Fish whenever you have the time, and don't worry what others say is the best time to fish.

Fishing in the dead heat of summer can be tough, but you have the same 2 choices you have every other time of the year. 
 

Am I going to make the fish bite even if they aren’t hungry, or am I gonna give them what looks like an easy meal to slurp up?

 

When it’s hot the fish are less likely to chase very far, but if you can get a lure right on the edge of that dock (and even better bump the dock itself with your lure) they will come out to grab it. 
 

 

In intense heat, you have to go to the fish. They don’t want to be in the sun any more than you do. It’s why skipping docks and punching through vegetation are the most productive ways to fish this time of year. 
 

We as bass anglers have a unique knack for over complicating things. You know where they are going to be, it just a matter of choosing a lure to give you the best chance to get it in front of the fish’s face. 

If you can mentally deal with the wake from wake boats in the hot summer, they break the surface of the water quite a bit and can have the same effect as wind when it comes to light penetration. I've actually had the bite turn on between curse words on those days...

I love night fishing but don't get to often.  It's not about the only time bass will bite, but having the lake pretty much to yourself is great.  Kinda like winter fishing.   I have to be up at 5:30 for my current job so late nights aren't good for me at this time.  

 

The only time I normally have trouble catching some is for an hour or so right after dark.   

 

Lately I've been getting to the lake an hour or so before sunrise.  I caught 6 this morning before sunrise, including a 4 pounder.  I lost them for a bit after sunrise, but managed to catch 8 more (and 2 catfish) between 10am and Noon.   

 

I hate wake boats, but like Trox said, they can actually help.  I had never thought about the waves and light penetration.  I've been thinking the waves crashing against the shore helps keep oxygen levels up.   I've been targeting areas where waves are crashing in the shade.  I'll expand to sunny areas tomorrow after the wake boats arrive.   

For the most part (as another western Masshole) the bite this time of year dies down around 11am and doesn't pick up until at least 6pm, sometimes later depending on how early it starts to cool off. Dawn is generally more productive than dusk, but I'm not a morning person so I rarely get up that early.

 

I can put you on some locations where you can get fish all day long. Are you anywhere near North Adams

Just the opposite here, I'm a morning person, the grandkids not so much. I normally fish south of Lee but wouldn't mind somewhere north of there on occasion. My big thing is I do not fish where the pleasure power boaters roam in the summer.