Beat the Heat

[rowyourboat]

what are some tactics you guys have luck with after around 11:00 am when it starts to heat up and the bite slows down? fish deep? fish shade? slow down your presentation? i was having a great day until the sun got high and hot and then it went to crap haha....

[badger_bassin]

First of all for me it depends on the water clarity.  If it's clear or slightly stained, depending on the lake,  there's probably some deeper grass try the deepest weed edge.  You can never go wrong fishing the shade try anywhere there is shade.  If your fishing docks fish the shady side and directly under.  If you have stumps, rocks, or any cover for that matter cast to the shady side.  Also another thing to look for if your fishing the bank is overhanging trees, directly under them.  Also the shade created by trees that is cast out over the water.  If you have wind or current try spinnerbaits, swim jigs,cranks or other horizontal presentations.  If you have no wind or current I like to go with more of a vertical approach like jigs, t-rigged plastics, drop shot, and carolina rig etc...Good Luck

[Red]

On Lake Waco for some reason the fish stay shallow all year long.  I have the best luck flippin n pitchin heavy cover working every stick and stump very slowly.  Also sometimes a spinnerbait run right through this thick cover works well too.  The main problem is figuring out what soft plastic to throw at them.  Lately it has been Rage Craws and jigs.  I agree with throwing to shade as well.

[bass or bass ?]

That time of day here is about 105 degrees this time of year. I switch my fishing times in summer . I launch the boat @ 6 pm and fish overnight until @ 11 am then load the boat and go home.

[D4u2s0t]

People think the fishing slows down, I actually find afternoons to be the best time, and have caught ALL of my best fish in the afternoon on hot days.  I fish a little bit deeper, other than that, nothing else changes. 

[bass or bass ?]

People think the fishing slows down, I actually find afternoons to be the best time, and have caught ALL of my best fish in the afternoon on hot days. I fish a little bit deeper, other than that, nothing else changes.

I know you're right about fishing the afternoon, but when it's 110-118 degrees here in Arizona, it's all I can do just to sit in the boat, let alone trying to fish. I don't switch my fishing time to the night because of the fish bite, I do it for comfort.

[NateFollmer]

Largemouths (I find anyway) tend to get more active when the water heats up. Smallies, on the other hand, are a cold water transitional species and like the cooler temps. more. So I fish for smallies in the morning and evening and Largemouth in the afternoon.

I think it was the Bass Professor that I heard say "some of the biggest bass are caught between 10am and 4pm" or something close to that...

[Nice_Bass]

Air temps do not affect the fish as much as it affects us.  Angle of the sun does however, whether it is the angle at your latitude in warming the water, or angle during the day.  Fish cover, and close to it.  Sure to be some fish at depth- a lot depends on water clarity and cover type.