August 2024
It was a month of nervousness and lethargy on Kit Lake, my home water in central Florida's largemouth bass country. Storms gave us butterflies and transportation issues that forced us to take detours, and passengers. Hurricane Debby left our water higher, left it cooler, and left a flock of frigate birds lolling over our lake. But after the storms, new opportunities appeared on the water and off.
Bluegill were excited by the new food in these re-covered areas of about five feet of water. Anglers who had examined the space in Cody's back yard when it was dry, caught many fish. Using weighted nymphs, like bead-head bumble bee impersonations, they cast to fish signs around the newly covered vegetation. But around 11am each day, these eager little guys stopped biting as if they were exhausted from the exertion.
Bass also took a two-stage approach to their mornings. A few hours after sunrise they schooled. So, some patient Kit Lakers played the wait-and-move-game. They stationed themselves about 60 yards from shore, in about 15 feet of water. Then cast sinking flies, like whistlers, to nervous water. Waited. And moved to the next nervous opportunity. But later in the mornings, this activity left the fish lethargic. Even though the heat was not too bad, they lazed in the now-slightly-cooler depths. Only a few anglers were active enough to follow them to the depths and use sinking lines to catch them in the heat of mid-day.
At this time of year, storms are still in our future. But each tough season opens new opportunities.
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