Some cool things to try for anglers to beat the heat

What's an angler to do when the weather turns hot? And just how can we survive the humidity and sweltering heat?

Those are just two of the questions in recent e-mails from readers.

I can only describe what I prefer to do when the antiperspirants give up the ghost and the thermometer reads "baste".

If I decide to risk fishing in this heat, it will be a morning or afternoon of trolling. With that method, I can create my own breezes, warm as they will be, but breezes nevertheless.

And with extra-warm water temps I can usually rely upon Spoonplugs to dredge the depths and find some fish.

A Spoonplug is a metal lure designed to be trolled at a specific depth. The trick is to use a no-stretch line and leave at least 120-feet behind the boat.

Spoonplugging became the rage back in the 1960s when the late Buck Perry took his "structure teachings" on the road to Midwestern locales. He attacked the Fox Chain and came away with stringers of big bass and subsequently earned the respect of some skeptical fishermen.

Anyway, trolling is one method that will work during the scorching heat.

If you don't have any Spoonplugs or don't have a clue what they look like, you could use substitutes such as large, deep-diving Rapala minnow baits or big-lipped diving baits such as Bombers and the like.

And then there is my tried-and-true wading adventures in local streams.

Despite the high water conditions with us now, there are sections of the DuPage and Fox River that can be fished by wading some of the shallow stretches.

My choice of tools would be a fly rod, but I'll often use a light spinning rod as well.

One of my more memorable hot weather trips occurred in a stream not too far into Wisconsin. I had never fished it and I was a bit apprehensive because I didn't know where the deeper holes were located. The water was cool and the current ran medium to fast in some stretches.

Because I was wearing ultralight chest waders, I was able to absorb some of the the stream's cool temperature as it engulfed my body. Talk about refreshing.

I also was able to find a school of smallmouth bass as well. The lure of choice at that time was a small, in-line, 1/8 oz. spinner.

The Kishwaukee River is another summertime sleeper. This is a tough stream to fish, especially after heavy rains. A wading stick or staff is mandatory because it's easy to step in to some of the deep holes that are everywhere.

The rewards on the Kishwaukee can be great. Smallmouth bass, pike and an occasional walleye will surprise you, and the water temperatures will often help cool you down. Wear waders as well as a safety vest (personal floatation device) in case of an emergency.

A common thread in many of the recent e-mails centers on the so-called "dog days of summer" and how some anglers give up until the air and weather cools down.

I refuse to subscribe to that mentality. The late Bill Binkelman once told me there are always fish to be caught if one works a bit harder and uses his or her brains.

angler88@att.net