Heat Wave Breaks

Fishing in Northwest Pennsylvania this summer as been a challenge.  A funny shift in the jet stream has generated record rainfall and record heat in our area for the past month.  I attempted a couple trips to area lakes, but literally melted in the 95 degree temperatures and near 100% humidity within an hour. 

The heat wave finally broke yesterday, with temperatures dropping into the 80s.  So with a heavy overcast and misty rain last evening, Marilyn and I headed to Conneaut Lake hoping to connect with active smallmouth on top  - knowing that today we would be under high pressure.  But the smallies didn't get the news bulletin.  Actually, every species apparently had lockjaw.     

So I began probing the deeper edge of one of the mid-lake humps with my newly installed Garmin echoMAP 50.  When I spotted what appeared to be exposed rocks, baitfish school and some larger fish on the screen in about 17 feet of water, Marilyn cast a drop-shot rig and slowly dragged the sinker until she contacted rocks.  A little shake or two of the Lunker City Ribster Worm, and a she was connected to her first Conneaut Lake smallmouth of the summer!