Well, summer is proceeding with extreme passion. The daily temperatures are ridiculous to say the least and water temperatures have peaked. This is not the ideal scenario for targeting bass, and although they still have to eat they generally tend to become more selective with their feeding patterns.

With air temperatures touching 40’C, staying motivated throughout a day on the water is not an easy task. This uncomfortable heat coupled with reduced feeding patterns means anglers have to understand when and why to change their tactics, ensuring a higher percentage of effective fish targeting. There are a few factors that will help you in this quest to beat the heat and outwit tough to tempt bass. The first and most important step to employ during these hot months is to select your days where possible.

If your schedule is flexible, check the weather forecast and isolate the coolest day with the most cloud and rain forecast. I am not talking about storm predictions, I am referring to those miserable days of drizzle. On these lowlight and more bearable days the fish just bite better. If you don’t like the rain, take a rain jacket!! If you want to catch more fish, then go fishing in this weather. The fish will stay shallower throughout the day and feed more actively.

Secondly, you need to ensure that you maximize your time on the water as early in the day as possible, and as late as possible. This is when the water is naturally cooler and therefore you will find an increase in feeding activity. When it comes to choosing the rights baits in the heat, the most influential change to be made is go lighter and smaller.

I fished Albert Falls this week on an insanely hot and cloudless day. I targeted deeper areas, down to 30ft where cooler temperatures where to be found and fished smaller plastics on weightless and drop-shot rigs. Fair enough, we never boated any giants but even in such adverse conditions I caught fish all day long. During the midday I found schools of baitfish on the sounders and down-sized our crankbaits on lighter line to get extra depth and definitely did not struggle to put fish in the boat. So, you can beat the heat, or let it beat you!!

Grant Hewitt out!!