Here in the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie, summertime usually coincides with the spawn being over and the postspawn period beginning. As fish migrate from shallow flats, bays and harbors near Presque Isle Bay, they begin to scatter and look for cooler, well oxygenated waters to recoup and start feeding back up again. Mid-depth breaklines, humps and rock piles are good places to find our recuperating fish first, then moving deeper as the summer progresses. Find the bait though and you’ll usually collide with the bass.
The thermocline will develop and change with heavy winds and sun penetration. This can be the hardest period of the year to stay on a consistent bite as oftentimes, fish scatter out looking for bait and warmer temperatures cause bite windows to shrink. However, for the savvy angler who puts in the time and waits for the opportunities, it can be some really fun fishing. For me, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to dial in the summertime bite. I studied old Elite Series events like the one out of Buffalo, New York where Kota Kiriyama won, supposedly catching suspended bass in water up to 90 feet. I spent countless hours graphing, idling different depths, learning what a bass looked like on my electronics and differentiating from a walleye, perch, sheepshead, etc (we offer electronics trips too as I’m versed with all three brands). I’ve learned one main thing this time of year; the drop shot is king.
When targeting deeper bass anywhere from 20-50’+, a drop shot is one of the best presentations you are able to fish. Oftentimes you are targeting individual bass with your 2D or for me, Lowrance Active Target. The drop shot enables you to quickly get your bait to a fish that is often moving. Ned rigs still are great options and sometimes tubes, jigging spoons, blade baits and swimbaits can be players too. But, a drop shot is my favorite option to target these big open water Erie smallmouth in the warmer months.
We are booking for ‘drop shot season’ now, so if you are wanting to come fish, book with us today!
