By Bob Jensen

(photo by Bob Jensen) This mid-summer largemouth wanted an Ocho Worm and Mike Frisch gave it to him.

Fishing can be like the weather in mid-summer:  Both can be very hot. To take part in this potentially fast action, you’ll need to do things a little differently than you would at other times of the year. Following are some of those things.

In the summer it works well to start with faster moving baits and fish through areas quickly.  If the fish are going to bite, they’ll let you know right away. Start with a crankbait on the deep weedline. This works well for largemouth bass and walleyes, but you’ll also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, and maybe a musky.

Pretty much any fish that lives along the deep weedline will react favorably to this presentation.  Sometimes the fish will be scattered. You’ll catch one here and another one there. But if you catch a couple out of the same spot, work that spot a little more thoroughly.  Throw a slower moving bait out there and you’ll often catch a couple more.

However, if the action isn’t fast, you might be better off fishing slow and really working an area thoroughly. If you know the body of water well, concentrate on spots that you know hold fish and work them over.

Let’s say we’re fishing specifically for largemouth bass. Usually in the summer, early and late in the day are when the bass go on a good bite. A fast moving bait such as a buzz-bait, spinnerbait, or a crankbait will often be the best producer.

When the sun gets up higher and the bite slows down, go with plastic baits rigged on a jig or weedless. Fish around vegetation, docks, or any other form of cover where bass hang out.

Fish can be very lure selective sometimes. On a memorable mid-summer fishing trip, we experienced one of those days when the fish were finicky. We were fishing for largemouth bass.

It was an overcast day, so the bite remained pretty good throughout the day. Good, that is, if we were using the right bait. My partner and I were throwing plastics in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.

We tried several different baits, but an Ocho worm in the Green Pumpkin color was by far most productive. It was noticeable that this was the bait that the bass preferred by a significant margin. Color is a consideration whenever you go fishing, but at times it’s a very important factor.

So is bait shape and size. Give the fish plenty of options until they show you what their preference on that day is.

Much of the time in the summer, the fish will prefer a faster moving bait, and also one that is moving erratically. Along the weedline, when you feel your bait hang up on a weed, give it a sharp rip. When a bass, walleye or pike sees that bait struggling on a weed, then ripping free and appears to be escaping, a strike will often be triggered.

Mid-summer fishing has arrived.  It’s fun to be on the water when the sun comes up, catch some fish, then take a mid-day break. Maybe go to town or explore the area. Or just hang out somewhere cool.  But make sure you’re back on the water in the early evening.

You’ll catch fish, and you’ll be taking full advantage of all that summer has to offer in the way of fishing.  And, it’s fun to be on the water when the sun goes down.