SUMMER FISHING FUN

BY

LARRY R. KING

     The season for spring fishing fever is now about over.  Many anglers have already covered their boat and put away tackle till next spring.  Others will start fishing again during the cooler days of fall.  Some of both groups just don’t enjoy fishing during hot weather.  But the main reason most anglers don’t fish during summer is because they believe it’s too hard to catch fish and not worth the effort.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Some anglers prefer fishing in shallow water only and they believe all fish are now deep.

     Fishing methods and locations for most species change according to the seasons and other factors.  Generally speaking, most have now moved to deeper water during summer.  But there are always exceptions to the rule.  And there are many situations during summer when fish can easily be caught, some from shallow water.

     I still vividly remember fishing with my dad for crappie at night when I was eleven years old.  Lake Sinclair was my dad’s choice of places to try and catch fish for a fry.    The early summer heat was all but forgotten after darkness had fallen.  Anticipation of what we might catch was at the forefront of this child’s mind.  Without realizing it at the time, I also felt happy, peaceful, proud, and secure. Why?   I was fishing with dad.

     We had no depth finders or lake maps to assist with finding fish.  We were fortunate enough to have a boat and a couple Coleman lanterns.  My dad even had a new Mitchell spinning reel and rod.  My outfit was a simple twelve-foot cane pole.  And I thoroughly enjoyed holding that pole while waiting for a crappie to take the minnow.  We both caught fish using only one outfit each.

     My dad had learned that crappie could usually be caught during summer nights along bluff banks and under bridges.  We would anchor and hang the lanterns for a little while at one of his “good” locations.  If no fish were caught before long, we changed fishing spots and tried again.  Dad was always aware of how much line was out from his rod and could easily determine how deep to drop the minnow to catch another fish.  On most nights, crappie would be about eight to fourteen-feet deep.  I usually had about fourteen feet of line on my twelve-foot pole.  On one occasion most of the fish were about twenty feet deep.  Dad offered to let me use his rod since he was catching more fish than me.  But I liked using my trusty pole.  I began holding my pole vertically with about six feet of the tip in the water, giving me twenty feet of fishing depth.  And I began catching them good, too.  Little did I know that I was learning to improvise.

     Night fishing during summer can also be good for other species on many bodies of water.  Bass, hybrids, stripers, and catfish are targeted more at night during summer on many clear water lakes.  Many anglers also fish at night on lakes not considered as being clear water.  Some farm ponds and mining lakes offer a good chance of catching large bass.  Some lakes have an abundance of dock lights that attract game fish. 

     Lakes Sinclair, Oconee, and Jackson in central Ga. have many dock lights.  Anglers target bass, hybrids, whites, and crappie around the lights all summer long.  A minimal amount of tackle will catch fish for the night-owl angler. 

     Early mornings during summer can offer top water action for bass.  Some anglers will begin the morning by fishing deep for bass with Carolina rigged worms.  Quite often they are missing out on some fast and exciting fish catching.  Last year on Sinclair and Oconee, lots of quality size bass were caught on top water baits throughout the summer during the first hour after daybreak.  Buzz baits, Pop R’s, Chug Bug’s, and weightless Trick worms accounted for many of these shallow fish being caught.

     Hybrids were dependable each morning for part of the summer last year on Oconee.  They were located on shallow flats along the main river channel and would feed on shad at or near the surface.  On most mornings an angler could expect to catch several fish from one to five pounds each.  The action would last about one or two hours after daybreak, giving the heat-hater ample time to find an air conditioner.  The best bait normally had to be determined each morning.  But usually one of the following would work:  popping cork and fly, Rat L Trap, Rooster Tail, Sassy Shad, buck tail jig, or most any kind of small crank bait. 

     Another way to have fast early morning action is by targeting the mayfly hatch.  Most species of fish will at times feed on the flies, but bream (bluegill and redbreast) are by far the most consistent on central Ga. lakes.  They aren’t big, but provide plenty of fight on ultra-light tackle.  This is a great way to introduce small children to the sport of fishing.  It’s easy to present the bait and the bream usually bite like crazy.  Inexpensive lightweight poles or rod and reel combos will do nicely.  A small bobber, small sinker, small hook and bait complete the rig.  Crickets and red wiggler worms are good choices.  Artificial flies will also work on a fly rod or pole.  Look for mayflies in trees and bushes hanging over the shoreline.  If they’re just clinging to the tree and not flying, simple move in close and hit a tree limb with a rod or paddle.  Watch what happens when some of the flies land on the water. 

     For anglers that aren’t as heat-conscience, the summer months offer good fishing for most species during daylight hours.  Fish may not be as easy to find as they were in the spring, but good numbers of fish are there for the taking.  An angler that enjoys fishing in the heat, but with little success, has some options.  Talk to the operators of marinas and tackle stores for current fishing tips.  Ask other anglers at the lake how they’re catching fish.  Some will be tight-lipped while others will tell you what you need to know.  Also consider hiring an accomplished guide.  If you’re more interested in learning to find fish than just catching fish that day, tell the guide before booking a trip.  Most will be glad to answer questions throughout the guided trip also. 

     Summer time is fun time for many of our children out of school.  We take them on vacations to Disney World, the beach, the mountains, and to see distant relatives.  All these activities and trips are memorable and enjoyable.  Our parents took my siblings and I to the same places (there was no Disney World back then), for which each of us is grateful.  But for me there was always something special about time on the water or in the woods.  And many of today’s younger generation will never get the chance to experience fishing and hunting.  What a shame!