The "Dog Days" are ticking me off!!!

[bassbuster]

I know the fishing can be tougher at certain times of the year but man am I struggling the last few weeks. I haven't been doing too bad all season but lately I struggle to get a bite. I know it's the way I'm fishing (obviously) but I'm not sure what to do..........it's becoming very, very frustrating for me. Jig.........texas rigged whatever......senco............wacky style............drop shot.............anything I throw it just doesn't seem to matter..........and neither does where I throw it. I think I need some advice and a little pep talk.

[Bender]

Welcome to my whole summer down here in the South. I can't seem to figure anything out.

[TCook]

I concur my home lakes have been tougher than ever and no doubt due to the hottest summer in a long time. I fish Paw Paw alot and wow is it tough, never seen it so hard to catch bass in the summer like this on that lake. The majority of the bass have to be deep where the bait is and the water is much cooler. Unfortunately its the hardest way to find them and fish I think that is why its so tough on alot of guys including myself since the majority of anglers are shallow water fishermen and struggle when most of the bass population go deep. I think most of the bigger bass follow the bait around offshore in the summer and suspend in the water column only feeding at certain times of the day. Good luck finding and catching those fish, how many times have you seen bait getting busted up for a minute in the middle of nowhere then nothing for a long time. It has to be the reason I mean they still gotta eat right?

[DDBethke]

No doubt it is tough right now, however I know some of them are eating deep cranks

Duane

[fiker]

I'm so glad that others are having the same troubles that I am.  Not that I wish bad luck on anybody, it's just that I've wondered where I'm going wrong.
It's like I've forgotten how to fish. 
As a result, I too have become quite frustrated.

[djkimmel]

Take a trip or two to a small lake for a break. Limits the choices bass have to hide from you. Worked for me the last couple times out.

[bassbuster]

I may have to do that just to get my confidence back and reduce my frustration. I started looking at smaller lakes as too easy and was determined to be able to learn how to catch fish on bigger water almost anytime. But now I'm thinking it might be a nice little break for me. It just drives me nuts cause I know they're there but I'll be darned if I can get em on the end of my line..........let alone to the boat.

[djkimmel]

Well... a little confidence boost never hurts anyone

[Got Fish??]

 I would have to agree, that the bass bite is tuff. I chose to target other species that are a lot easier to put in the boat right now. The pike are real easy to catch. Most of the inland lakes overproducing a lot of big fish. The Canadian side of lake Erie is the hot spot for perch, two at a time in most cases. The crappie bite is not to bad and big panfish are being taken. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow!

[dartag]

the water in my lake has been above 75 degrees since june.  been here 26 years and have never seen it like this.  the smaller lakes i fish have all been near 80.  looking forward to a cool down.  been noticing a lot of small minnows in the lakes.  maybe a good fall feed is on the way.   

[djkimmel]

Yes. Lots and lots of minnows for hungry bass to eat.

[Mike S.]

I have been having a heck of a time myself.  Still catching fish, just not as many as before.  I have found a spot on Muskegon that is steadily producing 2 to 3 pounders, at least 2 a night, 4 last night.  I never see other boats there.  As for going to smaller lakes, I have done just that several times this year.  After hooking and losing 1 fish on one of the west side lakes, I came home very upset about not getting to touch a fish.  I sat around and pouted for 3 hours, and finally hooked the boat back up and went to Wolf Lake out of pure frustration.  I went to 1 dock and boated 3 fish in 6 casts.  Then I buzzed around the lake with my new prop a couple of times, and went home.

[Durand Dan]

My path to success? Avoid Lake Ovid!

[joshimoto son]

Yes, the small minnows.
I have been trying to figure out a pattern relating to them. The best I can do is with a lipless crankbait. I catch a lot of short fish, but not a keeper yet. It then makes me think that there are so many that our tactics just aren't interesting the bass.

It reminds me of a time I was down south. I fished this little cover that was just chuck full of baitfish for over four hours. There was large mouth and spots busting them about every five minutes. I can tell you, four hours is a lot of time to tie on every bait you have in the boat. I finally left them, still busting, I was not a proud fisherman that day.

joshimoto son

[Waterfoul]

I've been going to a local lake that doesn't get a ton of pressure... it's a bigger lake with a really crummy ramp so many people avoid it.  They are still biting there!!   

[djkimmel]

I LOVE crummy ramps!!! Not... while I have the big dually anyway.

[Waterfoul]

Funny thing though Dan... it's one of the biggest lakes in the area... and our Monday night club always draws 15-20 boats to it when we fish it... you should see the "creative parking" we come up with!!! 

The ramp is dirt... not even gravel.  AND it's hard to find!   The PERFECT lake. 

[djkimmel]

Maybe it's not really a ramp...?!?

[dashaver63]

Best tactic I have found yet to get these dog days bass to bite is to pitch my jig to a likely target and leave it lay there while I pour some coffee and eat my sandwich, never fails, just as you are taking that drink of hot coffee.... thump! and you dump your coffee in your lap and drop the sandwich over the side, then miss the fish. AHH the DOG DAYS!

[Waterfoul]

Maybe it's not really a ramp...?!?

Oh, it's a ramp, a township ramp (not even a county ramp!).  But The local lake association/township will NOT improve it in any way, shape, or form.  They say it keeps the crowd down.  Fine with me!