summer fishing is making it hard

[cjam93]

So im at a loss for what to be doing different at the moment. In the last month I had 4 different days on the same lake where my best 5 fish went for over 20lbs. The water was 78*f then due to some rain storms we had. I was catching them channel swings and points. Now the last three times out I havent been able to even stick 5 keepers much less good ones. The water in about a 2 weeks jumped up to 90*f. The thermocline is at 13ft deep. I feel like this has put the fish in a funk, but Im not very sure what to do about it to catch them. I had been dragging ole monsters and football jigs for almost all of my catches. Obviously without seeing the lake its hard to say, but given these conditions what would you think is going on?

[D.W. Verts]

Find their food. Be prepared to go shallow.

[scaleface]

Id say fish cover less than thirteen feet . 

[roadwarrior]

Around here (Tennessee River) the fish are 15'-20" and we are on them with soft plastics,

specifically the Rage Tail Thumper. 

 

[senile1]

The problem is your thermocline has setup at an unlucky depth.  Wait until it changes and then go fishing again.  ?

 

In the meantime, keep thinking it out.  You see the thermocline on your depth finder.  What about fish?  In addition to what scaleface said, look for depth changes, small subtle ditches, channel swings, docks, brushpiles, etc.  Also, depending on the forage, the fish could be positioned at less than 13 feet but out over deeper water than that chasing food.  Keep trying different lures as well.  

[Way north bass guy]

I’d love to help you, but around here I’ve NEVER, EVER seen water that was 90 deg unless it was in a tub. 

[cjam93]

4 hours ago, senile1 said:

The problem is your thermocline has setup at an unlucky depth.  Wait until it changes and then go fishing again.  ?

 

In the meantime, keep thinking it out.  You see the thermocline on your depth finder.  What about fish?  In addition to what scaleface said, look for depth changes, small subtle ditches, channel swings, docks, brushpiles, etc.  Also, depending on the forage, the fish could be positioned at less than 13 feet but out over deeper water than that chasing food.  Keep trying different lures as well.  

what baits would you recommend for the situation where they chasing bait out over deeper water like you mentioned?

[FishingGeekTX]

Fishing mid-depth?  Heavy spinner bait, 15' running crank, suspending jerkbait , swim jig. 

We fished some of those this year above brush files about 15 feet (20 foot depth) to good effect.  No idea on temp though.

 

An article that surfaces from time to time from Tom specifically on swimming a jig.

 

[Log Catcher]

There is one lake I fish where the water temp hits 90*f. I have never had any luck there when it is that hot.

[anderb54]

8 minutes ago, FishingGeekTX said:

Fishing mid-depth?  Heavy spinner bait, 15' running crank, suspending jerkbait , swim jig. 

We fished some of those this year above brush files about 15 feet (20 foot depth) to good effect.  No idea on temp though.

 

An article that surfaces from time to time from Tom specifically on swimming a jig.

 

All of this, but don't be afraid to throw a walking bait or some type of top water either, especially if you see fish busting on top. If they're suspended at or above the thermocline in deep water, they'll come up for topwater in the right situation in my experience.

[Caliyak]

7 hours ago, cjam93 said:

So im at a loss for what to be doing different at the moment. In the last month I had 4 different days on the same lake where my best 5 fish went for over 20lbs. The water was 78*f then due to some rain storms we had. I was catching them channel swings and points. Now the last three times out I havent been able to even stick 5 keepers much less good ones. The water in about a 2 weeks jumped up to 90*f. The thermocline is at 13ft deep. I feel like this has put the fish in a funk, but Im not very sure what to do about it to catch them. I had been dragging ole monsters and football jigs for almost all of my catches. Obviously without seeing the lake its hard to say, but given these conditions what would you think is going on?

How early in the morning are you fishing? 4 am with a buzzbait for me 

[GreenPig]

Go in the middle of the night and fish 13' and shallower.

[Fishin' Fool]

Try drop shotting some larger roboworms or Neko rigging. Lots of posts describing those techniques lately if you're not familiar.

[Kidflex]

Night fishing time!

[flyfisher]

Quite a few of the lakes I fish get to that temperature.  I have caught them shallow and deeper.  if there is any type of moving water hit there first and if not search for a spot that has even a few degrees cooler water.  

I have caught some of my best fish in those temps shallop in lilly pads.

[Harold Scoggins]

Follow your graph, structure, and cover. (Then there's always night fishing.)