Summer is one of the most enjoyable times of the year to go fishing. Longer days and warmer weather means greater opportunity for enjoying more of your favourite hobby in the sunshine. Fishing in the warmer weather does require a few additional/ alternative techniques that it’s important to be aware of if you’re looking to make your next summer fishing trip a big success. In order to ensure that you get maximum enjoyment out of summer fishing, make sure to consider the following tips:
Start Early
The best time to fish during the summer is always first thing in the morning. So, wherever possible, you should always try and get to the water for sunrise, or even half an hour before so that you’re ready to start fishing at the crack of dawn. This is the best time of day to go summer fishing because it is the time when the fish are closest to the surface of the water. The water temperature is cooler at this point, and as it starts to heat up into the afternoon, the fish will start to retreat deeper into the water. Fishing at sunrise is also generally more enjoyable. The temperature isn’t uncomfortably hot at this time, and you’ll beat the crowds, creating the perfect conditions for a relaxing fish, with beautiful views of the sunrise.
Stay Mobile
During the summer months, fish are at their most active meaning that they’re often spread about the water in groups. With this in mind, one of the most useful summer fishing tips is to stay mobile. Stay organised with packing your kit and travel as light as you can so that you’re able to change your position throughout the day in order to find the best spot. When it comes to summer fishing, it’s important to be prepared to move about more than you would during the winter in order to try out different spots and find the feeding fish.
Know Which Species To Target
When summer fishing it’s also essential to know which species to target and which to avoid. If you’re fishing in the sea, this is a great time to target flatwater fish, such as turbot, as well as species that have spent the colder months in deep water, including pollock, bass and gurnard. When summer fishing in freshwater, carp, rudd, tench and perch are the best species to target. It is widely suggested that fishermen avoid targeting pike during the summer as they are very sensitive to temperature changes, causing significant welfare issues if handled incorrectly.
Take Notes
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As we mentioned a little earlier on, summer fishing involves different techniques and tricks compared to when you go fishing at any other time of the year. That’s why it’s really helpful to take notes of conditions, timings, and what worked vs what didn’t work in order to perfect your technique. The Rite In The Rain fishing journal is made using waterproof pages, making it practical for use by the water. You can be confident that your notes won’t smudge, even if they get wet, and the journal contains easy to fill in forms for recording vital information such as weather conditions and number/ type of catches.
Consider Your Choice Of Bait
In the summer, some fish species tend to feed less hard, meaning that you need to create a competitive feeding regime when summer fishing. The trick is to introduce food little and often rather than trying to use large pieces of bait. Small food particles, such as hemp or micro pellets are perfect for the summer weather. You should also avoid using too much groundbait. As this decomposes it can further reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water which can impact the welfare of the fish.
Protect Yourself From The Sun
It might seem like an obvious point, however when you’re fishing in the height of summer, it’s essential to keep yourself protected from the sun. If you’re planning to be out for the majority of the day then make sure to bring a shade to put up so that you can sit out of the direct sunlight. You’ll also want to make sure that you’ve got plenty of sunscreen, a hat (preferably a wide brimmed hat to keep your neck protected ) and a good quality pair of sunglasses. In addition to this, make sure that you’ve packed plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
