With all the rain God blessed us with, June proved to be a good month on the Shenandoah River and local lakes. With the good water flow, bass were on the move and feeding. There were some nice fish caught at Egypt Bend.
As we get knee-deep into the long, sweet days of summer, early morning and late evening will be the preferred time to be on the water. Bass are more active during these times because of the rising water temperatures that come with summer. With an early start, you can be on and off the water before all the boat traffic shows up. If you’re on the water during the times mentioned, you can throw any kind of reaction lure: spinner baits, chatter baits, small crank baits, but the more productive lures are going to be top water lures, such as frogs, or the Whopper Plopper. However, I prefer a buzzbait during these times.
When throwing top-water lures, you’ll want to throw multiple times at your target. Sometimes, it takes five or more casts at the same target to get a strike. If you’re fishing in the heat of the day, you will want to find riffles and rapids running over and around rocks and boulders. Shaded areas along the bank, deep holes, and ledges are other areas where you can find fish feeding. Target these areas with small swim baits and flukes. And you can never go wrong with a small jig.
During the summer months, watch out for thunderstorms. One place you don’t want to be during a storm is on the water. So be safe and watch out for each other. We’re blessed to have a river that runs north through the Shenandoah Valley. It’s a beautiful display of God’s creation. So let’s do our best to take care of it.
Jesus’s disciples were taking him across the lake, and as Jesus slept, a fierce storm came up. The disciples were afraid. They thought they were going to die. They woke Jesus, and he calmed the storm. We all go through storms in life, whether emotional or spiritual. If we put our trust in Jesus, oh, how much calmer the trials in this life would be. The storms and trials won’t go away, but what a relief knowing God is right there through each and every one. So put your trust and faith in Jesus, and he’ll bring a peace in your life you never knew.
Psalm 62:8 “Oh my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”
Have a great summer.
Mike
