I haven't noticed any difference in the topwater bite, and in fact I'm doing better with frogs than ever.  Some of this might have to do with my skill level being reinforced by lots of frog bites.  overall, this year has actually been one of the best years for fishing, and I'm looking forward to a great fall.  Yes, weed growth is down, in particular, one lake, its completely void, and pea soup, but if you look at my last report, there are fish there.  Tons of them.

Muddy, I have noticed a lot of those things too.  

Drastic decrease in grass growth.

The bass not being on deep points and flats like last summer.

The water temps right now are in the lower 80s.  This time last year, they were right around 87-89 degrees.

I usually enjoy night fishing in the summer.  The nights have been really cold compared to previous years.  I think the cooler days are diminishing the night bite some because it has been a little off as well.

Something else:  I have also went bluegill fishing a lot this year and noticed that the numbers are down for them too.  Still fun and easy to catch but I really have to work for the bigger ones this year.

I wonder what the next couple of months will bring and what this means for winter.  It may be a rough one.

Fall ?

Who 's falling ? :-?

exactly what i was thinking. i can't wait for winter--then maybe the water temps will hit the mid 80's. facetiously speaking of course.

I haven't noticed any difference in the topwater bite, and in fact I'm doing better with frogs than ever. Some of this might have to do with my skill level being reinforced by lots of frog bites. overall, this year has actually been one of the best years for fishing, and I'm looking forward to a great fall. Yes, weed growth is down, in particular, one lake, its completely void, and pea soup, but if you look at my last report, there are fish there. Tons of them.

Hey John: we experienced just the opposite on the Chunk: The frog bite itself was almost non existent. One the back waters and slow pools of the susquehanna. it was about just like every other year. On our local ponds, the frog bite was literally non existent this year, very, confusing. Especially since your location and weather is not far off from here. :-/

I have been seriously bass fishing real hard for three years now. All I know is that this year was a lot different than the last two years. Last year I was constantly hoping for those cloudy, rainy, cooler days. This year, those days are very common and the fishing has been better but a lot more unpredictable overall. Its disheartening to not catch them the way you think you will when everything you have learned is telling you the conditions are perfect for a big day on the lake.

The main reason I enjoy summer fishing at all is because its at least more predictable than the other seasons. The early morning topwater bite is a lot different this year too. Its almost non-existant.

Predictability is a double-edged sword. It works when you understand the variables. If you don't, it is a prison.

I haven't noticed any difference in the topwater bite, and in fact I'm doing better with frogs than ever. Some of this might have to do with my skill level being reinforced by lots of frog bites. overall, this year has actually been one of the best years for fishing, and I'm looking forward to a great fall. Yes, weed growth is down, in particular, one lake, its completely void, and pea soup, but if you look at my last report, there are fish there. Tons of them.

Hey John: we experienced just the opposite on the Chunk: The frog bite itself was almost non existent. One the back waters and slow pools of the susquehanna. it was about just like every other year. On our local ponds, the frog bite was literally non existent this year, very, confusing. Especially since your location and weather is not far off from here. :-/

My 3rd 6+ this year came on a black frog at the "lunch pond." Noel Good and I caught a pile of frog fish on Port Bay, two weeks ago, where the weed eater had removed all the weeds. We just walked them over what was left. I can't explain it. Perhaps because I do so many types fishing, maybe I'm doing something different? I don't use a log, or go back to look at old reports. I just fish what's dealt to me.

Now there are a couple of lakes where the weedlines are as perfect, health, and as strong as ever. I can't figure that one out. Many others are pretty weak in the weed department. Fishing in all has been super.

It is nice and simple around here in fall.

Fish your typical ppe-spawn spots with the same baits and any green grass that is left on the lake.... ;D

Paul, that is a lot of information in three sentences. I saw that you wrote that a minute ago and I have been thinking about it a whole lot since.

Predictability has gotten me into trouble more than once in my limited experiences. Pre-fishing for a recent tournament, we were catching them on shallow flats. I thought I had them figured out before we went and I was correct on where they were at. Two days later and tourney time, something changed and they were deeper and on very edges of those same flats. I don't know what made them move as they were still pre-spawn and the conditions were pretty stable for spring.

We jumped around on several different flats before we realized that they were deeper than we expected. We wasted too much time and it cost us a paycheck we could have easily made had we just been thinking a little differently. We finished less than an ounce out of the money and had them figured out as the tourney was ending.

Keeping an open mind is really hard when you can't figure out which nuance needs changed. Sometimes it is so small and other times I have found myself to be way off. I guess its all a part of learning and I am starting to learn enough to know when and how my approaches were wrong each time I go.

Thanks for the excellent advice you have given in this and many other threads.

I haven't noticed any difference in the topwater bite, and in fact I'm doing better with frogs than ever. Some of this might have to do with my skill level being reinforced by lots of frog bites. overall, this year has actually been one of the best years for fishing, and I'm looking forward to a great fall. Yes, weed growth is down, in particular, one lake, its completely void, and pea soup, but if you look at my last report, there are fish there. Tons of them.

Hey John: we experienced just the opposite on the Chunk: The frog bite itself was almost non existent. One the back waters and slow pools of the susquehanna. it was about just like every other year. On our local ponds, the frog bite was literally non existent this year, very, confusing. Especially since your location and weather is not far off from here. :-/

My 3rd 6+ this year came on a black frog at the "lunch pond." Noel Good and I caught a pile of frog fish on Port Bay, two weeks ago, where the weed eater had removed all the weeds. We just walked them over what was left. I can't explain it. Perhaps because I do so many types fishing, maybe I'm doing something different? I don't use a log, or go back to look at old reports. I just fish what's dealt to me.

Now there are a couple of lakes where the weedlines are as perfect, health, and as strong as ever. I can't figure that one out. Many others are pretty weak in the weed department. Fishing in all has been super.

I hope to get some time fishing with you next year; I should pay you for the lessons ;D

Paul, that is a lot of information in three sentences. I saw that you wrote that a minute ago and I have been thinking about it a whole lot since.

Predictability has gotten me into trouble more than once in my limited experiences. Pre-fishing for a recent tournament, we were catching them on shallow flats. I thought I had them figured out before we went and I was correct on where they were at. Two days later and tourney time, something changed and they were deeper and on very edges of those same flats. I don't know what made them move as they were still pre-spawn and the conditions were pretty stable for spring.

We jumped around on several different flats before we realized that they were deeper than we expected. We wasted too much time and it cost us a paycheck we could have easily made had we just been thinking a little differently. We finished less than an ounce out of the money and had them figured out as the tourney was ending.

Keeping an open mind is really hard when you can't figure out which nuance needs changed. Sometimes it is so small and other times I have found myself to be way off. I guess its all a part of learning and I am starting to learn enough to know when and how my approaches were wrong each time I go.

Thanks for the excellent advice you have given in this and many other threads.

You know, that's what I don't like about "pattern fishing". Patterns can be what you can bring to them I suppose. But they can also be a facsimile of knowledge -of the real variables that underlie the event. Patterns can be a lot of 'what' and 'when' but the line is often drawn at the 'why'. Many think the 'why' is unknowable, or too complex, and it can be. Often it's inaccessible.

But the why's, when we can get at them, are exportable. What and when is just something you're stuck with for the time being, until you are 'lucky' enough to see it again -and recognize it! Further, what helps one to adjust, adapt, to changes in a pattern -the hallmark of the top pros -is knowledge. Why something came about, or disintegrated, as I see it, is "the holy grail".

Don't get me wrong, pattern fishing makes perfect sense in a complex world where we have to make good in a short amount of time, with very limited information. The reality is probably that "time on the water" is a culmination of a whole lotta whats and whens.

But, I'm putting my efforts toward deeper knowledge -the 'whys'. Fool's errand? Mebbe. It certainly won't win me tournaments anytime soon, but that's OK, as Muddy says, it's about fun. Pick your poison.

Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification  

Hey Keep your hat on while out on the bend, Grasshopper has been getting a little bit Zen lately ;D

Muddy, you should get up here for some fall smallie action.

This year is out, next year WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!

Hey Keep your hat on while out on the bend, Grasshopper has been getting a little bit Zen lately ;D

As much as it strokes our egos to think we can figure out the why that will never happen.

The hallmark of the top pros lies in their simplification of the facts; they accept what they can not control and use what they can control to their advantage.

As strange of a year as it has been I still put both quality and quantity in the boat by simply ignoring preconceived seasonal pattern and relying on daily patterns.

One of the things that bothered me most was the odd weedgrowth.  On my home lake, there is one rather expansive tapering sand flat that has usually been home to some excellent broadleaf.  This year it is gone, and instead covered with coontail.  

Only one large hump retained it's normal weeds.  Several of the smaller ones, normally covered, are completely bald.  The crown depths of the smaller humps are only a few feet deeper than the large one.  

Now, I've seen winters of deep lingering snow have an effect on the following summers weedgrowth, but this year was just really odd.  We have not had any really good snow in some years now, but last winter was definitely more than we've had for awhile.  

The loss of most of the good broadleaf on my lake (and others nearby that I fish) was perplexing, but the only thing I can guess at would relate it to the winters snow cover.  I just don't know enough about this to be sure about it.

Catt, I pretty much have experienced the same. I don't fish history patterns, I fish present patterns.

roger my pattern has been like this on all the lakes in central florida runing water ALWAYS produces slow down and let current work your bait.

top water till about 1 hour after sun-up and water that is normally shore and throw a orange/green craw mostly orange with green flake or junebug  if found craws work in any sistuation of coarse i found the craw pattern with about 15 minutes left on day 2 in the the state championship