Hotter than the rolling dice! That's the way I like It. In January and February, I can't wait for March. But we were still getting cold fronts at the end of May. The wind was relentless and ruined many days on the water. The next couple of months may be hot, but it's consistent. The afternoon thunderstorms are the only thing that affects the stability of the weather. When the barometer drops just prior to the thunderstorms, the fishing can be outstanding. It may not be the safest time to be on the lake, but I am the guy your father told you not to hangout with in school.

Taking chances and fishing in crazy weather has put some nice fish in the boat for me. Most people are programmed to pound the shoreline. Bass, by nature, are a relatively shallow dwelling fish. So this works well in the morning and evening, when bass actively move up to feed. Many of those same people are lost when you take them out of their element and move to deeper water. You really limit yourself when you rely on early and late shoreline action. And if it's Godzilla you're after, the odds are against you by fishing shallow this time of year. Only one of my seven 10-pound plus bass came from water less than 8 or 10 feet deep. Big bass feel comfortable in or close to deep water.

Deep is a relative term. I am speaking of lakes and reservoirs that are 30 or more feet deep. I am not into vertical jigging, so ten to 20 feet is usually my target area for the next two months. In that target area or "zone," I look for certain qualities. Stumps, logs, brush piles, road beds, creek channels or humps. Also steep sloping banks and points will produce some real slobs. Your timing usually has to be right with points, but steep banks remain pretty consistent. Main lake rock walls can pay big dividends as well during the summer months. If the lakes you fish have none of these features or someone is always pounding these spots, sink your own brush piles. (Secretively)

To fish this cover and structure, I use seven-foot medium heavy power St. Croix's and my favorite, a premier 6-foot ten heavy power rod. Plenty of backbone with a sensitive tip allows me to detect subtle strikes and horse a pig out of a log jam. Berkley Stealth Braided line gives me all the confidence I need when it's time to rumble. Don't be scared to use 30 or even 50 pound test. If the water is clear, I will use a 40-pound Vanish fluorocarbon leader.

Based on past experience, several lures have proven effective for me when fishing deep cover or structure. A Stanley jig is always on one of my rods. The unique rattle system has proven to work and it allows me to easily modify the jig by adding extra skirts, and it gives me the flexibility to use a wide variety of trailers. So save your used soft plastics for trailers. Berkley Bungee power Hawgs and ten-inch power worms seem to buy you extra time to set the hook, and Gambler bacon rinds and big Zoom lizards have made me smile many times with their results.

Fishing these lures in deep cover can be tricky however. Knocking your weighted lure or jig against and through wood can often feel like a strike. I can't tell you when to set the hook, but you can let experience be your teacher. If you don't get snagged occasionally, you are not fishing in the right spot. It is easy to daydream, but try to stay in tune with what your lure is doing and how it feels. Try to mentally visualize what is going on at the end of your line. Cover these spots from different angles and with different lures. The same goes for points. Carolina rigging is a cure for insomnia, so I would rather bulldoze deep diving crank baits until the heat immobilizes the bass. When this happens, I opt to do some intense night fishing. Shoot me an e-mail if you want to talk fishing. Remember to take a picture and let 'em swim away to fight another day. TARPON ALERT!! Ashley Parmelee is catching 100 pound plus tarpon right now! If you ever felt like there was something missing in your life, this trip is the cure. This guy will put you on the front line for the fight of your life!

He can be reached at (912)617-3474. Never compromise, fish or die!!