1. Life Jacket Check: These lifesavers are crucial. Inspect for rips, tears, or any damage. Ensure all life jackets fit snugly, especially for the little ones.

2. Fire Extinguisher Check: Fire extinguishers can lose pressure over winter. Verify yours is present, charged, and readily accessible.

3. Registration Check: Avoid a coast guard citation! Make sure your boat registration is current (they typically expire year-end). Affix the latest decal before setting sail.

4. Charge Up: Don’t get stranded! Fully charge your boat’s batteries and confirm they hold a good charge.

5. Electronics & Lights Check: Electronics can malfunction during storage. Test your navigation lights, bilge pump, and all other crucial equipment. Look for damaged wiring that might need replacing.

6. Test Run the Engine: Avoid a frustrating launch-day surprise. Start your engine on land to confirm everything runs smoothly. Check your “outboard ears” (engine cooling system) for proper function.

7. Inspect the Hull: Take a walk around your boat and meticulously examine the hull for cracks or any other damage that might have occurred over the winter. Ensure your drain plug is present and in good condition.

8. Trailer Tune-Up: Before hitting the road, properly grease your trailer wheel bearings. Verify your winch and other trailer equipment function flawlessly.

9. Gas Up & Go! Consider replacing old gas with fresh fuel. Double-check that all fuel lines are securely connected and free from damage.

Now you’re ready for a fantastic summer on the water!

Image/Source: NDOW

Adapting to Summer Behavior Unlike the colder seasons, summer requires a shift in tactics. Trout seek cooler waters, often taking refuge in specific areas. Understanding their behavior is key to success. In warmer months, they scatter to the coolest parts of the streams due to rising temperatures. This results in altered activity levels and necessitates a strategic approach.

Essential Summer Trout Gear Embrace the simplicity of stream trout fishing with minimal gear. An ultralight rod, a small tackle box with key lures, and some terminal tackle are your essentials. While various trout species inhabit streams, focus on rainbows, browns, and brook trout. For brown trout, consider slightly upsizing your tackle.

• Trout Rod: Opt for a short rod with ultralight fast action, perfect for accurate casting in wooded areas.
• Trout Reel: A reasonably priced reel with easy cleaning options works best.
• Line: Use clear fluorocarbon lines to avoid spooking trout.
• Landing Net: A small landing net reduces fish handling and stress.

Effective Baits for Summer Trout Shift your bait approach to match the trout’s summer diet of insects and baitfish. Stick to simple presentations that mimic these food sources for best results.

• Jerkbait: Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait (use larger sizes for browns)
• Inline Spinner: Mepps Aglia Dressed
• Spoon: Thomas Buoyant
• Tube: Berkley Powerbait Atomic Tube
• Jig: Trout Magnet Original

Locate Trout in Summer As water warms up, finding the right locations becomes crucial. Focus on five key areas that generally harbor trout during warmer months:

• Undercut Banks: Classic trout holding spots offering shade, ambush opportunities, and protection.
• Pools: Deep pools attract trout for relief from shallow areas.
• Upper Stream Reaches: Steeper terrain with cooler, oxygenated water.
• Confluence Zones: Areas where tributaries bring food and cool water.
• Heavily Shaded Areas: Overgrown sections provide shade and cast-friendly conditions.

Summer Trout Fishing Methods Adopt a three-part approach: start with aggressive lures like jerkbaits or spinners, then use baits like the Atomic Tube or Trout Magnet to explore different water depths. Finish with a crawler or hellgrammite on a small hook for maximum success.

Prioritize Trout Safety When water temperatures rise, prioritize trout safety to prevent stress and injury. Avoid fishing in low, slow-moving streams in mid-June and focus on cooler parts of the day. On rainy days, fish longer hours, and keep an eye on water levels and algae growth, which indicate fish safety concerns.

Incorporate these insights into your summer trout fishing routine for a rewarding experience that respects both the fish and the environment.

Images/Source: Wired2Fish

For the ultimate thrill, Northern Pike fishing on the fly is all about anticipation and adrenaline. Using 9-11 weight rods and flies like Bufords and Pike Bunnies, fly anglers can experience the rush of these fierce predators. While big pike may be in deeper waters during hot days, smaller ones still prowl shallower areas, offering an exciting challenge. Carp and musky can also be excellent options depending on your location.

Fly-fishing for warm water fish is not only enjoyable but also helps give trout populations a break from fishing pressure and heat stress. So, when trout fishing becomes challenging, consider exploring the world of warm water fly-fishing, and you’ll discover a whole new level of excitement on the water.

Images/Source: TroutUnlimited

1. Follow the current: Just like we crave a nice breeze when it’s hot, fish love fast-moving water. Look for those areas with some cool currents where they can chill and get some oxygen flowing.
2. Seek the shade: Fish are just like us – they want some shade from the blazing sun too! Find those spots under docks or trees, and you’ll have a better chance of catching something.
3. Worms are the way to go: When the heat is on, stick a juicy worm on your hook. The fish can’t resist it, even if they’re feeling lazy.
4. Speed it up: Hot fish aren’t in the mood for a leisurely meal. Fish faster and go for those reaction strikes instead!
5. Dive deep: When the top waters heat up, the fish head to cooler depths. So get yourself some deep-diving crankbaits and explore those ledges and troughs.
6. Night fishing is cool: If you’re up for some adventure, try fishing at night. It’s more exciting, and you’ll have a better chance of catching active fish.
7. Hit the shoreline: Shallow shores are perfect hideouts for fish seeking relief from the heat. Cast your lure near weed beds or fallen trees, and you might just get lucky.
8. Take care of yourself: Don’t forget about yourself! Stay hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks, protect yourself from the sun with proper apparel, and keep those shades on.

So don’t let the heat ruin your fishing fun. Try out these tips, and you’ll be reeling in some awesome catches even in scorching weather. Happy fishing!

Images/Source: MossyOak

Most folks can comprehend why we typically fish from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the winter, but they are puzzled that we fish from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the heat of the summer.

Here are two reasons why:

Many of our reservoirs across northeastern Kansas are afflicted with algae blooms. And limnologists and biologists have told us that the algae blooms consume vast quantities of oxygen during the night, which can make the fish lethargic. Thus it is not until midday until the sun does its work to replenish the oxygen level. For instance, we caught more bass after noon on July 25 and 26, 2011 than we did before noon.

Most anglers fish early and late in the day. Therefore, by the time we arrive at the lakes, the bulk of the anglers are ending their outings.  Therefore, we often have the lakes and all of the lairs to ourselves for the four midday hours that we fish — especially during the heat of the summer. By employing our finesse tactics, we catch on average 10 bass an hour, and during what is often described as “the dog days of August,” we have caught as many as 25 or more bass an hour. Of course, we will have lackluster outings as we endured on July 25, 2011, when we caught only 17 smallmouth bass and five largemouth, and caught only 18 largemouth of July 26, 2011. But we caught 85 largemouth on July 23, 2011, and that helped increase our three-day average to eight bass an hour.

Another element that anglers might ponder revolves around reservoirs that have current coursing through them when the dams generate electricity in the afternoons in the heat of the summer.  For example, at the FLW bass tournament at Pickwick Lake, Alabama, on July 21-25, 2011, the best bite for the big bass occurred during the early afternoon.  In fact, Mark Rose of Marion, Arkansas, who won the event, reported that he caught his best bass during the last hour or so of competition during each day. Until the current began in the early afternoon, Rose said that he caught only small bass.

All credit for the great article goes to In-Fisherman. https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/best-time-to-bass-fish-during-the-heat-of-summer/156810