Summertime Blues

[Gamec0cks5]

OK so I had a hard time fishing in the summer months last year on my lake. Our surface water temp got up to 94* in August and mid to high 80s in late June-July. I was trying different things to get the bass to bite but wasn't extremely successful.

We have a ton of underwater structure that we put out in the lake. Pallets, trees, etc... Our lake is an average of 8ft deep with deep holes in the 10-12ft range. We don't have any pads up top or anything like that. So what do you guys recommend for those hot summer months. I did well with shaky heads and t-rigged 10" worms last year, but numbers weren't great. I am in SC, so it gets pretty hot down here.

Oh also we have LMBs, Hybrid striped bass, and BLGs

Thanks Guys!

[Incheon Basser]

OK so I had a hard time fishing in the summer months last year on my lake. Our surface water temp got up to 94* in August and mid to high 80s in late June-July. I was trying different things to get the bass to bite but wasn't extremely successful.

We have a ton of underwater structure that we put out in the lake. Pallets, trees, etc... Our lake is an average of 8ft deep with deep holes in the 10-12ft range. We don't have any pads up top or anything like that. So what do you guys recommend for those hot summer months. I did well with shaky heads and t-rigged 10" worms last year, but numbers weren't great. I am in SC, so it gets pretty hot down here.

Oh also we have LMBs, Hybrid striped bass, and BLGs

Thanks Guys!

anywhere with shade so they can get out of the sun. Docks in the deepest parts of the lake would be my bet. man that's a shallow lake.. anywhere that is not exposed to the sun near the deepest water in the lake is where they will be. they will be hugging real tight to that cover to. I'd get real good at skipping if I was you.... Try rocky banks at night and real early mornings

[Gamec0cks5]

yeah its a man made lake, and they really should have made it an avg. of 15' IMO. I will try that what would you be throwing? Big worms? Creatures? Lipless cranks?

[Nicky Greece]

  I fish on  a similiar lake and have pretty good luck with mid range cranbaits aroundthe docks in the mornings and at dusk...   Go Cats by the way...

[The Bassinator]

My lake is only about 6'-8' average but we do have grass and pads ;D

[Gamec0cks5]

We have no grass and no pads  :'( I really wish we did that would be some fun fishing, but the lake is more for selling Real Estate than it is for us hardcore fisherman  ;D

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

When it gets tough like that along with the shakey head use a light splitshot rig with a trickworm,finesse worm, zoom centipede,4 inch senko type,baby brush hog fished painfully slow.

Night time fishing can be a bonus as well. I think everyone struggles when the water temps get that hot.

[bilgerat]

Night time is the right time.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've got a man made lake for real estate as well.  The water temps get pretty hot during the summer as well.  Almost up to 90 already this year.  I've become such a huge fan of drop shotting because of the depth of my lake (50 FOW in one area).  You've got much less water to work with than I do, so that may not really work out as well for you.  Bassin_Fin@tic gave you some good advice on the splitshot right.  You may also want to try dragging around a c-rig.  Like the other people above me posted, night fishing may be the best thing.  Cooler water, lots more bearable on you, should be better fishing all around.  Either that, or try early in the morning.

[Gamec0cks5]

I've got a man made lake for real estate as well. The water temps get pretty hot during the summer as well. Almost up to 90 already this year. I've become such a huge fan of drop shotting because of the depth of my lake (50 FOW in one area). You've got much less water to work with than I do, so that may not really work out as well for you. Bassin_Fin@tic gave you some good advice on the splitshot right. You may also want to try dragging around a c-rig. Like the other people above me posted, night fishing may be the best thing. Cooler water, lots more bearable on you, should be better fishing all around. Either that, or try early in the morning.

I may try the night fishing, I have been working on my C rig skills . So what do you do at night? The Same things? Same colors? I have seen all black spinnerbaits that are midnight something or other. Guessing these are for night fishing?

[DINK WHISPERER]

I would start with topwater and a BIG BLACK worm at night.

[Incheon Basser]

yeah its a man made lake, and they really should have made it an avg. of 15' IMO. I will try that what would you be throwing? Big worms? Creatures? Lipless cranks?

If it was me I would be skipping shakey head worms and an Eakins spider jig with a small life like craw trailer under docks. I caught the fish in my avatar skippin that spider jig in Aug in 2' of water do just that. PB bass so far. There was a Christmas tree just off a dock that was well shaded by trees and I skipped between the tree and the dock and bam 6lbs 9oz. I lived on a real estate lake too but it's a high land res with depths in the 60's. makes it real hard to find bass in the summer when they have so many places to hide and suspend. I wish I lived on your lake. It would be real easy to know what water not to fish at that timer of year. Summer is my best time. fits my strengths . Flipping and Pitching and deep cranking.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Fish at night the same as day. Most of the time it can be good to use baits that either have a larger profile or basically displace more water/put off more thump and sound. I don't believe color makes much of a difference. 10 inch worms, gambler flappin tail 8 inch is a killer night bait,all rage tail baits, and paca craws,colorado spinnerbait,3/8 buzzbait,large poppers. Some people like jigs with rattles. I also do exceedingly well with GYCB 6.5 kut tail worms fished weightless at night. A lot of times I use a brass weight and small glass bead on t- rigged plastics for extra sound.

[Catt]

Big Ole worms @ nights 

[Shane J]

Keel weighted 10" Anaconda or Thumper worm! Oh yeah, and definitely topwater!

[Gamec0cks5]

Well our water temp is already at 80* so I went out this morning, I got out a little late like around 7am and the temp was 80* and I was throwing a SK Anaconda on a T-Rig, and landed a nice 5lb 8oz bass, then caught some dinks on a XR50, numbers weren't great but did catch some

I am gonna try some of those tips y'all said too, I am gonna start probably next week

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've got a man made lake for real estate as well. The water temps get pretty hot during the summer as well. Almost up to 90 already this year. I've become such a huge fan of drop shotting because of the depth of my lake (50 FOW in one area). You've got much less water to work with than I do, so that may not really work out as well for you. Bassin_Fin@tic gave you some good advice on the splitshot right. You may also want to try dragging around a c-rig. Like the other people above me posted, night fishing may be the best thing. Cooler water, lots more bearable on you, should be better fishing all around. Either that, or try early in the morning.

I may try the night fishing, I have been working on my C rig skills . So what do you do at night? The Same things? Same colors? I have seen all black spinnerbaits that are midnight something or other. Guessing these are for night fishing?

Pretty much what the other guys said.  Large worms, bulkier profile baits.  Mind you, thats what I throw a lot of down here anyway, so no real change.  Color at night isn't really a factor, it's contrast that's generally the most important thing.  Judging by that, black would be the best color at night.  But like any time, sometimes black won't work and a different dark color will.  Topwater baits can be killer at night.  Try tossing out a Rage Shad or a Cavitron buzzbait out.  Both of those put out a ridiculous amount of noise.  The Cavitron is great at night because you can work it really slowly and still have it make a bunch of noise.

[Gamec0cks5]

ok guys you've been a great help. One more thing if you could have anyone bait tied on to your c-rig for the summer bite (evenings & early mornings) what would it be? (Brand Specfic)   ;D

I am going to hit the water this evening we had a cold front move in it might help the bite and might hurt it????

[kikstand454]

ok.

if you have no grass in your lake and youre going to try night fishing.... youd be a fool not to throw a black jitterbug. throw it till your arm breaks. lol.... they cant stay away from it and with no grass to foul up the trebles.... wow.

as far as your carolina rigging question.... i personally have done very well with black trick worms. but alot of plastics work... if i was c-rigging at night id throw a black and blue rage craw... or a black or dark colored paddle tail worm.

hahaha.... or a jitterbug.

[Gamec0cks5]

ok.

if you have no grass in your lake and youre going to try night fishing.... youd be a fool not to throw a black jitterbug. throw it till your arm breaks. lol.... they cant stay away from it and with no grass to foul up the trebles.... wow.

as far as your carolina rigging question.... i personally have done very well with black trick worms. but alot of plastics work... if i was c-rigging at night id throw a black and blue rage craw... or a black or dark colored paddle tail worm.

hahaha.... or a jitterbug.

Ok so, 1.)Black Jitterbug 2.) Black/Blue Rage Craw. Ok any more guys?

[bilgerat]

These:

http://*.com/crawtube

Rigged on a 3/0 EWG worm hook or on a tube jig with an exposed hook if vegetation and snags are not an issue.

When rigged weightless, it somewhat floats until it takes on water and begins to sink slowly. It's heavy enough to be cast a good distance without weight.

It works equally well semi - floating on top, in the shallows or worked slowly on the bottom. Far and away one of my top baits.