The summertime blues can hit even the best anglers. Symptoms include hot weather, recreational boaters and having way too much bait leftover after a day fishing. Today, I’m going to offer a cure to these summertime blues and discuss how to still put fish in the boat in the July and August months.
Beat the Heat
Summer can be a very difficult time for walleye anglers. This is for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason is because the food web is at peak performance. The water temperatures are going to be the highest they are all year and the sun light penetration is going to fuel intense photosynthesis. This will result in heavy weed and algae growth. Newly hatched fry will also be abundant in the system as well as emerging invertebrates such as mayflys. The water column becomes a fantastic walleye buffet and this results in full fish. Full fish are the enemy of anglers as they are often the hardest to catch.
Imagine a food truck in the parking lot of a strip mall of restaurants. Only a handful of hungry people are going to go to the food truck because there are so many options. However, a food truck parked in the middle of Lake Poinsett during ice season is going to appeal to all the hungry anglers. This means that the majority of anglers are going to go to the food truck. During summer, the increased number of bait options makes the situation more like a strip mall so the food truck is going to have to work harder to attract customers.
However, there are some positives to warmer water temperatures as well. Walleye, like all fish, are ectothermic. This means that their metabolism is going to be dependent on the water temperatures and environment they live in. The warmer water temperatures means that their metabolism is going to be cranked. Because of this, their energetic demands are going to be higher so they will be more willing to chase meals and need to eat more often.
Weed Line Walleye
Many anglers are going to start looking deeper once June and July hits. However, there can be terrific walleye fishing shallow almost all summer long for anglers fishing from shore or who are willing to venture into less conventional areas. The intense weed growth sets up fantastic habitat for walleye. The weeds provide cover and shade for walleye all day long so there is not real need for them to slide out to seek refuge in deep water. The weeds will also be filled with forage as newly hatched fry and other baitfish will be looking to seek shelter among the vegetation. These factors make weeds a very consistent spot as the needs of walleye will often be taken care of so there is no need for them to move from area to area and they will concentrate on areas such as points, turns or other features.
There are a variety of ways to target walleyes buried in the weeds. One simple, yet effective tactic is to drop a slipbobber into weed pockets, along the edge or right atop the stalks. Leeches hooked in the sucker provide a terrific motion in the water column: however, nightcrawlers and minnows also are effective baits. Upsizing to chubs or shiners can also help pick out larger fish. This technique is going to produce many walleye, but also perch, pike and bass.
Another option would be cast jigs and plastics or shallow running hardbaits along the tops and edges of the weeds. This is dependent on the depth that the weeds are at. Weeds in shallower water, that top out 2-3ft from surface, a Rapala X-Rap is an excellent choice as this is a shallower running bait. Weeds over slightly deeper water, that top out 6-10ft from surface, I prefer a #7 Rapala Shallow Shad Rap. Other terrific baits to try in this situation are Rapala Husky Jerks, Rapala Shadow Raps or other baits with a similar action and running depth. I like to work these baits at a fast pace with sharp jerks and twitches as weed walleyes are generally quite aggressive. When you feel your bait hit a stalk give a sharp rip. This will help clear the vegetation off your hooks, but also draws attention from nearby predators.
There are also other options for this type of fishing. I personally have done quite well casting spinnerbaits into weeds as the single hook prevents fouling as opposed to two or three trebles coming out of a crankbait. Although many people may view spinnerbaits as a bass lure, anglers in western Nebraska fishing reservoirs like McConaughy have found their effectiveness for walleye as trolling them through trees is a common tactic in this region. Jigs and plastics are also a terrific option. I like to use a 1/8-1/4oz jig as opposed to the 1/16oz I use in spring. This is because it allows me to work my plastic faster and with sharper twitches and jerks. Fishing in weeds is all about creating a commotion and drawing a reaction strike. Larger presentations do this perfectly. Large, 4-5 inch, paddletail swimbaits are perfect baits for this type of technique.
Search and Destroy
An alternate tactic also presents itself during summer. A portion of the fish are going to slide out deeper in search of cooler water along with reduced light penetration and often work along humps, points and break-lines. These fish are often harder to locate as they tend to roam and spread out across these areas. This is when I start pulling crankbaits. The fast metabolism means that aggressive walleye are going to be more likely to chase a bait. I like to pull crankbaits quite rapidly, anywhere from 2.5-3.5mph. This is because I want to cover area and let the aggressive fish reveal their position.
Once I catch a fish or two I will go in to investigate with bottom bouncers and spinners to start targeting the more neutral fish. Often the crankbaits will catch the most aggressive fish in the pod and then the rest can be picked apart by fishing slower with live bait. I like to use nightcrawlers in summer as I can throw them in my cooler and keep them alive as opposed to dealing with minnows. Leeches also can be a very effective bait when they are available. Good electronics really provide a benefit in this situation as they reveal the location of bait balls as well as nearby predators waiting for their next meal.
Conclusion
Summer presents its own unique challenges for walleye anglers. The food web is in full swing and many walleyes are seeking refuge from the sun and warmer temperatures. An angler willing to put in the work can still experience success while many others are struggling. Whether it be sliding shallower into weeds or deeper to the points, ledges, humps or even basin type area hopefully this gives some ideas on how to beat the “summertime blues” and enjoy some great fishing. Good luck and good fishing!
Related Readings
The dog days of summer can make fishing on the Missouri River tough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish. Find out how to keep your cool and catch walleyes all summer long in Cool Presentations for Hot Summer Walleye.
Learn more about targeting walleye with bottom bouncers when the summer heat is on and forage is at it’s peak in Bottom Bouncing III: Being Attractive.
Earlier in the summer often yields some of the best walleye fishing on the Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Find out what you need to know to serve up a walleye dinner in Serving Up Missouri River Walleye.
The Missouri River reservoirs become very popular in the middle of summer as fishing on the river can be good all year for anglers willing to stay mobile and find fish. Learn more in Keeping It Simple for Missouri River Reservoir Walleye.
Related Videos
In July 2018, I challenged myself to beat the summer heat and catch as many species as possible in 8 hours fishing on Lake Francis Case. Check out how it went!
Finding the spot within the spot can be critical for summer success. Learn what to look for when finding summer walleyes.
Follow Us for More!
Stay in the know on the latest bite, see behind the scenes action and more by following Nick on Instagram!
Be sure to also “Like” Lip Ripper Fishing on Facebook for all the latest tips, tricks and reports!
