Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
covering tidal waters and impoundments
Late Summer Techniques
With rising water temperatures most bass fishermen go to the deeper holes, drops, ledges and humps looking for a few fish to satisfy their fishing fever. These areas do hold fish, although they are usually few and far between and hard to catch.
Look in the shallows, ease into the same areas you fish in early spring…especially in the early and late hours. Search out areas which provide easy access to deeper water or creek channels for migration. Concentrate on areas with grass. Probe the edges with a spinnerbait or buzzbait, work a floating worm over the matt and into the pockets. Experiment with unusual techniques, and be prepared for some unusual action. You will find the bass to be very aggressive at times, and at other times you will find the strikes very subtle. A jig worked with a hopping actin in the grass will often find it's way into the deeper submerged vegetation and trigger a strike you might otherwise miss.
On a recent trip out of Liveoak Landing I went north and found a few fish on a drop ledge in a deep river bend. I had three fish 1 to 3 pounds when I went south and saw one a friend fishing another tournament. I stopped to see how he was doing. He said he had a limit and had caught about 20 fiosh in a shallow flat (about 2 feet). He was using a "Ding-a-ling" swimming it over the pockets of grass on the flat. I went back the following week and managed to catch seven nice fish 2 to 5 pounders, starting out with the "ding-a-ling" then switching to a jig.
Next time you are having a tough time on the ledges and drops, get radical. You might just put a limit of nice fish in the livewell in spite of the heat.
Good luck, and keep your line wet.
Fred Raby
