Hot weather, smaller bass?

[timothy_spain]

I've been fishing off a pier locally on Lk. St. Clair.  Weather's been in the low 90s since the weekend.  I've been fishing in the evenings when the temp drops to 88. 

Been throwing out t-rigged plastics (baby brush hogs, sweet beavers, & senkos) with some success, but all I'm catching are dinky largemouth bass from 12" - 14". 

Where are the big guys?  Are the smaller bass more active in hot weather?

[D4u2s0t]

without knowing the water, tough to say. But almost all of my biggest fish of the year come from deeper water in the summer.

[Pikesnogle]

I'd have to agree, about a 98% chance that they are deep.

[timothy_spain]

Yeah, I realize it's tough not knowing the lake.  I'd agree they're deeper.  But there's gotta be a reason for only catching dinks in this weather.

[Scorcher214]

Ive been fishing around fair haven in about 6 ft of water and I've been able to catch a few in the morn, and a few in the evening. not dinks, but not spectacular fish.

[iceintheveins]

Bigger bass generally do move deeper in hotter weather, feeding in the mornings and evenings in the shallows because most forage is deeper when it's hot.

[Sam]

Timothy, other than in Michigan things get bigger in hot weather and smaller in cold weather but it seems to be the other way around in Michigan.  ;D   ;D   ;D

OK, just kidding.

As the guys say, the bass will go deep looking for cooler and more oxygenated water.

Try fishing before the sun rises and in the evening when the sun sets until dark.  The big ones will move up to feed along the shore.

Otherwise, create your own contest to see how many dinks you can catch each day and how many you can catch in a row. 

[Catt]

Yeah, I realize it's tough not knowing the lake. I'd agree they're deeper. But there's gotta be a reason for only catching dinks in this weather.

If you're catching only small it's because you're fishing where small fish are

[Nice_Bass]

Yeah, I realize it's tough not knowing the lake. I'd agree they're deeper. But there's gotta be a reason for only catching dinks in this weather.

If you're catching only small it's because you're fishing where small fish are

Where,....Michigan?

[Catt]

Some structure contains only smaller bass while some structure contains larger bass, if your constantly smaller bass I suggest changing location.

[backpain...]

Some structure contains only smaller bass while some structure contains larger bass, if your constantly smaller bass I suggest changing location.

The OP has raised a question I have asked myself many a trip when the dinks were all I could find. What would you suggest as a "move"? Deeper water? Steeper drops? Different type of structure/cover?

[Crestliner2008]

Assuming you are mobile (have a boat), move out! Find a break dropping to deeper water and probe likely structures. Use bigger baits; 9" Slammers, 9" Sluggos, 7" Senkos, 10" Texas rigged worms.

In very short time you will find bigger fish.

[K_Mac]

Bigger, deeper, slower is my summer mantra. I don't catch as many fish, but what I do are usually better. A big jig/trailer, a big worm/creature either T or C rigged are my first choices. If that doesn't work a light shakyhead/Trickworm or Finesse worm, or a weighted wacky rigged Trickworm, Senko or Senko knock-off.

Most of my time fishing this time of year is spent away from shore, but don't overlook bluffs and other steep drops into or near channels. Many times there are outcroppings that hold fish. These can be really good in summer and winter.

[Wayne P.]

My pattern is slow, small, mid-day, 5' - 20'

[Flameseeker]

This is soo true. In the summer months I try to fish straight down in that big laydown. There are really holding close to the cover. In the early morning they will venture out for breakfast though.

If you're catching only small it's because you're fishing where small fish are