We are officially in “summer” fishing pattern.  Fish are spawned out and everything is back into a typical July/Aug pattern.  Water temp has crossed 80 degrees and here to stay for a while.  The only thing changing in the next 6 weeks will be the depth of the thermocline as the water warms a little deeper daily.  The beginning of July it is about 15′ -16′.  It’s where most of your low light activity is – Striped Bass & Smallmouth Bass.

 

Bass- the surface has not been hot for very long yet.  The surface water is hot but still cool a short ways down. Post spawn fish will eat topwater in the AM off main lake points and will still work well until the sun is full on the water. Use large topwater baits. Fish will surge from 12′ – 14′ to the surface at low light.  This will slow in a few weeks as the warm water increases in depth pushing them deeper.  Hot water is low oxygenated water and the bite will gradually get deeper as surface bite slows this month.  Senko type baits will work as free fall or drop shot rigs along weed lines 12 -14′ after morning topwater.

  The exception to the rule is very thick matted grass in the back of pockets.  The weeds will create shade and help with extreme shallow oxygen production.  The fishery separates starting now.  Gradually going deeper as each week progresses OR super shallow largemouth that prefer warm water but need the very thick vegetation to be comfortable, shade to hide and oxygen from weeds.  Throw scum frogs in the nastiest stuff you see. Use very heavy rod and 30lb braided line.  The bite is explosive.  The fight is winch style from heavy cover.

 

Stripers – they are eating in broad areas from Nancy’s Camp to the dam.  Areas can change from week to week as they begin to cover water always on the move.  You can get away with live bait like shad or alewives.  Focus on suspending your bait near that thermocline at 15 – 16′.  Move at half a mph.  Channel bends, the last 50 yards of any flat work best at daylight.  As the sun climbs follow the channel edges on out toward the middle of the lake.  Find the trees along the old channel on a 70 – 80′ bottom.  You’ll find a late morning bite on top and around those trees topping at 25′ below the surface.

 

Trout – Summer pattern isclocked down.  50′ is a good depth to start your focus.  However, you’ll find them from 40 – 70′ and pretty catchable. With good electronics, trolling is always an option until a 60′ bottom.  With a bottom deeper than that, trees were left standing and will limit your presentation.  Jigging is always an option. But, you can drop live bait like a Shiner or alewife.  If its dropped to one on a fish finder, a kindergarten kid can catch em.

 

Musky – believe it or not, summer is outstanding for them.  Troll typical lures 3+ mph outside weed lines in 15′.  Mid-day often works when nothing else does.  It’s a reactionary bite.

 

1.  The thermocline is the fuzzy lines on fish finders.  Its at 16′.  It will go to 20′ in 2 weeks.  Eventually 25 – 28′ mid August.  Spend your energy around the termocline for quality fish.

2.  The Zebra Mussels are really beginning to effect fishing.  The water is much clearer than what was normal in the past.  They filter water and  I am expecting all that we have ever known will begin changing.  The sun will penetrate much deeper.  The water will warm much deeper.  Traditional thermocline depths will increase.  I will not be surprised to see new depths of 30 – 40′ for thermocline ranges.  All styles of fishing on hard bottoms are already seeing issues.  Carolina rigs for bass or typical catfish or bottom fishing techniques for Striped bass are straining the limits of fishing line.  Constant frays on hard bottoms where zebra muscles thrive are breaking 25lb line easily.  Some have lost fish simply from chewed up, frayed line contacting the bottom and scraping against the mussels.