Climate experts say late July marks the highest average temperatures of the year across the U.S., and while Florida native Keith Carson lives in tropical temps most of the year, it was actually a tournament he fished in Iowa 20 years ago that still marks the hottest he ever remembers being while fishing.
“It was a Bassmaster event on the Mississippi River, and it was so hot the tournament director had an ambulance on standby at the boat ramp in case anybody suffered heat exhaustion,” remembers Carson.
Not only did he survive the sultry beatdown, but he also went on to finish 6th in that event by throwing a topwater frog around lily pads.
So, who better to ask what lures to throw in this broiler-like weather than the Vexus AVX2100 pro who has claimed victory and AOY titles across America’s three most prominent pro bass trails?
The two lures he recommends share two things in common. They’re easy to use, and they both generate a lot of bites.
Berkley Choppo – “This is a fun topwater to throw, and all you need to do is cast it and wind it back in with a slow to medium retrieve,” says Carson. “It’s great around shady shorelines or around the shady sides of boat docks, and they’ll bite it all day long.”
He ties the Choppo to 40-lb X5 braid, and holds his rod tip at the 10:00 position when retrieving it.
Wacky rigged Berkely General – “This is one of the top all-around fish catchers in bass fishing all year, and that includes the hottest days of summer,” emphasizes Carson. “Again, I look for shaded areas if possible, and it’s so versatile I can catch bass on it from a laydown tree on the shoreline, around a floating dock, or the flooded roots of a cypress tree.
That’s simple and straightforward advice from Carson on how to survive the hottest weeks of the year on the water, and how to generate a lot of bites in the process.
Just don’t forget to stock the insulated fiberglass cooler of your Vexusâ with plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated, because nobody wants to need an ambulance at the boat ramp.
