The Reaction Bite - Late Summer Bass Fishing

It’s the dog days of summer- the cicadas and tree frogs are singing their songs in natural cadence, the tar on the road bubbles beneath your truck tires in the summer heat, dogs are lying in shaded front yards under Indiana maples, and we’re huddled in air conditioned living rooms, longing for November deer season weather.  Me, I’m hooking up the boat, barely able to touch the metal tongue that has been absorbing the summer sun all day.   It’s August in Indiana, and the fish are feeding, so that means I’m going to be on the water. 

There are two problems with late summer fishing, one being the heat- it makes the fish act like those dogs under the maples, they look for shade or simply suspend in a lethargic haze while waiting for the cooler temps of dusk. The second is that the forage within the lake itself is in full bloom, and why bite your crankbaits or flutter worm, when they have huge balls of shad to feed on?  Well to avoid these two issues, there are two words that come to mind while fishing in the late summer…. REACTION BITE. 

If you watch FLW or Bassmasters on TV, then you’ve probably heard the hosts or fisherman saying they’re after the “reaction bite.” 90% of my fishing in the late summer revolves around this tactic, and there really isn’t much to it. All year long, anglers are using tactics that trigger the fishes’ natural instincts.  The reaction bite is no different. This type of bite is when the lure zips by a fish quickly, loudly, and with a flash, and the fish bite on pure instinct or reaction. 

It’s my opinion that the fishes’ fight or flight instincts are engaged when this loud and flashy bait swims by. They either have to stay and fight, or spook and flight. This is different than the early season slow fishing that is based on enticing the fish to eat your bait with tactics and finesse.  The fish will also bite this way during other times of the year, but to me, late summer is when I target these deeper fish with this maneuver.

So, now that we understand what the reaction bite is, what tactics and lures do you use to trigger these bites?  Well this depends on water temperature, wind, natural forage, and how you like to fish.  In Indiana in August, the water temperature is usually between 80°F and 85°F; with these temps, I usually mark fish on my sonar suspended at 10’-12’ in 15’-19’ of water.  When the fish are suspended at say 10’, then I usually rely on my Rapala Deep Diving Shad Rap  in holographic silver and black or purpledescent.   If you find a nice shaded cove, and the water temp is 78°F, then you’ll probably see fish suspended around 6’-8’ in 10’-14’ of water.  In this scenario I usually go with a chrome and blue Rat-L-Trap, or a Foxy Shad Bomber Square A.  You’re just simply picking your lure that will run at the depth of the target suspending fish.

Now, one thing I love about late summer fishing is that the reaction bite is down, dirty, and quick! It’s true power fishing, and that’s what I love to do.  I’ll leave the slow dock and ledge jigging to the other anglers, give me a crank and let’s move!  With this in mind, you’ll want to reel that crank bait as fast as you can.  This quick presentation will force a bass to play his hand based off that fight or flight response.  The bite can be fairly aggressive, and you usually hook the fish on the first bite, unlike the earlier bites where they’re just toying with your lure. 

If you’re having a hard time finding suspended fish, look at wind direction, then head to the area where the wind is blowing to. The wind will move pods of baitfish around, and the bigger fish follow. Seagulls will also alert you to these areas.  Find the fish on the sonar, pick the correct lure for the depth of the suspended fish, make long casts ensuring your lure is reaching its maximum depth, and reel that thing in like Indy car.   

Like I mentioned before, this bite isn’t just a late summer bite, and it isn’t just for largemouth bass.  Anglers rely on the reaction bite for walleye, northern pike, musky, and many other types of fish, too. The bite also works with other lures and presentations as well, but the cranks are my favorite way to target these hot water fish. Get out there, give it a try, and hopefully you’ll catch a big largemouth bass in the late summer.

Written By: Joey W. Buttram

Top 7 Kayaking Spots In The United States

Top 7 Kayaking Spots In The United States

By: Joseph   of Austin Kayaks (http://www.austinkayak.com/)

Good kayaking can be found all over the United States. Whether it be a great kayak fishing spot, rapids to run or just some flatwater with great sights and wildlife, there’s bound to be something near you. Personally, I have explored a wide variety of waters here in Texas and despite trying to convince my company (ACK.com) countless times to send me around the States to explore the top spots for kayaking, I haven’t had the opportunity quite yet. However, kayaking is a very social activity and when someone finds a great spot you can be sure they’ll be talking about it. Because of this, I’ve created a list of seven top spots (in no particular order) for kayaking, one personal favorite and six that I plan to visit sometime in the future.

Pictured Rocks. A favorite paddling destination for Michigan sea kayakers, Pictured Rocks offers a unique environment to explore on the water. The national lakeshore gets its name from the colorful sandstone cliffs naturally sculpted into shallow caves (that kayakers are able to explore) and unique formations with plenty of sandy beaches to land and put in as well. It’s located on Lake Superior, which can often have unpredictable waters, so kayakers should consult forecasts and be prepared for varying conditions.

Outer Banks. The whole state of North Carolina is famous in the paddling world. It’s home to a number of kayak manufacturers and boasts tons of unique natural venues for kayakers. One such spot is the Outer Banks, a long string of narrow barrier islands just off the coast. This place has a ton to offer to kayakers. There are many marshes to explore rife with coastal seabirds and marine life and is also popular with kayak anglers. Sea kayakers also find this area both fun and challenging as they can enjoy paddling from island to island or just about the open sea.

Everglades. The Everglades is a natural wetlands region that excompasses a huge area of southern Florida. It’s a very popular spot for flatwater paddling and has plenty of unique wildlife to spot and habitats to explore. It has four very different paddling trails to experience ranging from the Flamingo Canoe Trails to the Gulf Coast Trail. The Nine Mile Pond paddling trail takes kayakers/canoers through mangrove forests and marsh habitat and is a favorite for kayak anglers.

Green River Narrows. The Green River Narrows is another reason North Carolina’s is famous in the kayaking community. This dam controlled section of water is about 3 miles long and runs nearly 300 days of the year. It’s a mecca for whitewater paddlers and creek boaters with the skills to traverse class IV or V rapids. This is also home to the most hotly contested (arguably worldwide) annual Green Race which has been going since 1996 and is still very popular to this day.

Lighthouse Lakes. This is a Texas favorite, located between Aransas Pass and Port Aransas, Lighthouse Lakes was the first paddling trail in the state. Comprised of four different paddling loops, kayakers can explore the flatwater mangrove estuaries and lakes. It is a great spot for both bird watching and kayak fishing, in particular red drum, spotted sea trout and flounder. Lighthouse Lakes gets it’s name from an historic lighthouse which you can see as you paddle through the flats.

Apostle Islands National Park. Another National Lakeshore of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands are located in northern Wisconsin. They are comprised of 21 different islands and offer some great opportunities for sea kayakers. Sea caves, rock gardens, inland crossings, bays and sandy beaches are just some of the environments kayakers are able to explore. I’ve heard from many paddlers about their experiences camping on certain islands as well. Again, Lake Superior is known to have varying conditions so kayakers should be prepared.

Acadia National Park. Located on the upper coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is a favorite for all levels of sea kayakers. Kayakers can explore areas they feel comfortable with, starting with the Frenchman’s Bay where a number of islands await beginner paddlers to explore. Those who feel more comfortable can take on the open waters on their own and explore the many rocky coves the area has to offer with plenty of marine life to spot along the way. As always, it's suggested that paddlers take the necessary precautions to ensure they have a safe paddling experience. 

While there is great kayaking to be found wherever you go, you cannot deny the unique opportunities that these seven spots have to offer. So grab your kayaks, your gear and your friends and get out there! And if you just happen to need a new piece of kayaking equipment, remember to visit Austin Kayak (www.ACK.com), we ship all over the United States!

About the Author

Joseph Dowdy is an avid kayaker based out of the central Texas area. He has paddled many of central Texas’ waterways and has attended and/or participated in many kayak fishing tournaments, races and paddling festivals. He’s currently employed at Austin Canoe and Kayak (ACK) and loves that he gets to spend time working with his favorite toys.

Catch the Right Fish, and Go to BASS PRO on the IDNR!

Do you like to bass fish in Indiana?  Do you like to buy new hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shops? In the next few months, catching the right bass may get you some spending money at Bass Pro.

During the late summer and early fall of 2013, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will tag and release 500 legal size black bass in central and northern Indiana streams and rivers. They'll be releasing largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in hopes of patterning their travels from these streams. Studying these patterns will improve their management of these species in Indiana waters.

I think even hooking a tagged fish alone would be pretty cool, but it gets better, the IDNR has added a reward to turning in the tags when the fish are caught.  Each tag will be a different monetary value, but all will be gift cards to Bass Pro Shops. The tags will be $5, $10, and $25, but in order to received the gift cards, the angler must call and turn in the tags.  Each tag has a phone number that the anglers will call to tell the IDNR where they caught the fish, if they're keeping or releasing the fish, date caught, tag#, and length of the fish.  When this process is over, the DNR will coordinate getting their tag, and hooking the angler up with their gift card.

Doesn't sound like too bad of a deal, and it may end up that you're getting paid to fish! The next question is where should you target these tagged fish?  The IDNR is planning to release the fish in the West Fork White River (Hamilton, Marion, and Madison Counties), St. Joseph River (St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties), and the Eel River (Wabash, Miami, and Cass Counties). Again, these fish will be released in late summer and early fall. Get your spinnerbaits, shad raps, and shakeyheads ready, cause it's about time you get paid to catch fish! 

If you catch one of these bad boys, send a picture of you with the tagged fish to willowpineoutdoors@gmail.com, and I'll send you a free Rapala crank bait.