Been in the 90's and 100's for a couple months. This week, dropping to the mid 60's at night. Not getting up to hi 80's or low 90's until afternoon.

Hitting up the lake this saturday, looks like around 70 in the am @ 6-7:00am.

I usually throw a spinnerbait or chatterbait first thing. Sometimes a buzzbait. There is not a lot of vegetation, one area has some thick grass on the bank, it's real shallow.

Help me catch some big ones. My methods have been ok, produced a few good ones, but I think I could do better with some direction/help. I do throw swimjigs when the sun comes up and do ok. Anyone have any quick suggestions for me to try? Crankbaits have been a total bust here for the past year.

 

I'd throw a top water popper around that vegetation in the morning.

I had that on the list, and frogs. I have done so in the past and never had as much as a swirl. But, I am more than willing to give it another go.

One of the most important things about poppers is knowing what kind of bait fish are in the lake. If it has shad as a major forage use quick erratic pops, if there's no shad a slower cadence will imitate a bluegill or trout feeding at the surface.

Pan handle Florida area (NW).

Keep in mind the water isn't close to the air temps, the surface water isn't the same as the surface temps and bass don't live in 6" of water.

2 lures come to mind; chatter bait and T-rigged soft plastics, possibly a brush hog. You can cover a lot of water and different depths.

Tom

a ton of shad in this lake. I have had the most luck with swimjigs and 3-4" swimbaits. I tried 5-6" a couple days and never got a strike. The smaller ones seem to do better. Also have had luck with drop shots and wacky rigs, depending on time of day and weather. Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

Then a Shad color chatter bait, 3D Vibe lipless and Shad color drop shot finesse worms should be good.

Tom

It sounds like you're looking for a pig. I 100% agree with topwater early this time of year. Absolutely my favorite way to fish. Nothing better than one slamming topwater at sunrise. This is my personal experience and nothing more but every PB I've caught it has been the only one in a spot. Maybe find an area in or on a transition from that vegetation you're talking about where you can pull some fish, then find something in that area like a stump or sharp transition where you're not getting bit but should be. In my personal opinion that's where your girl is going to be. I think the big ones are generally more isolated. As far as lures I think bigger isn't always better but usually is for a big one. I also believe that if your throwing something in a big ones face you have a limited number of chances before you just irritate it into moving out, so choose wisely. Maybe one or two shots with a topwater followed up with a big swim bait or worm.

Topwater early in the AM, and then when the sunlight hits the water switch baits.  I would find the deepest part of the lake and use a jig and craw on the bottom.

Having the first minor cool front of the year brings to mind the upcoming fall feeding frenzies but the reality is it's still August!

Y'all also have approaching tropical weather in the Gulf regions which bring with them high winds & rain.

As for the effects on the fishing, the cool front will only make it more comfortable on you without much effect on the bass. You're catching bass now so I wouldn't look at making major changes. Given the amount of shad I'd key on that with soft jerk baits.

I'd definitely try soft plastics, like Catt said, a fluke can be killer over grass, and maybe try putting a small swimbait on a dropshot. 

We are seeing the same types of weather patterns around here. Yes this weather will trigger the fall feeding activity but not its not going to happen over night. There is usually a transition period between the hot hot summer and fall which can make for some very difficult fishing especially for Largemouth. I think the most difficult part about this period for me is finding the active fish. A whole bunch of fish will be migrating to the tops of creeks to feed but timing this and finding them in-route can be difficult, sometimes its better to just wait until they get up there because they usually stay awhile. Some advice I can give but don't always follow is not to get stuck fishing around the areas they were all summer. You may catch one or two from these areas but trust me they wont be grouped up in those summer locations the way they were. Fish those areas once but just keep moving until you find a concentration of fish. 

Thanks all. I did buy a bunch of different size/color flukes awhile back, great time to try them out this weekend. 

Not much lock today. Shad were not busting. Threw some top water for awhile, nothing. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits...nothing.

Switched to a white fluke and hooked up a 12" dink. Had my daughter throw a senko at the boat ramp, she landed 4 before I got everything loaded up, lol