I faced a very weird scenario today. The heat index was over 100 degrees, the sky was mostly clear, and there was significant wind. There has been drought in NC for a while so water levels are lower than I've seen in decades as well.

To make a tale of woe short, I simply couldn't figure out where the bass were. Soft plastics weren't working on my usual summer spots, so I threw on a spinner (wind was high and water very muddy) and started working the lake. I eventually hooked up with a single bass which saved me from a total skunk. It appeared to be the only one in the area.

I don't have electronics, so my question is what's the best search bait in extreme heat/drought stress conditions? My theory is the stress had made the bass spooky and the spinner was too much commotion.

I suspect it might be a small paddletail on a jighead, but I'd like to know your opinions before going out and buying more tackle.

Weightless trick worm. Target cover and shade!

High, muddy water can be tough. I'd throw a dark big Colorado blade spinnerbait or a Colorado/Indiana blade combination. If that didn't work I'd use a big blade, bladed jig fished slow.

When the water is really high, often times I'll find bass in heavy grass that is normally on shore and newly flooded.