In FL we have this drought and with lack of rain and 90 degree days the water temp is very warm in the mid to high 80s.  I fish from shore behind my house in a pond that holds some nice size bass.  Last summer I hooked into a few in the 7-10 lb range, this summer I can't seem to hooked up to any large fish.  I could use some advice on targeting bass when the water gets this hot.

Posted By jmabry on 06 Aug 2011 07:47 AM
In FL we have this drought and with lack of rain and 90 degree days the water temp is very warm in the mid to high 80s.  I fish from shore behind my house in a pond that holds some nice size bass.  Last summer I hooked into a few in the 7-10 lb range, this summer I can't seem to hooked up to any large fish.  I could use some advice on targeting bass when the water gets this hot.

It would help us in answering your question if you would say what you are using when you fish for them!!!!

 

 

 

I would get out there right at daylight and try a Jitterbug or Hulapopper in black.

In very warm water, the best thing you can do is fish in the shade. Find somewhere shaded by pretty much anything, stumps, overhanging trees, or docks, bass are known to hide next to anything, including each other sometimes, in order to get out of the sun. Another option is find a spring or somewhere where water drains into the pond and fish around there, as these places have a more constant temperature year round, and in this case the water will be cooler and more favorable to bass. Once you get there, try using a spinnerbait or crankbait to locate fish.

I have been using spinner baits, crank baits, and jerk baits the other problem is there is no shade at all to fish in.

Maybe some of the bigger ones were all caught or maybe died off?

jmabry: You might want to go to plastics and fish em real slow see if that helps!!!(worms or craw types)

Like I said, early in the morning. Maybe even at night. Those jitterbugs are killer at night, if you can stand to hear that big splash when they hit and not be able to see it!

Low light periods for sure, but definitely try to fish at night when a full moon comes around. Use a black buzzbait or something that will cause a commotion on the surface/in the water. The color black will provide the most prominent silhouette for the bass to see. If you fish during the day, don't only think of shade provided by objects above the water but also objects underneath the water. A favorite hideout for bass are weeds since they provide cover and oxygen for them. Fish the edges for the most active bass or try a frog over the top if the vegetation reaches the surface. Another option is to punch plastics if the vegetation is really thick and you've worked the edges already.