Summer species you should be targeting

Summer and water go together better than most any other combos we can think of. The problem is fishing and summer aren’t always so compatible. As far as seasons go, summer doesn’t offer the natural drives to feed like spring and fall, plus a really hot day can be just as slow as a cold winter day. That hardly means you need to hang up your rod, however. You may just need to change up what you’re fishing for and where you’re fishing for them.

Follow along as we list out some of our favorite species to chase, specifically when summer starts shutting down your favorite haunts.

American shad

The poor man’s tarpon is aptly named for its appearance and its fighting ability. These migratory fish travel upstream every summer, out of the saltwater as native populations in the East and with non native species ever growing on the West Coast. These anadromous members of the river herring family travel up river in large schools every summer to spawn and while they are not feeding at that time they will willingly bite a small rubber jig, or a shad dart.

The large schools can make for a high count fish day and when caught on lighter spinning gear these fish can make the drag on your reel scream. Fishing from a boat, wade fishing, or bank fishing can all be extremely successful by casting upstream, getting to the right depth and retrieving your dart slowly. Your efforts will be rewarded. 

Northern pike

These water wolves tend to like cooler water, but while the adults hide deep, the smaller hammer handles still actively hunt in shallower weeds and are just as fun to catch on light tackle. 

Look for these younger pike in similar weed beds you’d find largemouth in and try anything from spoons to spinners, to jerk baits for them. Remember to use either a steel leader, or heavy duty braid still, or else you’ll be tying new lures on all day.

 If you are looking for that big dog pike, look for a transition zone leading down into a deep hole with vegetation and focus on those weeds.

Brook trout

Trout can be a summer staple, but when temps rise large rivers with warmer water can stress fish to an unsafe level. Some rivers out West will even close down during the afternoon in what are known as “hoot owl” regulations. 

When the lowland rivers start reaching the mid to high 60s, it's time to look to the mountain creeks. Brook trout are native in the East and invasive to the West, but they have all but taken over a lot of small streams in the Rocky Mountains. Mountain creeks on either coast tend to run much colder than the lower land rivers, some do to snow melt, but they provide a more constant cool temperature to fish in the heat. The cold water keeps the fish much healthier and the usual shade provided by small creeks will keep you cooler longer.

Note: Even though the water temps are cooler in the creeks, you should still use safe fish handling techniques and minimize time out of water for all trout.

Stripers

Summer vacation often takes us to the beach. If you’re on the East Coast this summer and sick of sand castles and boardwalks, there are usually resident stripers available in the inland surf and within local estuaries. Now if you’re looking for a monster 20 plus pounder you’re probably out of luck as they will be further out to sea in the cooler water, but, like previously mentioned fish, light tackle make these resident fish an absolute blast to catch. Whether you’re throwing sardines, or reeling in a spinner, if you mind the incoming tide, you can have a blast with these smaller stripers.

West coasters also have the chance at summer stripers as they come up the California’s Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta. The fish will make their way far up the Sac, San Juaquin, Feather and Yuba Rivers. Anglers can bank fish, deep pools for stripers by dropping sardines, black rubber worms, or any other bait you love, near deep structure where stripers can lay and hunt.

Sunfish

Heading to the lake this summer? There’s no fish more aggressive and plentiful than a bluegill or any other species of sunfish. They may not provide the size you prefer in fish, but there may be no better first fish for a child, than a bluegill down by the dock. These colorful fish seem to prefer shallower water and warmth and often congregate together.

If the sun has put all the other fish species into a mid afternoon nap, it’s always nice to know these colorful fish are hanging out, ready to bite almost anything and make yours and a child’s day.

We will be on the water this summer, no matter what. Whether our favorite species are biting, or not, we will be fishing regardless and it's always nice to know each of these amazing species are viable alternatives. Whether you’re on the beach, the river, a mountain creek, or the lake we hope everyone finds the time to enjoy the world’s greatest sport during the long days.

Now let’s go fishing.

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