Things have been dead for days with heat in the 90's and humidity off the charts. Having tried everything I could think of, and being desperate, I did the only thing left. I bought a new rod today.

The pond I had in mind was being assaulted by the folks who maintain that property with industrial size mowers rumbling along the banks and men with edgers trimming the edges of the banks.

I knew I had no chance of actually catching anything in these conditions, so I decided to try out my new rod by getting some casting practice with different kinds of lures to see how the rod felt. I recently read something by @Glenn about how the middle of the pond with no structure is unlikely to be holding fish but that was the only water open to me with a chance of standing on the bank and not being run over by a mower.

I went through a spinnerbait, a Mepps in-line spinner, a crankbait and more and was pleased with my new rod's performance on all but the spinnerbait. Before packing up I tied on a Rapala 4" jerk bait. I have never really learned how to fish a jerk bait. Bought this one thinking I should give it a try sometime so about an hour ago I did. I cast out into the middle of the pond and started a slow steady retrieve and then remembered it was called a jerk bait. So, I gave it a couple of small jerks.

Got hit by this 18" beauty and got to enjoy watching its twin swim right alongside it as I was playing it.

Clearly, I have no clue what I am doing out there. Even less of a clue what the bass are doing out there. Clueless but loving it.

You changed things up, took a clue from one of Glenn's videos, applied it, and got one....sounds like the opposite of clueless to me!

Agree with the above. Nice job on adjustment and keeping at it. A solid 18" on a slow day sure creates some mojo for next time.

I kinda go fishing with @Glenn because I've applied his wisdom many times and caught fish because of it. For example, I fish the eastern shores in the morning because that's where the shade falls and I always work beaver lodges because bass lodge there too. Come fall, I look for the lingering green weeds and I stay on the move because fall bass are here and there. Just this morning, I landed bass where Glenn told me to find them, fishing a drop-off adjacent to a spawning flat and I even credit Glenn for my 24.65-lb. bag this spring caught in 1.5 hours when I found the area where the big females staged right before the spawn.

Good job, @SJS! I like how the fins are flared on your bass.

Yup, I guess we all go fishing with @Glenn to one degree or another. We should call him Uncle Glenn, except I'm old enough to be his father.

5 hours ago, SJS said:

with heat in the 90's and humidity off the charts

That is about to hit us next week. There is no way I'm going fishing in it.

^thats a shame, rock bass really bite good in a heartbeat wave

12 hours ago, gim said:

That is about to hit us next week. There is no way I'm going fishing in it.

Yep @gim, warmer weather headed this way as well...

I plan to fish hard on Saturday...then fish early on Sunday...Heat index supposed to be 103. UGH!

Can you say "sweltering?"

Yike, Gim! In a typical summer, we'll have one day over 90. Maybe two. Today it's in the sixties.

92 degrees here at the moment and I just came in from fishing. Bass were not hungry. I'll try after dinner when it is down to a balmy 86.

Greetings and Happy Friday All,

@SJS Congratulations! New rod, better bass, and a new angling approach success. All great accomplishments. Bravo!

Yes, totally agree it is toasty in most areas. Here in Southern AZ we've got the heat with the wind to make for 'Red Flag' conditions all weekend long. It is going to be interesting making a cast under those conditions. We'll see what happens.

Let's be careful out there! Be well, Cheers!

On 6/26/2026 at 11:34 AM, gim said:

Can you say "sweltering?"

No, it is cold and rainy out here in Oregon :)

On 6/26/2026 at 1:55 PM, Swamp Girl said:

In a typical summer, we'll have one day over 90

Here in MN we average 13 days over 90 degrees each summer. We've only had one thus far. Wish it would stay that way but my hunch is that is about to go up dramatically each day this week.