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After a couple of weeks of day after day with temperatures well into the 90s, a few days of 80-degree temperatures feels like a relief.
I certainly don't need to remind fellow anglers that the recent brutal heat wave made fishing an ineffective ordeal on many days. And even with a return to more "normal" summertime weather, that situation probably won't get a lot better for awhile.
Trout fishing can be the most problematic now. The ample water levels in most area streams that we enjoyed throughout the spring are just a memory now. I drove by a small freestone stream last week that looked like a ditch full of wet rocks.
Under the best circumstances, summer trout fishing presents many tactical challenges. A thermometer is a must-have piece of equipment for a summer trout angler. Trout are cold-water fish and when water temperatures hit 70 degrees or more, they go into survival mode and rarely feed much if at all. Fishing for them in such conditions will usually be an exercise in futility.
Fishing is likely to be better on limestone streams that are fed with an influx of cooler water from underground springs and will maintain cooler flows that trout prefer.
Even bass, which are comfortable in water approaching bath-water warm, often tend to make themselves scarce under the bright, scorching summer sun. Catching them under those conditions can be a grind as they seek the cover of heavy weeds or the refuge of deep-water structure. Either of those situations can require a lot of effort for a relatively meager reward.
One major strategy shift for beating the summer heat is to work the night shift. Night fishing is a completely different experience than daytime angling, so it can take some getting used to depending on the species you're after or the methods you use.
But with a few adjustments, fishing after dark can be productive and enjoyable. Some avid night fishermen are convinced that odds of catching trophy fish are greatly enhanced after dark.
Whether you plan to fish a stream, river or lake at night, pick a spot you know well and concentrate your efforts there. Stumbling around an unfamiliar stream in the dark is certainly no fun and can be a bit dangerous.
Trout, especially big brown trout, have uncanny night vision so they have no problem feeding at night. Sloppy wading and other unnecessary commotion, however, will easily spook the fish and ruin any chance of catching them.
Fishing dry flies and nymphs is a highly visual game and can be nearly impossible in the dark, so fly anglers will probably want to stick with streamers and wet flies fished downstream for best results. Spin fishermen can catch nighttime trout on small Rapalas or inline spinners or by using minnows and small crayfish as live bait.
Bass in lakes tend to move into the shallows after dark in search of baitfish and other prey, making them perfect targets for spinnerbaits or topwater lures fished along the shoreline.
During the day, I fish spinnerbaits with willowleaf blades most of the time. At night, however, I've always done with spinnerbaits fitted with larger Colorado-style blades. The broad shape of the Colorado blade creates more vibration than the slender willowleaf, which undoubtedly attracts bass in the absence of daylight.
Favorite nighttime topwaters are buzzbaits, popping baits and lures that can be fished with a "walk the dog" retrieve. I generally avoid overly erratic retrieves in the dark to better allow the bass to home in on its target. Most important, always control your slack line when working a topwater bait and wait until you feel the fish before setting the hook.
Day or night, bass sometimes slash at a topwater lure but miss it entirely. If you set the hook aggressively at the sound of the splash in the darkness and the fish has missed the lure, you probably will launch it back at you like a shot. Getting hit with a couple of treble hooks in the dark can be dangerous.
Of course, one of the favorite target species for many devoted night anglers are catfish and carp. These bottom feeders are active feeders after dark and are found in most of the rivers and lakes of our region. Fishing for them can be sedentary, relaxed and often a social event with a comfortable chair and a fishing buddy or two. Bait your hook, cast it out, prop your rod in a holder, sit back and let the fish do the work.
Carp and catfish and will take a variety of baits. Nightcrawlers or crayfish will catch both. Chicken livers and minnows, alive or dead, will also catch catfish. Other useful carp baits include prepared dough baits or whole kernel canned corn. Chumming your fishing spot with a handful or two of corn can attract a steady bunch of carp.