What would you do to
catch more fish this
summer? If the
answer is an
enthusiastic
“anything,” then
consider the
following
suggestions.
Fish at night
As lakes heat under
the hot Indiana
summer sun, they get
more crowded and
fish become less
active. Human
commotion and lower
oxygen levels make
fish more nocturnal.
Fish that hide
during the day in
deep water cruise
shallow flats at
night. Take
advantage of the
night feed and don’t
fish until just
before dark when
everyone else is
going home.
Target unpopular
species
Stop fishing Wawasee
and Monroe Reservoir
for largemouth bass.
That’s what everyone
else is doing and,
frankly, the bass
there are sick of
seeing all the
lures.
Try fishing for
catfish, carp,
buffalo or even
suckers. Not all of
them are great
eating, but neither
is a big bass.
Learn to bowfish
The number of carp,
gar, bowfin and
other less desirable
fish that reside in
most Indiana lakes
and streams would
stun most fishermen.
Wade any shoreline
at night with a
powerful headlamp
and a fully rigged
bow for nonstop
action.
Never fish
weekends or holidays
Fishing public water
on weekends and
holidays in Indiana
has been
appropriately termed
“combat fishing.”
Anglers are forced
aside by pleasure
boaters and spend
more of their time
fending off
inconsiderate jet
skiers than actually
catching fish.
Fish know when the
waves above them are
caused by constant
boat traffic and as
a result lay low.
Take a day off
during the week to
fish this summer or
don’t bother going.
Travel to better
water
The reason fishing
shows aren’t beating
down Indiana’s doors
to film here every
week is that fishing
here is only
marginal. Sorry,
it’s true.
Save money and drive
to Ontario, Lake
Erie, Minnesota or a
bunch of other
places where even a
bad fisherman on a
bad day can catch
fish.
Fish alone
I enjoy fishing with
kids as much as
anyone, but when I
really want to catch
fish, I go alone.
Solo anglers are
more focused, stay
longer and don’t
give up as easily.
Use live bait
I trust my Husky
Jerk to catch fish
as much as anything
in my tackle box,
but a live worm
trumps it every
time.
When fishing gets
tough, a worm is the
best bet for coho,
walleye, bass,
catfish and just
about everything
else that swims.
Even turtles aren’t
immune to the lure
of a lively night
crawler dangled on
the end of a hook.
Watch the weather
Don’t waste time
fishing hot, sunny
days that are
typically dominated
by high pressure.
Fish can be caught
on these days, but
will require a lot
of hard work. Save
vacation days for
overcast or even
rainy days,
especially if the
weather has been
consistently bad for
several days in a
row.
Fish hunting
season
Because a lot of
fishermen are also
hunters, the start
of deer season
signals the official
end of open water
fishing season for
many of them. That’s
a mistake.
Early fall is one of
the most productive
times to catch fish.
Fish are less
pressured in October
and start feeding
heavily to prepare
for winter.
Beg your way onto
private water
If you can’t afford
to travel out of
state to fish, ask
permission to fish
one of Indiana’s
thousands of private
lakes and ponds.
Even if there is a
small fee involved,
it might be worth
the opportunity to
consistently catch
big fish.
Get to know farmers.
They often have
ponds hidden on
their farms that
don’t get a lot of
fishing pressure.
Let fish go
Help yourself by
releasing the fish
you catch.
Supplemental
stocking can only do
so much on public
water. If we want to
catch big fish in
the future, we all
need to value
catching a fish more
than eating it.
Time your outings
with the best bite
Know the peak
fishing dates and
times for every type
of fish. For
example, hit white
bass hard in April
when the dogwoods
are blooming, chase
blue catfish in
February when they
are feeding
voraciously and drag
plugs around lake
Michigan in July
when steelheads are
in close.
All fish have their
peak feeding seasons
and times. Learn
them and be ready to
fish at a moment’s
notice. |
