Before I get into this list of miscellaneous tips and tricks to increase your catch during the hot summer months please note that these aren’t or haven’t been invented or “figured out” by O’Neill but by and large learned by O’Neill. That’s because over my career featuring tournament fishing and soliciting expert guests to team up for television shows, I let them do the talking as they respond to my questions.
These are “random” suggestions to expand your knowledge and capabilities so that you can catch a few more – not 50 more – but just a few.
No 1: To quote Bill Dance, a guy I’m sure you’ve heard of … he says that if you’re fishing for largemouth bass and casting to the bank, 95 percent of the bass are behind you.
No. 2: If you’re out in deep water fishing over a standing tree or large brush pile, congratulations, you’re on the right track. But, just in case, be sure that the sun is in your face and the shadows of you, your hand and rod motions and your boat is behind you. If the sun is at your back, more comfortable I’m sure, the shadows are over your target and your catchable bass. Will it keep you from catching your best and most? Don’t know, but it will help.
No. 3: Sounds like a contradiction, I know, but during the very early light of dawn, use the first 30-minutes to cast a buzz-bait. Any color is fine as long as it’s Chartreuse. It’s your one chance of catching a truly biggun’. Further, use a trailer hook on the buzz but take the tip further by flattening the barb on the trailer hook at turn it down. If a bass bites at the skirt, you’ve got him. You’ll get better hook penetration with the flattened barb and finally, if you want to take it to another level, use a large treble hook as a trailer instead.
No. 4: Depart from the lake and go up one of the rivers. If the oncoming river reaches the lake from above and you get to fish at the dam, you just hit a home run. In the churning waters at the dam, it’s loaded with spawning bait and thousands of bass. Telephone the dam operator and find out the water release times and coordinate accordingly. Water releases means catches for you.
No. 5: Want to expand your targets that are in the reservoirs across the southern part of the Appalachians and the coastal plain? Pick a reservoir and hire a guide.
No 6: Read what O’Neill has to say. You might get some ideas.
