin and bear it I guess.
Yea man I went to Atkins for the first time Monday and pulled that 5 pounder with a jig. There has got to be some monsters out there. I just got out there around 6 and fished till about 10 and it wasn't bad. The West end of the lake has lots of cypress and brush but it very shallow. That's where I caught that one but it was in the slot. Haven't tried the east end of the lake. Definitely check it out. Could also get out there really early and run trotlines off those trees and then fish and pick up lines when finished. Big cats out there as well. Good luck to you though. Forrest Wood Cup going to be tough on them guys this weekend at Ouachita with the weather change. Ought to be a battle down there.
RUSS9999 reply :
Here in north Mo. it been so bad at day light I am asking why am I going? By 9am its all I can do to stay on the lake. But the bite has been good and really good from 10 to noon on shady windy banks in 1' of water.
scaleface reply :
On 8/19/2015 at 10:43 PM, RUSS9999 said:Here in north Mo. it been so bad at day light I am asking why am I going? By 9am its all I can do to stay on the lake. But the bite has been good and really good from 10 to noon on shady windy banks in 1' of water.
Which lakes you been fishing ? I've been having some good days at and nights at Hunnewell .
Jaw1 reply :
Yeh I'm thinking about going to the Forrest woods cup but probably only one day. The last time it was there they had a ton of stuff going on
No Thanks I'll Bass reply :
On 8/20/2015 at 2:36 AM, Jaw1 said:Yeh I'm thinking about going to the Forrest woods cup but probably only one day. The last time it was there they had a ton of stuff going on
Yea I am wanting to go Sunday but I am On Call this weekend so I would have to talk someone into taking my call at work. Who you wanting to win it? I hope Stetson Blaylock wins. He is from the same town I am from. Hope he gets it done.
RUSS9999 reply :
Forest lake, Thousand Hills Sate Park. It's been crank bait's for me 8' deep 20' off the bank in the morning and 1' deep in the middle of the day against the bank. The bigger bass in the middle of the day.On 8/19/2015 at 11:34 PM, scaleface said:Which lakes you been fishing ? I've been having some good days at and nights at Hunnewell .
scaleface reply :
On 8/20/2015 at 8:47 AM, RUSS9999 said:Forest lake, Thousand Hills Sate Park. It's been crank bait's for me 8' deep 20' off the bank in the morning and 1' deep in the middle of the day against the bank. The bigger bass in the middle of the day.
Ive been there a few times . Its been about ten years since my last visit and I was crappie fishing then .
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