I took my son out on the boat for the first time to catch some bass with shiners, well we didn't fair well. This was sunday the first real day of our heat wave, we fished about 9am to 11am with noting but a crappie and a couple perch. What are the bass doing in this heat? Is it me?

Rokibass

Since you didn't give much info about your trip , I would suggest to get out on the water by at least 5 or 6 A.M. and beat the heat.

What state are you in?

FWIW we start at 4am at the latest this time of year. We stayed until noon last Sunday and had 16 fish in the boat. Pulled a nice 3lber out of 6" of water in the midday sun.....

I'm in Mass. I usually start early too, but my son is 7 and it wouldn't be a good thing waking him up that early. Anyway it was about 95 degress bluebird skies. I figured I'm always good for a few on artificials we should get something with shiners but :'(.

I guess thats why it's not called catchin.

It was still a good day to hang out with my son.

I hear ya man. Good to spend time with the kids. We have to leave early so the kids don't get upset because they can't come.

Today I went out with Tin for a few hours and we caught a few in 4" of water. Doesn't make any sense at all. I literally put my hand in the water and it didn't reach my watch. 96 degrees today. I picked a good week for vacation.

Perhaps try going after dinner. Evening fishing around New England can be fantastic.

Fish the Shady areas hard. The fish will be in the slop and under the heavy cover, they may be in 6'' of water, but they will still eat.

I got 2 small bass last night from shore around 7:30pm or so on a wacky rigged watermelon wave worm.. Lots of bites too. this was in an open area near lots of lillys..

I am also in Mass, but i was down on the Cape. Went striper fishing for the majority of the day but after many hours with no luck we moved to a pond around 3pm and killed it. worked the banks and caught 14 bass in 1 hour. Even caught a 6lber.  stuck to soft plastics the entire time.  

Wacky rigged worm killed em at lunch today at work.. 5 fish in 30 min or so.. All were dinks but gave good fights.. 8:45am or so..

i've been havin the same problem in the metrowest area, nothins been hittin too hard, guess i gotta get out earlier... although the nights have sucked around here, no hits after 6 pm whatsoever, on every bait and lure i have  >

need...more....bass :'(

Sounds like Post Spawn Blues....

That's fishin'

Been having some problems myself here in Jersey. Gotta go out before or after the heat man. Caught my first bass last night around 7pm after the sun stopped BEATING. Got em in the shade in the slop and lillys on a weightless plastic worm. Other than that, while the sun is high, I've only seen pickerel and crappie activity.

Caught a few rats today with Tin between 10am and 2pm. Flipping docks and pads. Caught one on the second cast with the Berkley paddle tail.

Well went out yesterday evening and caught 1 bass wacky worming. Today I was out at daybreak caught 5  ;D lost 2  :-[ (my fault). The bite shut off at 10:30 though. There's alway tonite.

Thanks to all that replied

Rokibass

I fished this whole week,same conditions here in RI.  After 11-12:00, you couldn't buy a fish in the usual haunts.  

Fish finally started coming when I took my head out of my butt,lol.

High sun, aim for shaded areas (will often be shallow) and even better, DEEP GRASS

With the shiner, use a fishfinder rig to ensure it gets deep and stays there.

all lakes are different  i live in jersey and when its this hot ll throw out a carolina or texas rig with  black horny toad and about a foot of leader and a 1/2 oz sinker close to the middle of the lake. my advice is try my setp and throw it in 5 to 10 feet of water when it gets hot and later in the day. besides its easy to teach a youngster how to work  a carolina rig and they really feel like they are fishing once u take away the bobber lol