Cooler Weather/summer Than Usual

[lmbfisherman]

So last season was drier and hotter than normal and this season it has been cooler than normal by like 10 degrees © that is.  The temperature has been around 70+ degrees the last couple weeks after the 1 week heat spell.  Due to the cooler and wet summer the weed mats that normally form on my lakes and ponds are all submerged...so frog fishing hasn't been great as last year.  I've not had much success with a buzzbait/spook/popper.  The reason I am bringing this up, we are now entering week 4 of cool weather and it is now stating we will be in the high (18-20C)60s F.  I am going to a cottage up north where it is a great smallmouth bass fishery and some areas with largemouth.  (harder to find but they are there!)  Question is, how much would this affect your normal "summer" fishing tactics?  I wish I could take everything, but my wife would kill me if I brought it.  

 

My plan was to do this like last year:

 

1. Morning/Nights/Cloud cover - Buzzbaits, Poppers, Frogs

2. 3/8 or 1/2 oz Spinnerbaits - Searchbait

3. Flipping/pitching docks and weed cover

4. Dropshot/shakey head during the day

 

This was what produced for me last season (exception of 4, didn't get into DS/Shakyhead until this season).  I normally found them near islands/rocky points, rocky ledges, and matted flats with weed/lily for cover, especially with deep drop offs nearby.  Would this still be a good idea? Or will they be doing something different like roaming more in the shallows (especially largemouth) because of how cool it has been for almost a month during the day.  Not sure of the water temp yet..  Just curious on what you guys would do. 

 

Oh and this lake is a finger lake, I can't remember how big, but it has many bays and a few rivers that feed it.  It averages around 40 in depth if I had to guess, with the deepest being 100+ in a couple of spots.  The water is also super clear.  Would be interesting to know what everyone would do!

[bigbill]

It looks to me right we may have an early fall. This could lead to an old fashioned winter with snow on the ground by thanksgiving. I remember those times.

I'm in the same cool weather pattern your in too. I'm thinking about using a mix of summer baits and fall baits. Probably lots of shallow cranks inbetween. Along with my small spinnerbaits. Do will go with some top water baits with rattle in everything to get them to come up out of the submerged weeds. A shot of bass scent doesn't hurt either.

I don't panic but if nothing is happening I use a large variety of lures in different sizes and color till I get action then I know the pattern for tough fishing. The last time this happened to me the firetiger color bailed me out. I miss read the water conditions. Never hesitate to use firetiger.

I hope with the weeks ahead we have a few days of heat left. The old timers to me to fish for bass in ponds and lakes in the spring. And to fish for bass in the rivers during the hot summer and go back to the ponds and lakes in the fall. They could be right.

One more thought is don't forget the swimbaits in a dying minnow presentation. It's my hottest fall presentation till the ice is on.

[buzzfrog]

This summer is to the dogs. Nothing over 2 lbs. only caught 3 fish so far, makes me sick

[lmbfisherman]

This summer is to the dogs. Nothing over 2 lbs. only caught 3 fish so far, makes me sick

Yeah it's been the odd one.  Maybe due to the cool summer, the bass are staying deep.  I haven't figured it out yet.  I caught my first bass in a week last Sunday.  I think the weather has screwed up everyone.  Fish and Anglers in our areas..lol  However, I've been catching more 3+ lbs (10) bass more than anything below.  I usually catch way more 1-2 lbers this time of year, well I only have 1 year to compare too though. 

 

Also, pike have been easier to catch of late.  Last season I caught 5 pike all season, this year I have caught mostly 14-20" pike but I'm counting up to 57 total and 6 in the 24 to 30"

[buzzfrog]

It sucks cause i mainly fish shore, when I get a chance on the boat I do descent usually

[RAMBLER]

When I pulled my boat out of the St. John's river, two days ago, the thermometer in the jeep said 102 degrees F.  Not cooler here.