A look inside the mind of a Major League Fishing pro.
It’s no secret, summertime bass fishing can be frustrating and certainly has it challenges on almost any body of water. Even when fishing one’s home waters, warmer weather can stump many anglers, often leaving an empty live well or stringer.
But this warm season also leads to a few myths that perhaps only a ‘pro’ could help debunk. I had the chance to sit down and talk tactics with Major League Fishing (MLF) professional Darryl Esterly; with over 25 years of tournament fishing under his belt, the last 5 of those years in the MLF Toyota Series, Darryl wanted to help put to rest some of those summer myths that many anglers still hold near and dear.
Myth #1: When it gets warm, bass go deep.
While true that as the water warms, particularly after the spawn, the fish will move. But not all bass run for deep water. Darryl suggests looking for slight differences in shallower water such as shaded drop-offs, anyplace bass can hide in the shadows. This only needs to be a foot or two, as any slight change can provide a great ambush spot.
Bass will also move out to points which are great cover locations, as sun moves from one side to the other, it is an easy move for bass to simply shift to the shady side of any feature. Points are also great spots for holding bait, which in itself makes it a prime spot to setup and cast.
Some bass will continue to remain in very shallow water. Look for them along less pressured banks of the lake/river, away from areas fished by shore anglers. When fishing pressured waters, it is critical that you slow down! Fish will be a bit sluggish and not as responsive as a fish in cooler, off-season waters. Darryl says multiple casts are often needed in the same area to get those fish to strike.
Look for that subtle change in contour, brush, timber, or the like and try to pattern the fish as you begin to get strikes. Focus on grass and sunfish beds, and keep an eye out for large rocks. A single rock can hold a bass as it can cast a shadow on one side or the other; as with a point, bass can simply move to the other side as the shadow moves through the day.
Also look for shallow areas close to deep water. Bass can run up to skinny water to feed while quickly getting back to cooler deeper waters as conditions change. A drop-off is an ideal spot to work a slower bait like a jig or Carolina rig; you can work it slowly down the slope to find the optimum depth for that day.
Myth #2: The fish were here earlier.
Many anglers think once they find a spot holding fish, that is the only spot they fish time after time. You will often hear “I’ve caught them here before,” but the fact is that fish move as seasons or conditions change, as well from pressure from boat traffic and other angling activity. So just going back the exact same rock or tree is not a plan for success.
Darryl advises that anglers look to find a pattern, something different that will hold fish as conditions change. Some areas of cover are simple; grass and pads, boat docks, a slight pocket or flat near deep water. Other opportunities are a little less obvious, like a pocket near heavy boat traffic which can make a portion of the water near the bank muddy in an otherwise clear lake. Fish use their lateral line as well as their vision to locate prey, so they can feel the vibrations of a lure that we could only see. This area of cloudy or muddy water could be considered cover in some situations.
While we’re on the subject of cloudy or muddy water, also be on the lookout for a small creek or inflow. A small stream can cool the water in that spot, making it much different than that of the surrounding area. It can also clear the water up in an otherwise muddy section or vice versa. These inflows can also draw baitfish and insects to a localized area in the evenings. Inflows can also help to mix the water and increase oxygen which is often reduced by warm shallow summer conditions.
No one location will hold fish all the time. Anglers need to be flexible, adaptable, and willing to admit “This spot isn’t working” and move, try something else. Many tournament guys call it “run and gun.” You need to be able to adapt and move on to find success.
Water clarity is another key strategy when searching out an ideal area. Some anglers are more comfortable fishing gin clear waters, while others are more confident in colored water. Each has its pros and cons, but both can be productive. Clear waters may require fluorocarbon for those line shy fish, while cloudy waters may require a bait with more noise or “thump” like a spinnerbait with a big Colorado blade, or a Rat-L-Trap that makes a lot of noise allowing the fish to zero in on it.
Myth #3: “This one lure is all I need.”
True, many of us (including myself) have a favorite, ‘go to’ lure. Maybe it’s a lure you caught your personal best bass on, or maybe it’s one that your Pop gave you, or it’s simply just a lure you have the most confidence in. But you cannot just toss that one crankbait or spinnerbait every day, every time. Conditions will change the mood of the fish. Fish react differently on bright sunny days than they do on overcast days. Being able to change throughout the day can be the key to consistently getting into the fish.
Have a variety of baits in your arsenal. Darryl says maybe a topwater like a Whopper Plopper would be your bait of choice for early morning shallow water hunt. Or, perhaps try a Green Pumpkin Dry Creek Tube as you work a shallow water drop-off. But the bait and presentation must change for different conditions. Darryl likes to use a ShakeyHead as he works it near a lay-down where fish will key in one that little bit of shade.
The variety of lures on the market is endless, some great summer baits include Ned Rigs, Keitechs, Carolina Rigs, spinnerbaits, plugs and jigs. You can cover a lot of water with a spinnerbait or crankbait, but if these fast baits do not produce, slow things down. Be more deliberate. Slow roll a paddletail across the bottom, or slowly hop a Ned Rig across the flat. Darryl likes to use a Carolina Rig when fishing moving water for smallmouth, as the slow drift lets the bait hop, hop, hop along and right into view of a trophy bronzeback (shhh this one is a secret I promised not to tell).
Lure colors are also endless. Darryl says you can never go wrong with a natural color presentation. The Green Pumpkin, black blue, shad or similar. The key is to understand what the fish are feeding on. Some red in the springtime is a favorite, or maybe green as the season progresses. Darryl said one tip he uses is to understand what color the crawfish are in the area. Are they red, green, blue? These are the patterns he tries to emulate.
Finally, Darryl recommends using all tools at your disposal. Electronics play a major role in locating fish, forward looking sonar, live scope, side scan sonar are all tools we can use to find the best conditions to hold the fish, or even sharp-shoot a specific fish seen on sonar.
A big thank you to Darryl Esterly for helping to bust these myths! And while these tips my not get us into the next MLF tournament, they will certainly help us be better fishermen and adapt to changes in the summer season.
Go get on ‘em!
