Some tips for hot-weather fishing

July and August offer some tremendous days as far as weather and outdoor recreation are concerned. The weather often runs negatively when we talk about fishing. It’s nice to sit in a boat and get a tan, but the fish bite really turns off under bluebird skies and gentle breezes.

This is the time when the best bites seem to be when the sun has just come up until post-breakfast, or from after dinner until the sun sets.

I’ve spent a couple summers enjoying being able to walk to the local retention pond in my housing development almost every evening after dinner. I made a challenge out of attempting to catch two largemouth bass and then stopping and heading home. I fished every day and I never caught any grief for fishing too much. It was a perfect situation.

There is one key to this hot weather fishing that I have to offer you, and you may not believe me. You have to fish shallow at dawn and dusk. I laugh when I see bank anglers casting out as far as they can to the middle of the lake, because they think the fish are out there in the deep water because that was where they were hanging out in the sunlight of the afternoon.

The fish are deep when the sun is high because they want to avoid the harmful rays. When the sun begins to go down, the fish move shallow.

When the fish go shallow, they can go really shallow. You may not believe big game fish may be found in as little as a foot or two in depth, but it is true.

When fishing the banks in shallow water, you need to be secretive because it is easy to scare the fish away. Approach the shoreline with stealth. It is probably best to approach the shore in a diagonal direction, rather than walking to the shore in a straight line.

Fish are sensitive to noise, so be quiet and leave the boom box at home. Fish are sensitive to color, as well. Muted colors are a better choice for fishing apparel than a Hawaiian shirt.

Cast your lure perpendicular to the shore. Cast tight to the shoreline and then move your casts deeper. When your casts are at about a 30-degree angle to the shoreline, turn around and cast in the opposite direction.

For bait, you need to toss something that stays shallow, like a spinnerbait or a floating Rapala. You might think that a white or light-colored lure would be easier for fish to see, but the opposite is true. Black lures create a dark silhouette as the sky darkens, so give that a try.

This is a great time to get out and catch some nice fish after dinner. Now get out there and catch some fish!

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I haven’t received much response to my recent question as to who my readership considers to be Illinois’ best fishing enthusiast. I am disappointed, but I know you can do better. Remember, your nomination for the best doesn’t have to be a pro angler or someone who is on a TV show (or even someone with a newspaper column!)

I have heard from some folks mentioning local anglers who no one has ever heard of, and I really love to learn about these talented folks. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about any Illinois guides or charter captains that put fish in their boats on a regular basis.

You still have time, folks. Don’t be shy.