By Capt. James McManus
While writing these articles every month, I look back over pictures from previous years to see what the coming month may bring. Sometimes, what I review brings back trips where I loaded the boat. Sometimes, it’s just that “one fish” that was picture worthy. Other times, it’s the folks in the pictures, and wondering, where and what, they’re up to now. With folks you know, sometimes it’s even painful to look back because they are no longer with us. More often, it’s a reminder that even with similarities year to year, a lake is a constantly changing beast. Weather changes, and no, I’m not talking climate change, its called seasons, water conditions, reproduction rates, stocking, both legal and illegal, harvest regulation differences – all can change how a lake fishes year to year.
With that being said, Fontana, like some of the other lakes I fish, seems to be a month behind this year. It was a good spring, but not really a fantastic one for the usual bank fishing, where you could run down almost any bank and throw jerkbaits with fish after fish. There were good days for sure, but just different. We are now past the bass spawn, when the bait should be out in open water and trolling the channels, and big open flats is usually the top method for putting fish in the boat.
Don’t know if the lower water temps – its still in the 70’s as I am writing this – or late shad spawn, but the fishing here in June has been a little off. My thought is that July will “flip the switch,” and there will be great action for us trollers. Typically, we troll downriggers with small baits, or Alabama rigs for walleye, and topwater diving baits for all the bass species. As we troll, someone is at the front of the boat throwing to breaking fish, which to this point, hasn’t happened either, but hopefully will soon. My best advice is to keep looking – you never know where the bait and fish will congregate year to year.
When you do find some fish as the summer progresses, they will usually stay in an area ‘til the otters get wind of them and drive them to a new spot [thanks park personnel], but rest assured they will be back to their hungry ways at some point. There is always the old “tried and true method” of crickets for bream along the banks, if all else fails. Maybe a late start means a longer finish and we will avoid the August slowdown. Enjoy what God has given us, stay safe, take kids with you, and give me a call.
Later Capt. James