Have you all noticed any patterns in fish behavior when a heatwave comes around? Cold fronts often seem like a focus of attention but what about heatwaves.

air pressure is generally what that refers to, a cold front means low-pressure which many anglers say makes the fish more active.  Taking this into account, a heatwave means high-pressure, supposedly meaning less activity. 

 

you could also look at it as affecting water temps, specifically water temps at certain depths.  If the air temp is hot, the surface temp will be warmer than in deeper areas, which will affect where they congregate since theyre cold blooded. 

 

These are just my personal observations, generally in hot Summer weather, I'll be fishing thick shaded areas or deep water

I believe that's one thing bass and people have in common , we seek to escape heat stroke by going under a bridge for the shade it provides . Bass often seem to be there too .

Night activity picks up for both the bass & me.

I enjoy summer night fishing. Usually start around 8pm when it’s still light but the fish are out after hiding in shade all day.  They tend to be pretty aggressive most evenings. 

Sustained heat during summer transition will warm the water surface enough to start warming the water column. The affect is obvious with aquatic plant growth and algae blooms.

Short heat waves that last a day or has little impact on the water temps and that is what matters to the bass. 

Summer period can be hot and uncomfortable plus adds more water contact sports and boaters.

The big ecosystem changes are aquatic plant growth and thermocline developing, bass and abundant of prey scattering.

Night is your friend. 

Tom

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Night activity picks up for both the bass & me.

Me too. Last week.

Despite every rule book ever, the heat and dead of summer is when I catch quantity and quality.

23 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Despite every rule book ever, the heat and dead of summer is when I catch quantity and quality.

My best bass fishing has been mid-morning to noon on hot, sunny days mid-summer.

 

The one in my profile pic was caught about 10:30 AM on July 31 when the temps neared 90 for the high.

I see it looks like I'm on the right track then. I've been having great luck nightfishing throughout this month and am heading out tonight again after work. California is experiencing its first major heat wave of the year with temps being 108 so I definitely want to avoid daytime fishing. 

I tend to fish more in vegetation during a heatwave. It provides shade and oxygen for the fish. If the weeds are scarce I focus on deeper water.

2 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I tend to fish more in vegetation during a heatwave. It provides shade and oxygen for the fish. If the weeds are scarce I focus on deeper water.

Yep - the one I got darted out from under some lily-pads that I was running a spinnerbait along the edge of.

I don't get to fish at night where I fish. And it's probably not a great idea in the kayak anyway. But for me, a heat wave is OK as long as it's a stable weather pattern. I'll still get some bites and some quality fish. But the window of opportunity gets smaller. The bite becomes best for me early or late. My last two PBs came in the heat of July. If I go in the morning, which is my preference, I'm usually finished by 10:00, even if I fish another couple hours. Last August 8th I got 2 fish over 7 lbs. I remember the date because it's my birthday. They're still in there, their metabolism is high and they'll eat if you can get a bait in their face.

I don’t like night fishing.  Never have.  I’ve done it and caught fish but not my preferred way to fish.  The chain of lakes we have been going to in Wisconsin for 20+ years has decided to spray the aquatic vegetation and turned every lake into a night bite.  You know what else bites at night in Wisconsin?  Mosquitos.  Big nasty blood thirsty mosquitos.  My thermacell can only do so much and then add in every other insect trying to get in my mouth, eyes, ears or up my nose and it’s not a fun time.  I can still scratch out a few fish early in the morning after they have moved up shallow during the night but it’s not worth dragging the boat 1,200 miles.  Makes me sad because the lakes used to be a fishing paradise with 50-75 fish days pretty common.  

I use a head net over my hat, long sleeves, fingerless gloves and a scarf around my neck.  Then I spray Deep Woods Off on my sleeves, scarf and back of the gloves.

You still hear the buggers buzz in,  but they don't land.

I flat out love night fishing.  

I look for shade that’s where they will be. Docks, lay downs, weeds, etc

 

fish the edges and the holes

7 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I don’t like night fishing.  Never have.   

It always seems like a great idea until you do it. I’ve basically caught nothing in 3 decades of attempting 

Anything other than hot muggy sunshine for me. Can’t and won’t do it. I’ve had some of the worst fishing days ever trying to force a bite through it. Not worth it.

 

Fish seek out relief from the sun whether that be in the form of shade from weeds, docks, or wood. Some fish also move deeper because it’s cooler down there.

 

I hadn’t fished at night in a few seasons until last year. There was just no refuge from all the recreational boaters during daylight hours so I started fishing around 8pm and stayed out there until 11 or 12. Turned out to be some of the most productive outings of the entire season. I intend to do it again, maybe later this week as the first big heat wave is coming.

53 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

It always seems like a great idea until you do it. I’ve basically caught nothing in 3 decades of attempting 

Man, its definitely harder but I actually really like it; just me (besides love birds), quiet, cool(er). I’m on the bank though. Blessing and a curse.  
 

Can be nervous. If I encounter another living being other than a fish I just leave. Human or animal. 

Cold fronts bring blue, cloudless skies, and are assumed to shut fishing down for a few days.Bass seem to be averse to weather changes. So any period of time where the weather is fairly stable is usually thought to be good. Consequently, if you have a sustained period of hot humid weather, that ought to be good, even though you may be miserable.bass are cold blooded creatures, so they are unaware of heat as we think of it. They are attuned to water temperature, and whenever it’s too warm they go deep and fishing is more problematical

The heat, by itself, IMO, does not harm the bite. The other things that come with the heat do. Things like algae bloom toxins, decaying leaves and the toxins that come from whatever algae or vegetation died off in the heat do kill the bite. This is even more noticeable in the small lakes where I fish. In big lakes there will probably still be safe zones for the fish to go to. But I don’t think the heat kills the bite, especially not with everyone saying the cold fronts kill the bite.

Stable weather is usually good.  I do pretty well during heat waves.  Once the water gets warm enough, and you get a pretty definite thermocline, it really cuts down on the amount of possibilities that bass will be in.  So, for me, it tends to make fishing easier.  They're either in the shade, or hugging the bottom where the bottom meets the thermocline.  

My PB in my profile pic was just shy of 1pm on a 90 degree day.  That being said, I caught her right on a shade line from overhanging trees.  Find the shade during the heat and find the fish.

 

That being said, what do you all fish when you're night fishing?  I've never done it and it seems like it'd up the difficulty since you can't line watch.  All moving baits?

8 hours ago, hokiehunter373 said:

That being said, what do you all fish when you're night fishing?  I've never done it and it seems like it'd up the difficulty since you can't line watch.  All moving baits?

Yes, my success as night recently has been with a black spinnerbait. Also have had success with a dark colored chatterbait and a topwater. Dark, loud lures seem to be ideal.

Try fishing during the night.