From Dog Days to Dream Days!

Bass fishing in the summer can be among the toughest things to do on earth, especially fishing Lake Glenville, Fontana Lake and Lake Chatuge! There are so many variables that effect you (the angler), the fish and the lake conditions. From the bright hot sun to the crazies doing donuts around you on jet skis and boarding boats, it can make for brutal fishing conditions! There are controllable factors and uncontrollable factors in every situation so I will do my best at breaking down how I most efficiently approach the controllable factors during the dog days of the Summer!

1) Prepare for the elements!

This is vague, I know but nonetheless it is vital to a dream day!
a. Food- Eating a light healthy meal filled with fruits, vegetables and some protein will keep your energy up while the sun is trying to beat you down!
b. Clothes- Wearing the right clothes is so key to a dream day on the water! I love a t-shirt and shorts but the reality is even when I wear sun screen my skin feels hot to the touch and and I have to reapply it throughout the day. I LOVE my Columbia Omnishade and Omnishield technology! It's light, cool, at an affordable price, looks good and is extremely comfortable! I like breathable pants and a breathable long sleeve shirt their PFG stuff is TOP OF THE LINE!
c. Hydration- Staying hydrated maybe the best kept secret for feeling good on the water. Yeah you may have to pee a couple extra times but the sun will literally evaporate moisture out of you and cause head aches and severe dehydration! Bring WATER, fill your coolers with ICE and stay sippin'! 

These tips will keep you physically ready and even mentally ready, now let's talk about fishing!

2) Fish Think Like People

a. AC/ Shade- I tell my clients, fish are like people during the dog days, we like AC and shade and so do fish! Cool water in the form of creeks and out deep is where you will find your steady population of fish! Cool oxygenated water is the key that unlocks success! Aquatic grass is also great! It produces oxygen, shade and usually there will be some sort of bait fish population! 
b. Go for broke or go for bites-In the summer I always take the mentality go for broke or go for bites! I like simple baits that I know will get bit like a drop shot or small tube. The fish doesn't have to make a hard decision in warm water to eat something simple they can conserve there energy and eat light (like us). But when it's time to pig out that means it's cook out time! In the same fashion, I am going for broke! I love throwing big topwaters, spoons, frogs and swimbaits in the summer! Usually if I can mix and match a bag with going for bites and going for broke it was a pretty good day!
c. Go Early-Cool temps at night make those fish wake up first thing in the morning and they get after it! Most of the best fishing during the summer is when there is barely enough light to see right up until the sun is fully up over the trees! After that I stay deep and I stay cool! Going early also helps you miss the crazies that come out around 10! 

I hope this helps you turn these dog days into DREAM DAYS! Like us on Facebook and  follow us on instagram! Tight lines!!!