The Bass College

This heat has really cut down the activity near me. The overall length of bite has shortened quite a bit, but for short periods of time has been pretty steady. Anyone else find this to hold true? Also, even w/ tons of bluegill in the shallows presumably on beds breaking the water, along with crappie, the topwater and reaction bite hasn't really delievered for myself anyway. Used a few Poppers, torpedo, spook and floating Rapalas. Slow-rolled spinnerbait deeper down has done a bit better. Most bites have been on Senko-style worms Texas rigged or bottom dragging jig n pigs or t-rigged plastics. Curious as to what's producing for you in your area of NJ....Stay hydrated and wear your sunblock, it's brutal out there. Even worse if you're working in it!

When its like this I dont fish in the day or after 10 am. But if I was forced too as I used to be, I caught them on all fast baits early, and then later a carolina rig to a jig to a crankbait, depending where I was and what their mood was. It really does vary, even from lake to lake. 

During the summer months when the high temps are 90 and above, I only fish the first 2 hours at sunrise and the last hour before sunset. I will also do some night fishing, depending on the moon cycle though. Both morning and evenings I will throw spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and walk-the-dog style of topwater. I will throw the same 3 baits at night, but all in the black color.

early morning and evening bite, and start fishing DEEP as fish are in there summer patterns and dont forget night fishing is really HOT in the summer!!!

where in nj do you live and what bodies of water are you fishin?  you can pm me for info , ill try to help i know alot of the lakes in jersey!!! there are big fish to be caught in summer all day long if you know where fo fish and there seasonal patterns!!

I fish in the late afternoon for the most part right now. The only thing consistent for me right now is the lightest jig i can find and the biggest trailer i can put on without it looking disproportional to make it fall slow. I had one yesterday that ate a jig and drug it around the boat while i wasn't paying attention and missed him on the hook set. but at least i don't have to worry about them spitting it out fast lol

I am fishing a senko right now and just tossing it a foot or two away from the weeds and the bass are nailing it on the fall. I usually fish that the last two hours of daylight and I'll toss a buzzbait when the sun goes down. I've been having pretty good luck doing this

Just went out in the heat on Wednesday at 5:30 am, the bite was on but NOT in the shallows as there were 6 boats all fishing the shallows catching nothing. We were in about 6-9' of water fishing one of my deep diving custom painted cranbait in a sunfish pattern, and I was fishing a Northstar 3/8 jig with a grandebass trailer. We both caught 6 with the largest I got at 5.1 on a jig. The jig was sometimes swam and sometimes very slow on the bottom. As long as uyou know the depth fish are at you can work the bait. Water temp was 75.4 we fished until 11am.

Thanks Sam. 

I've found the same thing regarding the depth Sml75. When I've found a bait that gets good looks I try to reproduce the pattern at similar spots on the lake. Seems that 10-11am has been my most productive time oddly, prob bc the area I'm fishing then is around floating docks in 8-20' water w/ scattered weeds. Thinking that I'm getting them back on their way to the deeper water after feeding in the morning perhaps, but not sure. I have two rods now, one 7mh w/ a revo and a 6.6 spinning setup for senkos/weightless plastics. I usually start out with jig n pigs or swim jigs and alternate with the weightless so try to cover alot of the depths bc I can see the fish bc the water is so clear,getting instant feedback on what they're doing and is pretty beneficial in that regards, but sucks bc are so picky. They will chase a lure down from 20 yards away, come within an inch, follow it, and then turn it down. For every bite I must get 20 follows...Great info guys thanks for sharing, keep it up if you'd like .

Friday 6/29 got another 23" 5lb LM at Round Valley on a weightless Senko and my spinning rod. Big boy came outta the grasses in about 15' of water and absolutely ran all over trying to shake the hook. After 3 mins got her in. Got one other 2 lb down deep again on a Senko later in the day, and that was it. With the temps, full sun, and pressure from weekenders the bite was tough, and still is...Fished 4 hrs on 7/2 down on South shores and couldn't buy a bite. Cranked w/ medium divers, senko's, brush hogs, jigs, swim jig...and nothing...how are you guys finding the bite?

Caught in less than 1 foot of water and the water temps are 90 degrees. 

Mabey i should try shallow here early

Maybe?? LOL The DAY BEFORE 1-3 feet of water at 90 degree temps.