Cold front after cold front this year, disrupting the typical patterns we see this time of year. Spending lots of time fishing the lower portion of the water column with drop shots, free rigs, Waco rigs, t-rigged creatures. Topwater is really spotty....ok in the mornings but shuts off at 10a. A bit tougher this year, than past years. Water temps are running about 5-6 degrees cooler than the same time last year, based on my records. The wife asked me if my coike's were decorations for the boat, hahaha.....I guess actually, that's what they are.....I've been able to hook only 2 fish, all year on these urchins. So, maybe they are decorations. Lol. Tight lines!

Water temps are now in the mid-70s, and we're in summer mode. Algae has been a bit of a problem, with that green layer showing on top in the quieter parts of the lake. But there was mention of an algae treatment going in last week, so it should be clearing by now. Overall the bass bite has been good, mostly in deeper water around 20 feet. Dropshots and wacky-rigged C3 worms in Cinnamon and Purple Haze are reportedly the hot baits, according to guide Jim Taibi. He also mentions that once the water clarity stabilizes, the shad should push shallow and spark a better reaction bite.

For stripers, there've been sporadic boils around the lake, with a few anglers reporting fish on Chappos and jerkbaits. But nothing consistent.