Hot! Hot! Hot! There’s no better way to describe what we’re dealing with here on the Potomac River in the Bassmaster Elite presented by Econo Lodge.
Temperatures are soaring into the upper 90s with heat indexes well over 100. Couple that with high humidity, bright sun and very little wind and it makes for an uncomfortable day on the water.
But what we are experiencing here is similar to what most of the country is going through and why it is so important for anglers to factor that into their fishing.
Anglers have a bad habit of getting caught up in the moment and not taking time to care for themselves or the fish they catch.
We are so focused on our fishing that we lose sight of the fact that our fishing strengths are minimized when we don’t take precautions to protect our mind and body from the heat.
We are fortunate to have clothes that keep us cool and protect us from the sun, but applying sunscreen first thing in the morning and reapplying throughout the day is just as critical.
You have to stay hydrated, too. Instead of drinking sodas I load up on water and add an occasional sport drink. I prefer low calorie sport drinks like Gatorade Quencher and G2. In fact, I tell my tournament marshal each day to remind me periodically to drink water and I try to remind him as well, too.
It’s important to eat, too. I make sure I start each morning with protein bars and water before I launch the boat. Food provides energy and keeps you from languishing mentally.
Regardless of how hot it is, the fish have to eat, too. However, those rising water temps and blazing sun impact them as well, so I target places with shade, such as docks, under overhanging trees, grass mats – anywhere the water is a tad cooler.
Current, deep water, a spring fed creek and even dirty water can enhance your chances of finding biting fish.
Once you catch them, you have to take care of them. My Nitro is equipped with an oxygenator system to treat my livewell water and that really helps. You also must run the aerators constantly in this kind of weather. The exception would be when in the back of a hot, slow moving creek when I suspect the water quality isn’t great. That’s when I stop taking in fresh water and run the livewells on recirculate. When I get out in the main body where the wind is blowing and the water is better, I will switch back to pumping fresh water into the livewells.
Some anglers will fill their livewells with main lake water then put ice in them first thing each day and then run them only on recirculate just to maintain a cool water temperature.
I also will use TH Marine’s G Juice livewell additive throughout the day that helps calm the fish and maintain their protective slime. And if planning to make a long run, such as on the Great Lakes, I take the time to stop in the center of the lake to replenish my livewells with the cooler water.
And finally, handle the fish as little as possible. Just like you, they need special care when fishing under these torrid summer conditions.
Remember, it’s all about the attitude!
Kevin VanDam’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.