Learning how to find fish on Lake George: Part 3 - The Summer Pattern
This big smallie fell prey to a hair jig fished in 30 fow.
Now we are talking about probably my favorite overall period of time for successfully finding and catching lots of fish - and probably some of the biggest of the year - on Lake George. I call it "the summer pattern” and it sets up when the water temperature is consistently 74 degrees or warmer. Some years we get into the summer pattern quicker than other years, and it really has to do with how quickly the water warms.
By this time in the summer, you won’t find much in the shallows. Everything has moved off into the cooler depths. Most of my fishing is 25 feet or deeper. It is not uncommon to catch smallmouth at deep as 60 feet.
Here are the keys to success during this part of the cycle:
Your electronics are a critical part of your success. A lot of bass guys can find fish early because they fish shallow. Now we have to locate off shore structure. I rely on my Garmin’s and my LakeVu Ultra lake maps. This is not an infomercial: when I bought my Garmins and these lake maps - I found stuff that I never knew was on Lake George. And my learning and success shot through the roof!
Underwater camera’s will blow you away. Last year we spend more time with our Fishsens Sondecam and again learned new spots and even what we call the spot on a spot. These tools really make a difference in growing as a fisherman.
Learn to drop shot. Drop shotting is probably one of the most effective techniques for the summer pattern. I will spend more time in the next article highlighting key details to drop shotting.
Learn the hair jig. This might be the technique that I’m most excited about expanding my learning on this upcoming summer. Subscribe to my blog and I’ll put something out in the next week on this technique.
Lake George is an amazing lake - and you get to see her at her best when the summer pattern sets up. Check out some of our underwater video at No Fish Left Behind on youTube. Leave a comment if we can answer any specific questions you have.