August in July and the Covid Stomp

[PhishLI]

We've had blistering heat and remarkably little rain here for the past several weeks. The water level in my local no-boats shallow lake is getting very low. The water temp is also very high. Getting in the water when I'm wading usually provides some relief from the air temp, but not lately. It's that hot, and the wind has been rare.

 

Many spots nearest to me are tree lined with occasional openings, or cuts, that allow shore fisherman to cast or wade fishermen to enter. The weeds are usually lush right up to the shoreline and provide cover for ample bait fish. Tons of bluegill are typically seen there through August. That's all changed this year. From sunup through sundown these lakes have been packed and pounded. Wade fishermen have stomped out the weed beds close to shore. Where the bottom was once green nearly year round there's now a sandy bottom in those spots. What's worse are the areas within a 100 ft fan cast. They're now devoid of plants. They've been excavated out by bank beaters and wade fishermen alike. The few times I've been able to get out lately I've found a ton of grass left on the shoreline. Typically it's difficult to fish treble baits here, even wake baits, but no problem now. The only trouble is that the fish are gone from these areas that were once shooting galleries if you hit a hot bite window. No plants. No oxygen. No bait fish, and no bass. I know my way around and can get to the low pressure spots, but that can be hairy. I lost a wading pal this year who pushed it too far without a buddy near by. Things can go bad quickly, and they did for him in the worst possible way. He happened to be the most cautious one out of anyone in our group. Ironic and sad.

 

Another odd thing is the lack of algae. It usually drapes the weeds and covers the bottom which makes jig fishing a misery, but this year the plants are nearly clean of it. The sunfish are usually quite dark and colorful, but are tilting to a paler shade. Same with the bass. It's was a strange, late, spring weather-wise and now this summer's heat is throwing things for a loop, but the impact of fishing traffic on the lakescape due to covid freetime has been the real surprise.

[Glaucus]

Be careful out there with the heat and COVID-19. The heat has been blistering and can take even the strongest men out, and COVID-19 cases in the US keep rising and breaking records held since the beginning of the pandemic. When fishing, stay cool and hydrated, and watch for signs that you're pushing your body too hard. When at the gas pumps and elsewhere, take necessary precautions to not expose yourself to the deadly virus.

 

 

[N Florida Mike]

You can have some of the weeds and algae I have in the home lake. I have plenty to spare! 

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, N Florida Mike said:

You can have some of the weeds and algae I have in the home lake. I have plenty to spare! 

Box 'em up! I'll pay the shipping!

[N Florida Mike]

I have a no return policy. ?

 

Seriously though, I am at the North end of the lake, and we get mostly south winds in the summer which pushes all the grass and algae up against my bank. I was going to wade out and clean it up some but its like 97 out there with a south wind of 15 or so. It’d just push more in by nightfall.

[PhishLI]

4 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Seriously though, I am at the North end of the lake, and we get mostly south winds in the summer which pushes all the grass and algae up against my bank. I was going to wade out and clean it up some but its like 97 out there with a south wind of 15 or so. It’d just push more in by nightfall.

I've always cursed the weeds and algae at this lake, but have managed to catch good fish and good numbers there regardless. I'm missing them now though.

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Be careful out there with the heat and COVID-19.

I should quit licking doorknobs.

[Glaucus]

3 hours ago, PhishLI said:

I should quit licking doorknobs.

Well if you're one of those who deny Covid science, your IQ is a bigger issue than doorknobs lol

[slonezp]

Find the food.

 

I tend to fish for bass but I enjoy a good fight no matter what the species and I do harvest fish for the dinner plate. I've said this here before. Find the food. Secondly, fish live bait in the summer. ... I had 3 bites today on artificials. Water temp was 80+. I probably would have caught more bass were I targeting bluegills today. Instead, I threw artificials and had a total of 3 bites with one landed. Caught a LM on a frog, had a pike bite me off, and lost a smallie at the boat. I can promise you, if I was panfishing with live bait, I would have caught more bass today. 

 

[PhishLI]

27 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Find the food.

I know where it went, but as I said earlier, it's treacherous to wade those spots. Our lakes are C&R and live bait's not allowed.

35 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Well if you're one of those who deny Covid science...

I love science and doorknobs...it's a conundrum inside a kallidescope.

[Glaucus]

11 hours ago, PhishLI said:

I know where it went, but as I said earlier, it's treacherous to wade those spots. Our lakes are C&R and live bait's not allowed.

I love science and doorknobs...it's a conundrum inside a kallidescope.

At least that's somehow better than the parents who have their kids in the store without a mask on, chewing on the handle of the shopping carts lol. I see that all the time and just can't believe they're so careless. I know you're joking, but I really do see parents who just don't care that their kids could get Covid. It's crazy.

[MN Fisher]

19 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

At least that's somehow better than the parents who have their kids in the store without a mask on, chewing on the handle of the shopping carts lol. I see that all the time and just can't believe they're so careless. I know you're joking, but I really do see parents who just don't care that their kids could get Covid. It's crazy.

Ya, but that should be moot here. Starting today, per Governor's mandate, all persons in public places must wear a mask at all times.

"No shoes, no shirt, no pants, no mask: No Service"

(ya, some places DO have the 'no pants' added...we have some weirdos here.)

[N Florida Mike]

I really dont want to hear any more about the plandemic. I come on here because I want to get away from it for awhile. Can we all just stop  and move on to something we all enjoy, like fishing for example?

[Glaucus]

42 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya, but that should be moot here. Starting today, per Governor's mandate, all persons in public places must wear a mask at all times.

"No shoes, no shirt, no pants, no mask: No Service"

(ya, some places DO have the 'no pants' added...we have some weirdos here.)

It's been mandated here too but people still won't listen and most stores are too scared to turn maskless people away.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

It's been mandated here too but people still won't listen and most stores are too scared to turn maskless people away.

I think we're a little more determined here...local BP station actually refused service to one person because they wouldn't keep to the 6' distancing requirement.

[PhishLI]

7 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I really dont want to hear any more about the plandemic. I come on here because I want to get away from it for awhile. Can we all just stop  and move on to something we all enjoy, like fishing for example?

Sorry about that, Mike. I used the "C" word in the most innocuous way, and only as a point of reference in time and nothing more. I would've avoided using it if I understood beforehand that my post would get shifted out of the "General Forum" and memory hole'd down into the "What's Bigfoot's Favorite Limerick Forum". Oh well! Perhaps the mythological sea god had standing when he brought my IQ into question? While his reply had nothing whatsoever to do with the spirit of my original post, at least his "C" word PSA was informative. Lotsa juicy stuff. Who knew? Anyway, I've got wounds to lick and knuckles to drag. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.