Well, summer is in full swing and it’s time to fish. You ask yourself, what is the best way to maximize my time on the water? My tried and true plan is to schedule trips so they start just before sun up or during the last couple of hours before sundown. While it is possible to catch fish, especially those in shallow water, during the middle of the day, I have found it a lot more productive to start or end in the dark. Fishing the low light periods of the day also lends itself to working topwater plugs, which is my favorite style of fishing no matter what species I am targeting. Unless you are reef fishing, most fish find it hard to resist a surface plug, once the water temperatures start to climb. Whether you are hunting redfish and snook on the shallow water flats or searching for largemouth bass on your favorite lake, it is best to target them before the day really heats up. Fish are a lot more like us than you think and look for any shade or deep drop-offs they can find to stay out of the blazing midday sun. Like us, they like to get out and do our outdoor activities before the blazing sun kicks up. Most fish will be out at day break feeding only to retreat back into heavy cover once the sun is high in the sky. They will remain in the shade until the sun starts to fall back away at the end of the day. If you have no choice but to fish during the heat of the day, make sure that you target areas that provide plenty of cover as the fish are looking to stay cool just like you. During midday a lot of guides like to throw live or cut bait into the shaded areas where the fish seek refuge. This method can prove to be quite productive and interesting as you are usually trying to wrestle your catch out of its hiding spot without breaking it off.
Two of the most important things for anglers are to make sure that you are properly hydrated and your skin is protected from the sun. Make sure you take plenty of water with you. I like to freeze a couple of bottles of H2O and let them thaw as I fish. This will help cool you down, as well as keep you hydrated. Protection from the sun is not to be taken lightly as skin cancer is no joke. Rather than lathering my whole body up with sunscreen I prefer to wear technical clothing with SPF as well as a hat and bluff for my neck and face. I use a high quality sun screen made by Sol that has no perfumes and doesn’t burn your eyes when you sweat.
Summer is also a great time to take your kayak to the beach for a little fishing. Not only are there some great species to chase but, after you are done, you can beach the kayak and cool off with a swim.
Pedal on!
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