Change the way you fish
SUMMER ’ S GONE SO A SHIFT IN TACTICS NEEDED
JAMIE PISTILLI
SUMMER WAS incredibly hot . And so was the fishing . Above-average temperatures made for great summer angling for a mixed bag of species .
Fish were in all their typical summer habitats , with high temps sending rainbow trout into the depths for the duration . Although they were deep , their bite was amazing ! Success depended on heavy sinking lines for fly anglers and a deep presentation for anyone searching for trout on conventional gear .
Bass ate a variety of presentations from top water to soft plastics . Most of my larger bass ( both large and smallmouth ) came on a variety of crankbaits and flipping jigs . Northern pike were feisty as always , crushing large jerk baits , huge flies and spoons , which worked erratically . Adding pause to a retrieve was a great way to entice strikes . Pike will often hit on the pause or when the bait starts moving again , so when you are targeting these toothy beasts make sure you throw them a change up !
For fishing days with larger groups in the boat , trolling is often the best solution . You can cover water safely and more efficiently and use a variety of baits to see what bait is working . Trolling at a variety of speeds and trolling an “ S ” pattern not only helps figure out what speed of retrieve works best , but during speed changes , lures will rise or fall as they pick up or lose speed .
At both Kenauk Nature in Montebello and on the waters throughout eastern Ontario and western Quebec , I was amazed that many guests I guided were experiencing their first day on the water – ever . Guests 80 years young .
I also had the honour of introducing angling to children , who found a new way to spend the summer as parents booked trips to show kids there is more than life than video games or TV .
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