What keeps me going...

[DitchPanda]

So when it gets hot and humid like we have all been experiencing now for some time...and the bugs start to come out to play..and the fish get summer time dog days lockjaw the thing that keeps me sane is thinking you know what yeah this sucks but at least it's not December and I don't have to wait 3 or 4 months for open water.

 

[Whatever]

You are singing my song, Brother!

Every winter I swear I am going south until the local lakes thaw out. Maybe this year.

[schplurg]

I'm having the opposite problem - I'm finally catching fish! Took me months in my home town to catch a bass this year. Months! My home town is very tough though. I throw at the edge of cover and the fish come out to play. 

 

However, the bugs are an annoyance sometimes. I rarely get bit but these little buggers just fly in front of my face and buzz my ears and tick me off. I fished with a friend a few weeks ago in a tiny aluminum boat and the mosquitos kicked his butt but I didn't get one bite. He had red spots all over, says he's alergic.

[DitchPanda]

7 hours ago, Whatever said:

You are singing my song, Brother!

Every winter I swear I am going south until the local lakes thaw out. Maybe this year.

I used to live in Texas and remember how awesome the winter was there. I wish I could head south in the winter but I'm a little ways out from retirement yet- about 30 years.

[jimmyjoe]

9 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

 ...... the thing that keeps me sane is ......

 

 

   You are SOOOOOOO lucky! Nothing keeps me sane!   ???

   Seriously ..... thinking of the future always makes the present easier to bear. I guess it has worked since prehistory.    jj

[Hook2Jaw]

Sanity is overrated.  I went out yesterday in the 96 degree Georgia heat and whipped them with a spinnerbait and swimjig in 94 degree water.

[MacJig]

I get your point. Being in upstate NY, our winters are like ... "man, what am i going to do now" ... sort of thing. So, I use the time to tie my own hair jigs and count down the days. Actually considering doing some rod building this year. But, these dog days can be tough. Went to two places yesterday: one local pond that looked perfect for frogging; nothing and the other that is one of my "go to" places ... again, nothing. But being outside, feeling the breeze,  enjoying the wildlife (saw my first mink about six feet away from me -- just sitting and staring at me) and remembering yester-years fishing with my dad; that's good stuff. But -0- fish !

[Squarebill79]

10 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

So when it gets hot and humid like we have all been experiencing now for some time...and the bugs start to come out to play..and the fish get summer time dog days lockjaw the thing that keeps me sane is thinking you know what yeah this sucks but at least it's not December and I don't have to wait 3 or 4 months for open water.

 

I notice you are in Iowa also. I disagree that the bass are getting lockjaw this time of year. This time of year is when I usually catch the biggest fish. I start my evening out about 6:30-7, usually manage a couple every night on wacky rigged senkos or Texas rigged worms. I cast out as far from shore as i can, they are deeper most of the day and into the early evening. 

 

I do this until about 8:30 then I start throwing topwater poppers. The fish usually start moving up closer to shore right as the sun sets. This is when the bugs start coming out which is to your advtantage. This is usually the time most people pack up for the evening but for me its my favorite time of day. The bluegills move up to start feeding on bugs which draws the bass in. The bass will feed on insects also. 

 

I stay until about 9:30-10 as the bite usually finally dies off about an hour or so after dark. Fish the deeper areas before sunset and after sunset throw on some topwater and start throwing shallower. 

[DitchPanda]

This has not been my experience around me this time of year. I've been fishing the same bodies of water a long time...one of them for 20years and I always catch bigger fish in spring and fall. Now don't get me wrong I still catch fish this time of year...but not as many and not as big. For instance my biggest bass of the past 2 months is 4.5lbs...lots of fish in the 3 to 3.5 range. In April and May I had days when I barely caught any under 2.5 to 3lbs. Also those 2 months I had 3 or 4 5s, 2 6s and a 7.

[gim]

4 hours ago, Squarebill79 said:

I stay until about 9:30-10 as the bite usually finally dies off about an hour or so after dark.

I started at 8pm the other night and fished until 11pm.  I didn't even start catching fish regularly until 9pm because of the amount of recreational boat traffic.  I'm convinced that if I started at 10pm and fished into the middle of the night that I would have continued to catch fish.

 

I prefer spring and fall simply because its more comfortable out.  But 82 degrees and partly cloudy like it is today is quite comfortable for late July.

[scaleface]

I can catch bass in the summer . I just cant take the heat anymore . If the water has  enough points to hit , I may make a milk run and usually have a decent day . Also fish emergent standing timber that is in deep water . Grass beds , deep flats , creek channels ... 

[Bankbeater]

The heat doesn’t bother me as long as I have water. Most of the fish I have been catching has either been in deep water or in the grass. 
I’m not looking forward to another cold winter. Sometimes a drive out to the lake to look at ice doesn’t cut it for me. 

[A-Jay]

 July means drop shot & mostly fun size fish for me - did today.

 

But come mid-August and running straight through until hard water,

The bigger brown bass start to come shallower more often.

I look forward to that like a kid a Christmas.

 

Additionally, in 76 Days and a wake up ~ 

I hope to be using my passport again.

A-Jay

[Whatever]

9 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

I used to live in Texas and remember how awesome the winter was there. I wish I could head south in the winter but I'm a little ways out from retirement yet- about 30 years.

 

 

always remember---The lottery is your friend!

( not mine, evidently, but the hope still lives)

[Spankey]

I hear where you are coming from. Numbers wise I’m not setting the world on fire. But I’m not getting skunked and have gotten a few quality bass. Every trip out I’m out to beat my personal best and to not get skunked. That keeps me hooked. 

[geo g]

Whether it’s from the bank or from the boat, fishing just puts my mind at ease.  Casting to spots I want to hit is like a game of darts.  Just satisfying knowing I can target an area and present the bait right where I want it to go regardless of the conditions.  If I catch fish it just makes the experience that much better.  I’m from Florida and summer is a difficult time for catching, water temps in the high 80’s.  I don’t care just get me out to toss a bait around.  Everything is on autopilot once I feel the tick on the line.  It is a form of relaxation from all the distractions of the world.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I generally don't have the same success in summer as I do in spring and fall, but I've done OK this year.  I actually caught my biggest largemouth of the year in late June with a Booyah frog.  I've sort of written off largemouth fishing for awhile now since the local lake is so chock full of idiots, and I've rejoiced in the seclusion of the river instead.  Hundreds of walleyes and a few chunky smallmouths will work for me until the pleasure boaters, jet skiers and COVID anglers subside.

 

To be totally on-topic, I really don't mind winter because it gives me a chance to do some fly tying, rod building, and ice fishing.  A 10" bluegill on a wimpy ice rod is a heckuva fun time.

[WRB]

Ice belongs in a drink.

Tom

[Heartland]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

Ice belongs in a drink.

Tom

12% of the Earth is covered in ice, and can reach 30% covered in ice and snow.   That's a big drink......

[WRB]

We have a Mediterranean climate that keeps the temps cool with low humidity, very comfortable. This why we such a big population condensed along the pacific coast line.

SoCal is also blessed with few bugs when night fishing. 

Right now we are having a heat wave it's in 80's along the coast and 100 inland, but cools down into the 60's at night.  

The cost for this perfect weather is nut cases run the State, but the fishing is good and that kept me for a long time.

Now I am drinking iced tea.

Tom

PS, if we want snow and ice it's about a 2 hour in the mountains above 6,000 feet.

[Caliyak]

WRB is correct. We have great year round fishing weather in Cali but we have tards running the state. Come out west for the winter. 

[Jleebesaw]

I hear ya man. Im in northern ny. I love pulling eyes and perch through an 8" hole, but nothing beats getting out in the boat chasing crappies and bass.

[DitchPanda]

Ice fishing for me is one of those things that comes in hot and quickly runs out of steam for me. Every November or December when it's starting I'm super excited for it. By February I'm over it...by March I'm begging god to make it end.

[Catt]

What keeps me going?

 

Grandkids ?

 

[roadwarrior]