Outdoor picnics - they're a summer tradition. Essentially, it's about eating and relaxing, but location matters much.
Those who've hauled groceries outside more than once know that under a tree or beneath a park pavilion is the right spot. The reason is simple - shade.
Bass anglers know that early mornings and late afternoons offer optimal conditions for tempting bass. The fish will feed around shallow vegetation and other structure during these cool times, but they'll retreat to areas of moderate temperatures during the heat of the day.
A lot of folks rack their rods once the morning sun drives the bass into their shelter, but those who can stand the warmth often find largemouth action throughout the day.
The key is cover, and one of the best options is a stand of lily pads. Long thin stalks support what looks like green pies, each with a slice missing. Put several hundred of these together and you have a floating sun shield with lots of room underneath.
Bass will tuck themselves deep within the shady recesses of a lily pad field and nap away the hot hours. Some feeding occurs in and around the pads - particularly during major and minor solunar periods - but the fish are mostly there to kick up their fins and relax.
That's not to say you can't talk lethargic fish into biting. You just have to rattle their shutters.
TOPSIDE TAUNTING
Some of the most aggressive bass action comes through "reaction strikes." That means a fish responds to a sudden stimulus, as opposed to launching a planned act of predation.
You see this a lot when bass explode through lily pads to clobber a snake, frog, lizard or other intruder that makes the mistake of stomping around upstairs when Mr. Largemouth is trying to rest. All the better if this action also delivers an edible meal, but eliminating the annoying racket is often a high priority.
Anglers can leverage this predictable response by presenting baits across the tops of the pads. The key is to quickly simulate a natural forage species dashing over the cover and force the bass in a spontaneous response.
Cast a soft plastic bait into a stand of lily pads, reel it across the vegetation and pause for a few seconds when your offering crosses an open spot in the pads. These "windows" give bass a portal for observation and ambush. Often, the fish will track a moving target until it reaches a window and then unload on it.
Several bait shapes including lizards, frogs, snakes and worms work well. To minimize snagging, rig your bait weedless on a standard worm hook (bent or offset neck). Insert the point about a quarter inch into the bait, bring it back out the side, and pull the entire hook through the bait's head until the eye rests at the top end of the plastic. Reinsert the hook point back into the bait's body and you're ready to cast.
Keep your bait moving when skittering across the pads. Remember the part about pies missing a piece? Well, that's called the "notch" - the backside of a lily pad where sprouts from the stem. Lures that slip into the notch, usually end up wedged pretty firmly.
If you "notch up", try releasing some line to let the bait fall back into the water. Then, with your rod tip held high, quickly reel up the slack and give the bait a good twitch. If you're lucky, this will flip your bait past the wedge.
Stout rods and braided line proves particularly helpful when pad fishing. First, you're more likely to rip a wedged bait free with the zero-stretch line. Also, if you hook a bass deep in the pads, you'll need some serious negotiating power to wrestle the fish - and a couple pounds of vegetation - to the boat.
PROTECT YOURSELF
If you fish during the midday heat, protect your skin with a generous coating of sunscreen. Polarized sunglasses and a hat will further shield your eyes, while providing optimal vision.
Hydration is another concern, so carry plenty of water or sports beverages. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a hot bite, but don't let this distract you from regular liquid intake.
Should perspiration cease during warm conditions, your body is dehydrated and it's time to head indoors. Otherwise, take another sip and catch another bass.
Through his professional writing business, Tight Line
Communications (www.tightwords.com),
David A. Brown offers journalism and marketing communication
services.
