I’ll make this a report but it’s really a warning. Went to the Rappahonock River here in Virginia chasing bass. Caught a few on a dropshot and Ned. I caught a Snakehead that totally destroyed a Buckeye Su-Spin rigged with a Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer. Water temps were in the high 70’s, air temps in the low 90’s. My first real exposure to summer heat. I just got back from St Clair where we were in the day/night temps in the 60’s and 40’s. My system was not ready for that shock. I was in lightweight fishing pants, hooded fishing shirt, gloves, buff and hat. I brought plenty of water but by the end of the day I felt like crap with a throbbing headache. Got home, took a cold shower and drank about a gallon of water and started feeling better. Be careful out there! 😉

Here’s one of the bass.

Yeah it's quite warm here too. Very muggy. The dew point just to the west of me is 73 degrees. Soupy would be the word I'd use as a description.

Remember to stay hydrated, it's especially important this time of year.

You need some cotton in your life ! Nice catches

Glad you were able to turn around how you were feeling. That snakehead is really cool-looking!

As a kid I loved the Sun and run around like a shirtless wild heathen no matter the temperature. I was one dark brown white boy and I believed I drew power from the Sun like Superman. At 16 I started working a public job and dating my girlfriend(now wife), so I started wearing shirts more often. Jump 8 years in time, I was a Jet engine mechanic that worked night shift and fished or bowfished most off nights. Now 51, if it's 85 and full Sun I'm cooking. Summertime is all nighttime fishing for this old boy. Coworkers started accusing me of being a vampire.😂

Heading out again Sunday with a few changes. First, I’ll be gulping water all day Saturday to get my hydration level up and second, I told my fishing buddy that we are going to start earlier (safelight) and end earlier. I need to ease into this summer heat.

We're looking at temps in the low 90's and a heat index of 104 all weekend. That being said, I do have some moisture wicking hoodies and long pants that keep me protected and actually pretty comfortable out there in the heat.

If you're in a kayak floating down a river it's rarely too hot. If it is I'll bail out.

I fish at night almost exclusively during summer. It’s cooler and less crowded.

Glorious weather on tap here the next 7-10 days. Highs in the 70's and low humidity. Might be the best week of weather all summer.

You guys can keep your tropical heat down there

Water isn't enough/adequate hydration for me once we get into those 90 plus degree air temps, 60/70 degree dew points and you're sweating so much your lips are salty when you lick them. Yes I need water but also electrolytes. Makes a world of difference in my body and my ability to keep going and also recover.

I was out too and it was brutal. One of the few benefits of the paddle board is that I can dangle my legs in the water on a hot day. It can also help to get a cooling towel, something you wear on your neck that cools you through evaporation.

I can handle extreme heat much better than extreme cold.

This past Wednesday around noon I trolled to shallow water and jumped in to cool off, very effective.

Lakes I fish are very clean and clear and would think twice about jumping into murky water.

Seconding electrolytes. I don't have water super close by so when I do get to go out I like to fish as long as possible even in 90+ degree days. I'm in a kayak so exerting physically as well. I'll bring at least 3 liters of water and add electrolyte packets.

Well, our planned trip for today was called off. We had some severe storms roll through and my boat is stored on my daughters farm and not only is she without power, which means I can’t get the massive doors open on the barn, all roads to the farm were blocked by downed trees. We are supposed to get another round of storms this afternoon as well. My problem with all of the electrolyte drinks is that they make my hands and feet swell up. Back in my young days, I worked in a factory where we repaired and retrofitted all sorts of rail cars. A lot of our work was done outside in the heat. In the bathroom and showers they had dispensers with salt tablets. I don’t know if there was any additional additives in them but we were instructed to take them on a regular basis.

I have a weeks vacation starting today and it flooded like crazy last night. Everything is blown out. It has been a horrible spring here in Missouri. But we don’t have no heat. Just needs to dry out

I headed out to Ocmulgee PFA today where the fishing can be tough, but there's a lot of 6 and 7 pounders in there.

Got to the ramp and noticed that one of my Garmin protective screen covers is missing. Bummer because I always make sure they are snapped on correctly before I head out.

Then I noticed that I forgot my cooler. Big, big mistake. So instead of fooling with the heat, I fished for only a few hours. I had one big blow up on a frog, but she missed the bait.

Then, my trolling motor battery died - again. Swapped it out with my electronics battery which is also a 100Ah battery. Everything was charged to capacity last night, so I'm guessing I've got bad cells.

There is so much submerged flooded timber in this PFA that I rely on FFS to navigate this lake and without electronics I packed up and headed home. I could already feel the heat.

I've been thinking about packing it in for the summer. I've been wanting to sell my kayak and trailer to buy a new kayak and trailer so this might be the time to do that.

On 6/12/2026 at 1:03 PM, Bird said:

I can handle extreme heat much better than extreme cold.

I am the opposite.

While I'm not a big fan of winter here, I'm very tolerant of it. I won't even consider fishing outside under the blazing sun when it's hot/humid here in the summer time. Luckily, we usually only get a day or two of that at a time and then a weather change occurs.

Maybe it's an age thing. Ask me in 20 years.

It was pretty hot over the weekend but temps were lower today and supposedly will be all week. The moisture wicking sun hoodie was brutal, I can’t put the hood up unless it’s really windy. I’m still a cotton guy

On 6/14/2026 at 3:14 PM, Kayak Koz said:

I headed out to Ocmulgee PFA today where the fishing can be tough, but there's a lot of 6 and 7 pounders in there.

Got to the ramp and noticed that one of my Garmin protective screen covers is missing. Bummer because I always make sure they are snapped on correctly before I head out.

Then I noticed that I forgot my cooler. Big, big mistake. So instead of fooling with the heat, I fished for only a few hours. I had one big blow up on a frog, but she missed the bait.

Then, my trolling motor battery died - again. Swapped it out with my electronics battery which is also a 100Ah battery. Everything was charged to capacity last night, so I'm guessing I've got bad cells.

There is so much submerged flooded timber in this PFA that I rely on FFS to navigate this lake and without electronics I packed up and headed home. I could already feel the heat.

I've been thinking about packing it in for the summer. I've been wanting to sell my kayak and trailer to buy a new kayak and trailer so this might be the time to do that.

Those Ocmulgee bass will bite at night. Just mind the big aquatic lizards.

52 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Those Ocmulgee bass will bite at night. Just mind the big aquatic lizards.

So far I've only seen small ones there. I had one swim beside me for a while earlier this year.

I really like to push into the weeds and sticks and flip and pitch, but I chicken out there after a while wondering if a big gator is around.

22 minutes ago, Kayak Koz said:

So far I've only seen small ones there. I had one swim beside me for a while earlier this year.

I really like to push into the weeds and sticks and flip and pitch, but I chicken out there after a while wondering if a big gator is around.

Koz, that lizard pictured is atleast 10'. You're likely in more danger from the wasp in those trees. I've handed out Sting Eze there on several trips. One old boy got stung 11 times.