How do you catch fish in mid 80 degree water??

[The Rooster]

We went fishing this evening and the water temperature was in the mid 80's, anywhere from 83 at the lowest to 85 at the highest that I saw. Anytime it's ever like this I can't seem to catch fish. I caught 3 small bass and dad got about that many also. We went through a bunch of different lures.  All the fish we caught were on moving baits such as inline spinners and crankbaits and small spinnerbaits. Nothing was caught on the weightless worm or fluke I threw, or the T-rig either.  Only fast or steadily moving baits worked.  Every fish we got (except for one crappie) was hooked outside the mouth, some even in the side or back. It was like they would strike at the lures we were using but miss and then get snagged instead. Dad ended up losing a couple more also cause he just couldn't seem to get the hook set in them. They were just striking so lightly.

All that made me think they were only biting based on reaction instead of feeding. Is that right?? But I couldn't seem to make it work for me by queing on that.

[jrhennecke]

I use a buzzbait or wacky rigged 4" YUM Dinger.  In your case it does sound like the fish were missing the bait.

[Catt]

Deep water structure  

[The Rooster]

I fished a buzzbait a bit but not more than about 20 casts or so. No hits. I figured since a reaction strike might be what I was getting that it might work.

And I kept thinking deep water structure too. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money for gas in the boat tonight. So I had to troll it in a no wake area near the ramp. I had 20 foot deep water available to me but absolutely no idea where any structure might have been in any of it. Plus there were about 40 boats and jet skis floating around the area too. Way too many people on the water in that area so I trolled away from them as fast as I could so I could fish some. One pontoon went towing a couple kids on a tube up the lake in the no wake zone just idling along. Not going fast at all, not breaking any laws, but in my way the whole time. I even had a couple guys who swam way out into where boats were passing through, and all you could see were their heads so I had to watch to make sure I didn't get near them as I went by. Guess luck was not on my side for that little trip. I got far enough away from everyone to where I had plenty of room to fish again, but it was only in 12 feet of water or less. I'll just have to try again another time when there are less people out there and I have more gasoline for the boat to go elsewhere.

[NewScreenNameAdvised]

Problem when the water temp gets that high is lack of disolved oxygen.  Fish in and around the thermocline.  Use your graph to locate the thermocline.  If you don't have a graph, ask a local bait shop for tips on where it is in your lake.

We are fishing 88-90 degree water here in AZ now.

[JShrock07]

When you are fishing in hot temp the main thing you want to do is find the structure out in about 15-20'. (that is the depth that works for me) Throw some jigs with a good trailer on it. I also like to throw a jigging spoon once I see shad hitting the surface. Then I would try a deep diving crankbait and knock it into EVERYTHING!!! The louder the better (IMO). The main times I have found bass in the shallows is during breakfast and dinner times. Bass will go to the shallows to feed on bait fish that can survive with such a low level of oxygen.

Bass are very finicky creatures. Let the bass tell you what they want and you will find yourself much happier each time you go fishing!!

Tight Lines and good luck!!!

[avid]

I don't know if it's a characteristic of florida strain bass or not, but we can have weeks of 90 + degree days.  the water can be in the high 80's and the bass in our shallow lakes can bite like crazy.   Fast movers like traps seem to work especailly well, but so will a T-rigged worm or senko.  Go figure.

[Nate]

Sounds to me like the Bass were finiky and striking short. Try a Zoom Soft Plastic Baits - G-Tail Ringer.

[royce]

I live in Central Florida and the water stays hot for about 3 or 4 months.   Usually when the bite slows down I spend quite a bit of time trolling with traps.   I also alternate using 5 inch rapala floaters especially in shallow lakes.   I troll with 4 rods and cover quite a bit of ground.   I catch a good number of larger bass using this method.  Another advantage is that it keeps a little breeze on you to keep you cooler.

[The Rooster]

I need to try some trolling with my lures.  I don't tend to do that much at all.  Never have really.

I do have a graph, it's a Humminbird Pirahnamax 220.  Not sure if it will show me the thermocline but if it will then I need to learn to use it.  I did see some fish, and they were in depths of 12 feet or so, but the T-rig was the only thing I had to get me down there and I had no luck with it at all.  I am just going to have to take more time to learn what to do under these conditions.  I want to cast and retrieve a lot but that doesn't always work.  Gonna have to learn some new stuff.  

[bassbanger]

WHat kind of graph do you use? I have a hummingbird sonar, and a lowrance gps/sonar unit i am guessing neither of these will have that?

-Randy