<h2 dir="ltr">Choosing Your Walleye Charter</h2>
Lake Erie is home to the greatest walleye fishing in the world.&nbsp; With 2.25 million acres of water, Lake Erie&rsquo;s walleye fishery has become a destination for professional anglers, weekend warriors, and the casual angler looking for a change of scenery.&nbsp;&nbsp;
I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, and still go home to visit mom and dad throughout the year.&nbsp; Anybody that has spent much time in any of the towns along the lake, knows that fishing is a mainstay for summer activities.&nbsp; Walleye have always been a prized possession, but in the past few years, the numbers of walleye in the lake have grown enormously.&nbsp; Hatches are boasting record numbers, and now it&rsquo;s estimated that 2022 and 2023 will be some of the best years ever for fishing in Lake Erie.
Reasons Why The Walleye Numbers Are At Record Highs Right Now:
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2021 hatch survey was 90 fish/hectare
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The 20 year average is 34 fish/hectare
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It generally takes 2 years for fish to grow to harvestable size
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Do the math. Oh yeah, the lake has had above average hatches since 2015. Bottom line, there are a lot of fish in the lake.&nbsp;
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/Trophy-Walleye-Picture-1+(1).jpg" alt="" width="500" height="667" />
Okay, so we know there are fish there, but if you didn&rsquo;t grow up on the shores of the lake, how does somebody go about finding a good charter or guide to get them out to those Walleye? Here are a few ways to land a keeper when it comes to a charter guide.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Ask a Friend</h3>
When talking with Chris Clemmons, a charter captain for Lakeland Charters, his first recommendation for finding a charter guide was to talk to your friends. You will be amazed at how many people have taken a trip on the lake over the past few years, and of course the best review comes from somebody you trust. See if any of your friends have had a good (or bad) experience with a given company or captain and start there.&nbsp;
In being completely transparent, this is how I find my charter captains most often. It helps that I have years of history in that part of the world, so I get it, not everybody can just pick up the phone and call buddies from back home for that recommendation. However, there are places out there where you can find recommendations. Using a community like <a href="https://timetogowild.com/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild</a>, and asking a question, will often elicit many responses. Other social media platforms can also be useful. If you find a few charter boats, take a look at their recent posts to see how successful they have been.
<h3 dir="ltr">Walleye Fishing Charter Booking Webistes</h3>
Think of them like Airbnb but for walleye trips! Many sites have a collection of charter captains across Lake Erie and most are extremely easy to use. It&rsquo;s literally like scheduling a hotel on one of those vacation sites. Choose your location, date, number of days fishing, and group size; pages of options show up.&nbsp; If you aren&rsquo;t familiar with Lake Erie, the western basin has historically been a fantastic area for walleye. Popular docking locations for these charters will be in the Port Clinton, Lakeside and Marblehead areas. But don&rsquo;t limit yourself to that, as there are many great Captains ready to take you out all along the lake. The site you choose can be your guide, to your guide. Most charters have many reviews, so don&rsquo;t take my word for it, check out what the former anglers have to say!
<h3 dir="ltr">What To Expect on a Walleye Chartered Fishing Trip</h3>
Of course nothing is guaranteed when dealing with Mother nature, but if you select your charter and plan for the trip ahead, here are a few things to consider.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You will need your fishing license.&nbsp; Non-residents can acquire a license for $14 for 1 day, $25 for 3 day, or $50.96 for 1 year.&nbsp; Resident costs are $14 for 1 day or $25 for 1 year.&nbsp; You will also need to find out if your captain plans to venture into Canadian waters during your trip.&nbsp; If so you will want to pick up the correct license for that.&nbsp;
Check with your captain about departure times, length of trip, snacks, drinks, etc.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget sun protection!
You&rsquo;re probably going to catch some fish, and given the recent hatches, you will probably catch a lot of fish, so bring a cooler.&nbsp; The current daily bag limit is 6 walleye.&nbsp; Most of your charters will have a fish cleaning service in-house, or nearby if you desire that.&nbsp; If not, you will want to check with the Captain to discuss post trip preparations.&nbsp;
I want to fish, but my family doesn&rsquo;t, so I can&rsquo;t go, or can I?
Lake Erie is kind of a hidden gem, that is hidden in plain sight.&nbsp; The shallowest of the Great Lakes, it packs a mighty punch when it comes to outdoor activities in the area.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m not just saying this because I grew up there, but there is a ton of stuff to do along the lake&rsquo;s shore.&nbsp; If you happen to be on a family vacation to the area, and perhaps the rest of your crew isn&rsquo;t the fishing type, there are more than enough things for them to do while you are out on the boat.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">The Lake Erie Islands</h4>
Put-in-Bay and Kelly&rsquo;s Island are great stops on a trip to the lake. Both islands have great restaurants, golf courses, and other cool attractions.&nbsp; A personal favorite of mine is Perry&rsquo;s Monument on Put-in-Bay.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Cedar Point <img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/cedar-point-view-from-the-lake+(1).jpg" alt="" width="500" height="667" /></h4>
Hands down, the greatest collection of roller coasters in the world.&nbsp; Along with many other family-friendly activities like Camp Snoopy, Lemmy&rsquo;s Lagoon, the Lake Erie Railroad, and more.&nbsp; Cedar Point has numerous areas to stay the night and other family-friendly activities.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Lake Erie Beaches</h4>
Miles of them and I get it, Lake Erie isn&rsquo;t the white sand beaches of the Bahamas, but it&rsquo;s also a lot closer than St. Thomas for most of us. Municipalities up and down the lake have many lakefront parks with beaches for the families to enjoy.&nbsp;
When you are thinking about your next fishing trip, family vacation, or trip to the great outdoors, make sure to consider taking advantage of the historical populations of Walleye in Lake Erie.&nbsp; There is no better time than now to take advantage of that delicious fresh water delicacy!

Lake Erie is home to the greatest walleye fishing in the world.  With 2.25 million acres of water, Lake Erie’s walleye fishery has become a destination for professional anglers, weekend warriors, and the casual angler looking for a change of scenery.  

How To Choose a Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Guide & Why to Fish Lake Erie

Turkey

Bass

Hike, Camp, Cook

Whitetail Deer

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegreatartdoors/">Derek Malcore</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/">Okayest Hunter </a>
As the splash pads, sunburns, and smores season winds down and school shopping starts up, there is no denying summer is in its final stages. Kids are beginning to transition from lazy summer sleep-ins to early mornings and academia. While this can be a dreaded time for some, hunter's eagerly await those cooler, crisp mornings, the changing colors of the leaves, and the memories about to be made in the wild.
Be it Labor Day weekend, September 1st, or the first day of school, the signals whitetail season is right around the corner are piling up. If you haven't already been thinking about big-bodied, heavy-racked bucks, I'm sorry to let you know, but you are already behind the curve! Most whitetail addicts have had big bucks on the brain for months. Many already have trail cam photos of big velvet antlers or have glassed deer feeding on their summer patterns. Whether you have been putting in plenty of time already or are just shifting gears into deer hunting, it's vital to stay ahead of the changes we are about to encounter.
Two time periods in the whitetail world seem to frustrate and confuse hunters.&nbsp;
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The velvet transition&nbsp;
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The mid-October "lull."
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The first is a shift that comes with the changing seasons mentioned above. As summer days grow shorter, the velvet covering growing antlers begins to get itchy, and bucks soon rub it off. Gone with that velvet is the tolerance that bucks previously had with each other. Bucks begin to change their patterns, home ranges, and temperament during this shift. This shift can be an absolute nightmare for those seeing and following a buck throughout the summer. Bucks tend to be docile and follow a consistent pattern in the warm summer months, which can mislead hunters into believing they will have a slam dunk game plan for the season. No matter how many <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-369-spypoint-spypoint-flex-trail-camera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trail cam photos</a> or sightings you have encountered during the summer months, the velvet transition will leave you feeling a bit frustrated when that buck up and "disappears" in late August or early September.
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/image2.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="281" /> Having been led astray in the past, I've changed my thinking and how I prepare for hunting season by using <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-366-tactacam-tactacam-reveal-x-pro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trail cameras</a> to help keep me ahead of bucks who will be shifting gears into their fall ranges. As I write this, it is August 9th, and I can tell you that I am prepared for the fall transition. I also discussed this in a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ITZOCGwRu9hOSSDrTpZ9n?si=4H5BMJHmR02m37Mdo6opLw">recent episode</a> of the <a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/pages/okayest-hunter-podcast">Okayest Hunter podcast</a>. What I mean by that is that all of my public land trail cameras are OUT of their summer locations and waiting to ambush bucks as they move INTO their fall hideouts. This strategic move needs to be done before the end of August, and I've found that the earlier your cameras are in place, the better,
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<h2 class="page-content-carousel-title">Shop Trail Cameras</h2>
 
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The idea is that bucks will be feeding on their summer pattern well into August and even into September. Still, at some point, the lessening of daylight will trigger their testosterone levels to rise, and their velvet will be shed. This seems to be when bucks alter their patterns, and while some change very little, others may move a mile or more into their new fall ranges. This is when many hunters experience frustration from having that big buck show up on camera daily to not getting his photo anymore. Then you are stuck trying to play catch up. <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/Scouting-for-Deer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scouting around</a>, looking for big tracks, moving cameras into the timber, and applying pressure to all the areas you think buck could have moved to. The more searching and scouting you have to do to <a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/blogs/news/killing-mature-bucks-on-public-land-phase-ii">find the buck</a>, the harder you make it to kill him. Many deer become aware of human presence in the area and thus move less in the daylight. Overall, a poor recipe for success.
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/image0.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="667" /> A better way to not only locate the bucks after they transition but be able to hunt them without disturbing your hunting area is to let your trail cameras do the "scouting" for you. This is a technique that I've been using for the past few years and have had great success. The idea is that July is a great month to locate bucks on food sources, waterways, or any other summer pattern you believe bucks are using. I use my cameras in these spots to help see how many and what age class of bucks are using an area. Usually, at the end of July/ early August, I remove my cameras from these areas and "shift gears" before the bucks do. I look back to the spring scouting I've done in the area, or if I hadn't done any spring scouting, I dive right into it mid-summer, looking for thick pockets of cover. Ideally, bucks love to use pockets of edges of marsh grass and brush in the early fall, so I try to locate spots like that, which also feature rubs from previous seasons, to verify that bucks have used them in the past.&nbsp;
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After locating potential fall buck bedding areas, I try to find a trail crossing or transition area just outside the bedding area where I can monitor as many deer as possible moving into and out of the cover. I always bring a pack of zip ties to assist in attaching limbs or bending small living trees over. Another technique I almost always use is to create a mock scrape at the trail intersection. I kick open a large area of bare dirt and fashion a large, multi-branch licking branch over the bare dirt. This great visual attractant will help pull nearby buck activity in front of the camera.
Most of the time, bucks aren't using those thick cover bedding areas in the middle of summer as often as they do in the fall. If I get summer photos of bucks there, great! But the real goal is to have these types of spots all set up and ideally vacant of human scent for a couple weeks before the bucks shed velvet and look for their new fall home. If my camera trap has already been set up for 3 weeks before the first good buck comes to check it out, there is little to no chance that he will ever know I was there, especially since I keep my cameras above nose height so deer can never be in direct contact with them. Ideally, I would have multiple cameras set up around different pockets of cover in the vicinity of where I think an excellent buck will likely transition once he sheds his velvet. I rarely check these cameras before the season unless a good rain storm is about to come. The point is to have them up and ready to collect info without the bucks knowing they are being hunted. Typically, I will wait until the season and scout my way into these locations with a stand on my back and SD card reader in hand. If there seems to be some buck sign in the area (tracks, rubs, scat) I will walk to the backside of my camera to not leave scent near the trail crossings and scrape and check the photos on the card. That should inform me whether I should set up and hunt close by or keep moving.
We all know that your first time in a stand is usually the best time because the deer haven't encountered your scent before that hunt. That is the premise I try to locate and hunt bucks in the early season after they move out of their summer patterns.&nbsp;
Hopefully, after reading this, you have enough time to try sticking a few cameras back into the areas you think or know bucks will be transitioning into after the velvet comes off. It takes a little foresight and some mosquito bites to make it happen, but from my experience, it far outweighs having to play hide and seek with a big old buck who quickly learns he is being pressured. So get off your computer, put the phone down, go grab some cameras, and head to the woods so you can find this season's buck as he shifts gears!

Be it Labor Day weekend, September 1st, or the first day of school, the signals whitetail season is right around the corner are piling up. If you haven't already been thinking about big-bodied, heavy-racked bucks, I'm sorry to let you know, but you are already behind the curve! Here's some things you should be doing now.

Be it Labor Day weekend, September 1st, or the first day of school, the signals whitetail season is right around the corner are piling up. If you haven't already been thinking about big-bodied, heavy-racked bucks, I'm sorry to let you know, but you are already behind the curve!

Shifting Gears | Deer Hunting Tips For The Transition From Summer To Fall | Deer Season Prep

By: Dylan Hayward
<h3 dir="ltr">Why Do Bass Bite Topwater Lures?</h3>
If you have ever experienced a bass explode out of the water to swallow a topwater lure, you know the feeling of the adrenaline rush that all anglers crave. There&rsquo;s something about the nature that they target topwater prey that is pretty remarkable.
From my experience, bass will bite topwater lures when they are lethargic and notice that there is an easy prey floating on top of the water surface. During the warm summer months, it&rsquo;s quite common that bass will become lazy and linger to cooler and deeper waters, making them seemingly uninterested in most lures that you cast out. This can be a great time to tempt them with an easy meal such as a topwater frog or popper.
<h3 dir="ltr">When Do Bass Bite Topwater Lures?</h3>
I like to use topwater lures in late summer and early fall, when the water temperature seems to cool off slightly from the dog days of summer, and most importantly, using them in the early morning and late evening, as lowlight conditions can bring bass closer to the water surface.
Another great time to throw out a topwater lure is on an overcast day. Cloudy days can essentially provide excellent bass fishing with topwater lures throughout the entire day, despite the golden rule of fishing mornings and evenings in the summer.
Check your water temperature and avoid days of extreme heat when the bass are unlikely to travel any sort of distance, even for an easy meal.
<h2 dir="ltr">3 Best Topwater Lures</h2>
Popper- <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/perfecthatch-6987687559367-perfect-hatch-perfect-hatch-popper-assortment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Topwater Poppers</a> are consistently the most popular topwater lures and it&rsquo;s easy to see why. They are designed to mimic baitfish such as shad and even small bluegills. The slow retrieving method for poppers allows anglers to get on lethargic summer bass when a challenge meal doesn&rsquo;t seem all that interesting to them.
Buzzbait- <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-320-googan-squad-braydens-dream-buzzbait-bundle-hummer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buzzbaits</a> are an extremely effective topwater lure year round. They typically feature a trailing skirted jig with a blade at the front that creates a &ldquo;buzz&rdquo; and signs of a distressed prey that drive bass wild. There are different varieties that will produce different sounds and visuals, but overall, they are tough to beat when it comes to topwater lures.
Topwater Frog- <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-337-sexy-frog-bundle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Topwater Frogs</a> offer an amazing presentation of a go-to meal for big bass. They are typically weedless making them great for fishing in heavy cover, especially around lily pads where Bass love to ambush prey. If I find a prime area of heavy cover, the topwater frog is generally what I am sticking with.
<h3 dir="ltr">Best Ways to Present Each Topwater Lure</h3>
Presenting a Popper- One of the keys to fishing a topwater popper is to pick the right style. Look for poppers that imitate the baitfish in the area that you&rsquo;re fishing. Poppers that resemble shad or small bluegills are great options.
Reel in slow with small jerks. The caved face of the popper will make it pop along the surface which resembles a fish in distress and will entice even the laziest bass. A lot of times bass will toy with these lures first, so don&rsquo;t be too hasty to set the hook. Instead, let the bass fully commit and take the lure underwater before setting the hook.
Presenting a Buzzbait- With buzzbait, you want to always remember to keep the lure on the top surface, so aiming your rod high at first and slowly lowering it as your retrieve the buzzbait will create the presentation you&rsquo;re looking for.
Again, these lures will sink if you aren&rsquo;t careful and that&rsquo;s not the way you want to present them. So as soon as they hit the water, you should start reeling in a fast but steady pace.
Presenting a Topwater Frog- The greatest thing about using a topwater frog is, you&rsquo;re pretty much never got to get snagged on something. Use this to your advantage while mimicking a frogs actions.
Use some flicks of your rod to skip over downed logs or rocks. Short, sporadic hops over vegetation, specifically lily pads is another great presentation. I love using a frog in thick vegetation, especially this time of the year. The action can be nonstop.
<h3 dir="ltr">Best Rod &amp; Reel Setup for Each Topwater Lure</h3>
Best Popper Rod &amp; Reel Setup - For a popper, it&rsquo;s imperative that you have a fast action rod tip to create the action needed for the popper. A medium casting rod will be ideal for using poppers, but there is room for heavier setups.
A standard size casting reel is perfect for almost any type of popper fishing. Some of the more compact reels will give less resistance when casting further out, but any reel in that 45-70 size range is more than plenty.
Best Buzzbait Rod &amp; Reel Setup - A heavier action baitcasting rod will likely be the best way to go for buzzbaits. A 7&rsquo; rod with 10-15lb mono line, and you&rsquo;re going to want to make sure you have a high speed reel. As we touched on before, a fast and consistent pace is key for using buzzbaits.
Best Topwater Frog Rod &amp; Reel Setup - When fishing with a topwater frog, more than likely you&rsquo;re going to be casting into heavy cover, so an accurate rod setup is pretty crucial. A fast action baitcasting rod will work the best, as the soft tip will allow you to pop your frog around the debris. A rod somewhere in the range of 7&rsquo;-7&rsquo;6&rdquo; will be ideal.
Using a reel with a high retrieve rate is very important when fishing with a topwater frog, as it allows you to quickly get out any line slack, and allow you to set the hook much quicker when a bass does strike. Most professional anglers will suggest a gear ratio of 7.5:1 to 8.0:1.

During the warm summer months, it’s quite common that bass will become lazy and linger to cooler and deeper waters, making them seemingly uninterested in most lures that you cast out. This can be a great time to tempt them with an easy meal such as a topwater frog or popper. 

The 3 Hottest Topwater Summer Bass Fishing Lures | Catch Big Summer Bass With Topwater Lures

By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/outdoormarketingguy/">Eric Clark</a> | <a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/">Okayest Hunter</a>&nbsp;
As you scroll through your favorite <a href="https://timetogowild.com/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media platform</a>(s), there's a strong chance you've seen some form of deer shaming or hunter bashing. Comments like, "You should have passed," or, "Maybe you should shoot does," or, "I know it's not the biggest buck, but..." are all too common.&nbsp;
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/Social-Media-Hate-And-Hunting.jpg" alt="" width="282" height="610" />
Ego is not confidence. Confidence is defined as evidence of our strengths and abilities. Ego is not something earned. It's a kind of unhealthy belief of our own importance. It's that devil on your shoulder whispering that we're better than other people, that our needs matter more. Too much ego creates a sense that we need this success, like killing a giant buck or worse, the recognition of it rather than the intrinsic value of being afield and harvesting your own food. It's the belief everyone is watching us; as a result, we must be the greatest, having harvested such a tough-to-hunt animal.&nbsp;
Freud explained ego with an analogy&mdash;our ego was the rider on a horse, with our unconscious drives representing the animal while the ego tried to direct them. Modern psychologists, on the other hand, use the word "egotist," which refers to a pathologically focus on one's self and disregard for anyone else. This seems like a possible place to arrive, especially since bow hunting is more of a singular pursuit.&nbsp;
The more common form of ego I'm relating to deer hunting is the one that demands we ought to get our way. The desire to be better than, more than, or recognized for, far past any practical reasons&mdash;that is the ego I believe to be threatening the hunting community from within.&nbsp;
Picturesque TV show grip and grins have eroded the Fred Bear version of hunting and have created an egotistical beast over several years. This ego issue has generated a sense of superiority and certainty exceeding the horizon of the confidence and joy that goes into hunting whitetails. Football coach Bill Walsh said, "self-confidence becomes arrogance, assertiveness becomes obstinacy, and self-assurance becomes reckless abandon." Let's not recklessly abandon what we truly love about hunting because we &ldquo;need&rdquo; a grip and grin with a 150&rdquo; whitetail for social media to prove to others we don&rsquo;t even know that we&rsquo;ve earned it. Of course we&rsquo;ve earned it. The reward is in the pursuit and experience itself.
We all have an ego, though. It's not all bad. We've all been guilty of having too much of it at one time or another. Hell, if anything will lend itself too much ego, it's killing a mature whitetail in its domain.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The thing about ego is that (in my opinion) it is a much less effective means and strategy to make a community stronger than humility and confidence are.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Good Ol' Days of Deer Hunting</h2>
Things were very different back in the day when deer hunters had to physically stop at a local registration station to register their deer. Or were they? Of course, in person, things indeed were different. It was congratulated when someone pulled up with a spike buck on their tailgate, just as the 180" monster whitetail was. I'm willing to bet there was judgment, though. It was just never said out loud (Look at that little spike, or it must be nice to have land to kill a 180&rdquo;). That's where social media complicates things. In person, no one would go out of their way to put another hunter down. Unfortunately, plenty of keyboard cowboys are waiting at the drop of a hat to give their two cents on why a hunter should or should not have tagged their deer.&nbsp;
I've adopted the phrase, "My tag, my hunt." It has become a brand staple for the Okayest Hunter. This means it should not be judged whether you're tagging a brute, dink buck, or doe. Of course, if someone is willing to buy my tags, I'll consider letting them have a say in what I tag, so long as it's legal and ethical.&nbsp;
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/My-Tag-My-Hunt.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" />
How did we get here? We're so far from what Fred Bear, the father of bowhunting, said - &ldquo;Immersing yourself in the outdoor experience and respecting the wildlife you hunt."
Maybe I've been too deep into learning about stoic philosophy and human nature from the likes of <a href="https://amzn.to/3d9cLaD">Marcus Aurelius</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3oT04DA">Ryan Holiday</a>, and Robert Greene 🤷&zwj;♂️.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Let's revisit the full quote from Fred Bear. He said, "Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."&nbsp;
The issue is that even though most hunters echo and cheer this sentiment, many still do the exact opposite. They go on defense by saying it wasn't the biggest buck. Conversely, others are telling hunters how they should use their tag and making people feel ashamed of what they've so proudly harvested.&nbsp;
Every deer hunter is at a different step in their hunting journey, and that's okay. Remember from Hunter's Education that as a hunter gains experience and skill, they'll typically traverse through five stages of development. However, not everyone passes through all these stages, nor do they necessarily do it in the same order.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The five stages of hunter development are:</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/collections/okayest-hoodies/products/shoot-deer-hoodie">Shooting Stage</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Limiting-Out Stage&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Trophy Stage&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Method Stage&nbsp;
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Sportsman Stage&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
So when someone condescendingly says something like, that's the kind of buck a 14-year-old would shoot, what do you think the 14-year-old scrolling through social media will think? It's degrading, and now we have young hunters not shooting deer. That's because they're holding out for the trophy buck they've seen on TV or YouTube or they&rsquo;re afraid of ridicule, and sadly, rightfully so.&nbsp;
If I were to point to a single thing that's causing this, I'd say ego is to blame. When I sat down with <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5agHnUGiQFKxY2eYQRqobg?si=DFDQpiGhTByvK1wTVnA-Dg">Michael Waddell</a> from the Bone Collector, he said, "<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@okayesthunter/video/7122568264743669038?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en">Hunting doesn't make you badass. It's badass that you get to hunt.</a>" He's spot on.&nbsp;
When a person experiences success, a few things happen. I attempt to apply these laws of human nature to deer hunting.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">1. Entitlement&nbsp;</h3>
When you experience success, there's a sense of entitlement that comes along with it. Once you experience success, you feel like you're entitled to it. It's one of the reasons human beings don't like going backward. Think about it. Once you tag a 6-pointer, you might only want to tag an 8-pointer, or once you've tagged an 8-pointer, maybe only a 10-pointer is acceptable, and so forth. So it may be the case that someone having success harvesting mature bucks is now entitled to them.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">2. Paranoia&nbsp;</h3>
From there, paranoia can set in. Now that you're tagging mature whitetails, you're paranoid that someone filling their freezer with tomorrow's buck today is limiting your opportunity at those same bucks as they would have aged up into a big buck.&nbsp;
Any mature buck hunter consistently killing mature bucks every year doesn't care about what others are doing with their tags. They're certainly not worried that someone hunting a spike buck is hunting in the same league as them, nor in the same way or territory.&nbsp;
Other things worth considering are healthy deer management, not just Quality Deer Management. As <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mKtGBtCjeE84rBthkuIYe?si=2gfD2iDeRxS9db77KxIO5w">Doug Durren</a> has stated on the <a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/pages/okayest-hunter-podcast">Okayest Hunter podcast</a>, you ought to take the whole herd into account along with various circumstances within different regions. CWD is a good example. Young bucks are spreading CWD far more than mature ones - I'm sure the "young bucks" can relate as we reflect on our time in our early twenties. Younger male deer are breeding more than mature bucks. Whereas the older ones are far more prone to contracting CWD.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Control&nbsp;</h3>
According to Robert Greene in the <a href="https://amzn.to/3QnP5xR">Laws of Human Nature</a>, an appetite for control comes with success. Who are the hunters telling other hunters how to use their tags? This one doesn't fit my attempt to apply these laws because several hunters telling others how to hunt have not had much success. In life, plenty of people in the stands tell the folks on the field how to play the game. I'd like to see a 40-something-year-old with a beer belly run the ball to the endzone.&nbsp;
More importantly, the folks tossing out such negative comments have no idea what that hunter's life is like. Maybe that grip and grin they were so proud to post was their first deer as a bow hunter, adult-onset hunter, their last hunt with grandpa, or their first out-of-state hunt. It could have been their first hunt with their child. You just don't know.&nbsp;
If you want guidance on handling some of these hostile social media comments, check out the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ez7ZdLqkqIq1qZi9qbI1S">Wired to Hunt podcast</a> the Okayest Hunter crew got to do. We listed out ten (well, actually eleven) Okayest Hunter <a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/blogs/news/the-ten-commandments-of-an-okayest-hunter">commandments</a>. Most of it is just about being kind and not going out of your way to put others down.&nbsp;
Most of all of this 1% are just really loud. Unfortunately, negativity is inherently louder than positivity, much like how the news reports on 1% of the bad in the world. Therefore, it's our job to make the positivity in hunting louder! When I was in college, I worked for a call center. Out of the thousands of calls I took during my time there, I only can remember one call that was made by a customer to say thank you. One positive call.
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/Deer-Hunting-Social-Media.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" />
When we see hunt shaming going on, let's make sure we say what should have been said; &ldquo;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@okayesthunter/video/7123014522557795626?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en">Congratulations!</a>&rdquo; especially if it's someone you see in <a href="https://timetogowild.com/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild</a> but it rarely happens there becasue the community is so strong!
Remember to have fun; it's deer hunting. Remember what it was like when you started out, when every hunt and opportunity on a deer made you feel like a kid on Christmas? Bring that spirit to the woods with you this hunting season, and every season after that.

As you scroll through your favorite social media platform(s), there's a strong chance you've seen some form of deer shaming or hunter bashing. Comments like, "You should have passed," or, "Maybe you should shoot does," or, "I know it's not the biggest buck, but..." are all too common. 

Is There Too Much Ego In Hunting? | An Inside Threat To The Hunting Community 

By: Dylan Hayward
It&rsquo;s fair to assume that during the summer months when the water temperatures are rising dramatically, that bass are spending most of their time in the deep waters. While there is definitely truth to this, don&rsquo;t overlook the shallow waters, as this is still a great place to target monster largemouth.
<h2>Why Are Bass In Shallow Water During The Summer?</h2>
You might think that nothing will move bass from their deeper beds into shallow water, but there are a few factors at play that could potentially move them closer to the surface. <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/Understanding-Water-Columns-Fishing-Depths-Summer-Bass-Fishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Understanding water columns is a great way to find Summer bass</a>.
Oxygen Levels- During the summer, oxygen levels aren&rsquo;t very high, and bass recognize this. One major thing that helps provide more oxygen is heavy vegetation. If you can find a shallow pocket with thick grass and lilypads, it&rsquo;s likely that you&rsquo;ll find bass lurking around.
Water Clarity- One of the reasons that bass love to hang out in deep waters during the summer is to stay hidden. Whether that be hiding from predators or hiding in order to ambush their prey, they prefer darker environments. Thus, if the water is murky, there&rsquo;s a good chance bass will move up closer to the surface to feed, and this is when you can take advantage.
Late Shad Spawn- A late spawn for shad in the early summer months can send largemouth on a feeding frenzy in the shallow waters looking for this favorite meal. Groups of shad are pretty easy to spot, and casting a nice soft jerkbait in these areas will more than likely give you some success.
Rain- I have always found that after a heavy rain, the bass tend to slowly move up to the shallower pockets of water. Research shows that this is because bass move with rising water levels. Monitor your weather and make sure that you are out on the water following a heavy shower.
<h3>Best Lures to Use in Shallow Waters to Catch Summer Bass</h3>
Soft Jerkbait- As I mentioned above, a big reason that bass will move into the shallow waters is to feed on shad. A shad style soft <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-324-googan-squad-jerk-jerk-pause-jerbait-bundle-scout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jerkbait</a> makes a great presentation. They make an erratic tail motion that will get the attention of every bass and they&rsquo;re essentially snagless when rigged right, making it a great lure for moderate cover.
Buzzbait- There aren&rsquo;t many lures out there that will gain the attention of every bass like the <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-320-googan-squad-braydens-dream-buzzbait-bundle-hummer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buzzbait</a>. They create a large amount of irresistible noise and retrieve relatively slowly allowing for lethargic bass to have time to strike. This is another lure that can be pulled over cover very easily without causing a snag, and it&rsquo;s one of my go-to&rsquo;s for summer bass in shallow waters.
Texas-Rigged Worm- The <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-296-texas-rig-bundle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soft plastic worm with a texas rig</a> is one of the most popular set ups for bass anglers, as it allows a lot of versatility and has proven success. The weight on the end will help get the worm to the bottom pretty quickly and with the texas rig it can be skipped along the bottom with ease and is great for attracting massive largemouth.
For a look at some general Summer bass lure options be sure to read the article: "<a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/GoWilds-Bass-Fishing-Lures-Guide-Lures-Rigging-Types-Retrieving" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild's Bass Fishing Lures Guide | Lures, Rigging Types &amp; Retrieving</a>"
<h3>Why Shallow Water Can Be Better Than Deep Water At Times</h3>
Shallow water <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/GoWilds-Summer-Bass-Fishing-Guide-Lures-Tips-and-Strategies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bass fishing during the Summer</a> is often overlooked when it comes to bass fishing, but it shouldn&rsquo;t be. A lot of times this is still a great spot to land monster largemouth, and should fit into your summer strategy. Here are a few reasons why fishing in the shallows can be even more productive than fishing deep.
As I stated above, a late shad spawn can make the shallow waters produce nonstop action. Bass can&rsquo;t get enough of these things and will be more than willing to creep up near the top water column to feast. If you can locate a big group of shad, the bass will be there. Pick your lures accordingly.
When the water is murky, or after a heavy rain shower, more than likely the bass are going to swim up to shallow waters and target areas with vegetation that provide more oxygen. In my opinion, this can produce more activity than in the deep waters in the middle of July. Base your strategy off what the conditions are, and you&rsquo;ll find that shallow waters can produce some amazing summer fishing.
<h3>When Should You Fish Shallow Waters For Bass</h3>
One of my favorite times to target shallow waters for bass is early in the morning just as the sun is starting to rise. The cooler temps entices the bass to move out of their deep spots and pursue the top water column.
This is also the time that the bass start feeding heavily and will be targeting bait fish that congregate in the shallow pockets. This is the perfect opportunity to cast out a shad style crank bait and retrieve slower as you approach the bank.
<h3>How To Find Bass in Shallow Water</h3>
The absolute best way to locate bass in shallow water is to find heavy vegetation and thick cover. This could look like thick grass and lilypads, or a fallen tree or debris. These are going to be areas where the bass feel safe from predators and where they know they can ambush prey, such as frogs, shad or other bait fish.
Some anglers seem to have a hard time fishing heavily covered areas, whether it be because they don&rsquo;t know the right lures to use, or they are concentrated on the covered area as a whole rather than targeting specific spots that look best for bass.
Not all areas are created equal. I prefer to search for abnormalities within the covered areas, such as where two pieces of cover and vegetation meet, or maybe a fallen tree extends out 10ft off the water. I'm putting my focus on those places.
Weedless lures are my preferred method for fishing areas with heavy cover. This allows me to spend less time worrying about my hook getting snagged, and depending on what type of lure I am using, I can generally bounce them off the debris, which will create movement and noise that will only further entice a lunker. Topwater frogs, soft plastics with a texas-rig and lipless crankbaits are all ideal choices. If you find a heavily covered area and are using the right lure, this can be some of the most productive fishing of the year.

It’s fair to assume that during the summer months when the water temperatures are rising dramatically, that bass are spending most of their time in the deep waters. While there is definitely truth to this, don’t overlook the shallow waters, as this is still a great place to target monster largemouth.

It’s fair to assume that during the summer months when the water temperatures are rising dramatically, that bass are spending most of their time in the deep waters. While there is definitely truth to this, don’t overlook the shallow waters, as this is still a great place to target monster largemouth

Catch Big Summer Bass In Shallow Water | Summer Bass Fishing Tips & Luresnt

by Jeremy Koerber,&nbsp;<a href="https://stayfittohunt.com/shop/workouts?utm_source=GoWild&amp;utm_medium=Story&amp;utm_campaign=HuntLifetime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fit2Hunt</a> 
Whether on the water, in the woods or on the trail, if you are outside this summer you will have to manage heat and humidity. Fail to do the wrong things and you can also get really sick so here are five tips to keep you hydrated, healthy and performing at high levels all summer long.
Tip #1: Understand Acclimation When the temperature rises performance dips, core body temperature increases and the risk of heat&nbsp;illness goes up, but you can perform outdoor activity at high levels if you allow your body to acclimate to warmer temps over the course of 10-14 days. Initially, cut back the intensity and duration of your activity, then slowly build back up over time. Most heat illness occurs in the first two to three days of activity.
Tip #2: Drink Up Once acclimated, increase your fluid intake because your body will naturally sweat more. Always have fluids with you. The vessel you carry it in (water bottle, camel back pack, etc) does not matter. What does matter is you have enough to get you through your activity and beyond.
Tip #3: If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated Thirst is an indicator of dehydration. Most sources will encourage you to drink up prior to going out for a hike, run or working in the woods and suggest 5-10 ounces of fluids for every 15-20 minutes of outdoor activity in hot weather. And avoid alcohol and caffeine. A cold beer on a hot day may sound good but it will accelerate dehydration due to its diuretic effect.
Tip #4: Hydrate &amp; Recover A question we often receive is on what to drink? Generally speaking, for activity less than an hour, water will suffice. Anything longer and we suggest a recovery drink and I will adjust that rule if I go for a quick three mile run in really humid conditions. The product we recommend is <a title="Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover" href="https://wildernessathlete.com/?rfsn=237199.edf08" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover</a> because it contains both electrolytes and components like branch chain amino acids and B Vitamins that help the muscles recover. Last year I was working on the farm to get ready for deer season and I did not hydrate properly. I credit Hydrate and Recover for helping me avoid having to call an ambulance. Available in both individual packets and tubs, we keep them in the truck, tackle box, gym bag and hunting pack. Use promo code: fittohunt to save some green on your order.
Tip #5: How to tell you are hydrated If you lose a pound of weight when exercising or working outdoors, it will take approximately two cups of fluids to replenish your body. The easy way to ensure proper hydration would be to consume fluids equal to the fluid you lose through sweating but since it is unlikely you are toting a scale on the hiking trail or in the woods there is an easier way to measure hydration levels: Urine color. When properly hydrated, your urine should be an odorless, pale yellow color. A darker, yellow color with an odor is a sign you need to consume more water.
Even mild dehydration will impact performance and ignoring signs of heat illness such as nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headache, and extreme weakness can be catastrophic. Follow these five tips to keep hydrated, be healthy and stay #FitToHunt!
Got a question? Shoot us a direct message or email us at info@stayfittohunt.com. We&rsquo;d love to connect with you!
If you are sitting there today trying to figure out your next move, check out our menu of D.I.Y. programs at&nbsp;<a href="https://stayfittohunt.com/shop/workouts?utm_source=GoWild&amp;utm_medium=Story&amp;utm_campaign=HuntLifetime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.stayfittohunt.com.</a>&nbsp;You can also use code: GoWild10 to get 10% off every program!
<a style="color: #0063ae; letter-spacing: normal;" href="https://stayfittohunt.com/shop/workouts?utm_source=GoWild&amp;utm_medium=Story&amp;utm_campaign=HuntLifetime" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://gowild-content.imgix.net/pages/CTA+button.png" alt="" width="478" height="46" /></a>
Questions? Message us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@stayfittohunt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">info@stayfittohunt.com</a>&nbsp;or shoot us a DM through the GoWild app! We would love to connect with you in your journey to get and stay #FitToHunt!

Whether on the water, in the woods or on the trail, if you are outside this summer you will have to
manage heat and humidity. Fail to do the wrong things and you can also get really sick so here are five
tips to keep you hydrated, healthy and performing at high levels all summer long.

5 Hydration Tips to Beat the Summer Heat

By: Dylan Hayward <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oz4Qe3KIATA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 
Understanding how water columns work is key to being successful when your trying to <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/10-Ways-to-Catch-Bass-in-the-Heat-of-Summer-When-Others-Cant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">catch bass in the Summer</a>. Without this knowledge, you&rsquo;re essentially casting blindly, unknowing of where the bass are located.
<h2 dir="ltr">Water Columns Overview</h2>
Throughout the year, bass will move in and out of different depths. This can be based on a variety of factors such as oxygen, water clarity, temperature and more. As anglers, it&rsquo;s important to take this into account, as there is a strong correlation between water depth and the feeding activity of bass.
This becomes more in depth as a thermocline layer forms due to the stratification of water. Depending on the time of the year it is, bass may only feed above or below the thermocline, and this can be tricky to navigate around.
This can also help you determine <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/GoWilds-Bass-Fishing-Lures-Guide-Lures-Rigging-Types-Retrieving" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which type of lure to use</a>, as some lures react differently and are intended for specific water columns. For example, a crankbait will float to the top upon casting, and it dives deep into the water as you retrieve. Whereas a soft plastic may sink as it lands on the water, but creeps towards the top when you retrieve.
<h3 dir="ltr">Understanding Water Columns in the Summer</h3>
During the early days of summer, when water temperatures tend to hover in the high 70s and lower 80s, most of the bass will linger around mid-depth, and go up to shallow waters to feed. Now that the <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/Pre-Spawn-and-Spawn-Bass-Fishing-Strategies-and-Best-Lures-To-Use" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spawn</a> is officially over, a bass&rsquo; metabolism will be at an all time high and this is a great opportunity to land a giant bass in shallow depths near cover.
As we move into mid-summer, the larger bass will spend much more time mid-depth and become slightly more lethargic and picky about what they eat. Depending on the depth of the lake, the bass will do most of their feeding between 15-20 feet deep. This is a great time to break out a Texas rig and drag a soft plastic along a ledge.
When the dog days approach and the scorching sun brings water temperatures close to 90 degrees, bass&rsquo; metabolism will drop dramatically and their feeding will become sporadic and short-lived. But if you can time it right, the fishing can be incredible.
<h3 dir="ltr">Shallow Water Summer Bass Fishing Tips &amp; Lures</h3>
When fishing for bass in shallow water, especially during the summer, the golden rule is to look for cover. One of the best forms of cover is vegetation, as this creates added oxygen that will naturally attract the bass. I typically start by searching for lily pads, cattails, hydrilla, etc. These are perfect spots to cast out a topwater lure such as a Hula Popper or a frog. They great thing about those lures is that they are essentially snag proof and they drive bass wild. There are few greater moments than watching a largemouth leap out of the water and swallow your popper whole!
Another popular approach to shallow water fishing in the summer is to skip a weightless wacky rig around the cover. This is a super simple method that any angler can master, and it has an impressive way of getting all of the bass&rsquo;s attention.
One of my favorite methods for fishing in shallow water is to use a <a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-296-texas-rig-bundle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas Rig</a>. They&rsquo;re extremely easy to set up and make casting into heavy debris and vegetation fairly seamless. You can always add a sinker to this setup, although I would avoid that if fishing in heavy vegetation.
<h3 dir="ltr">Medium Depth Summer Bass Fishing Tips &amp; Lures</h3>
The majority of a bass&rsquo;s life will be spent in the middle water columns. This depth acts as sort of a transition area between feeding and resting, and can be a great place to target bass during the late summer. They will spend most of the day in this part of the water chasing after baitfish.
For this reason, I really like to use lipless crankbaits. They&rsquo;re a fairly easy lure to use, and drive bass wild when used correctly and with the right color combinations. They key with lipless crankbaits is to cast beyond where you think the fish are, let the lure sink to the desired depth that you&rsquo;re targeting, and then start retrieving. Since these have no lip, they won&rsquo;t have the diving action that a traditional crankbait has, so allowing it to sink to the desired depth is crucial.
Another great lure for the middle water column are spinnerbaits. The blades on spinners do an amazing job at preventing snags, so you are able to freely cast near heavy cover without any worry of hooking a rock or a stick. Spinnerbaits also create a lot of noise and water disruption, which to a bass can signal a fish in distress, and entice them to strike!
<h3 dir="ltr">Deep Water Summer Bass Fishing Tips &amp; Lures</h3>
Fishing in deep water can be tricky during the summer, as most bass are spending time in the middle depth or coming to the shallows to feed. However, this doesn&rsquo;t mean they aren&rsquo;t down there. If you can find a heavy brush pile or a stump down below, you can bet there are bass hanging down there for protection, as well as an ambush point to attack their prey. The problem is, it&rsquo;s hard to present a lure through all of the other noise.
This is where soft plastics really come in handy, especially when used with a Texas rig. Use a soft worm or creature bait, or whatever is active in your area, with a Texas rig style and drag along the bottom. This Texas rig will allow you to bounce on and off debris and cover without getting snagged, and bass love to pounce on them.
<h3 dir="ltr">Which Columns Should You Fish During Which Times of the Day</h3>
Morning- Summer bass fishing in the morning is one of the greatest times all year to fish. Just before sunrise until about an hour or so after, bass are at one of their peak feeding times and the creeping sunlight can bring bass right to the shallows.
I like to start off my mornings fishing in the shallow pockets of water, targeting fallen over trees, or narrow canals coming out of lakes. I then start to work my way towards the middle water column as the mercury starts to rise in the mid-morning.
Afternoon- Midday can prove tough for bass fishing, as the bright sun allows them to see better, thus being slightly more picky with their bait. In this case, I like to use realistic bait that I can work slowly in front of the bass near debris and along the bottom of the water.
Using soft plastics or jigs, and slowly working them along the bottom as well as around drop offs and ledges can be really effective for afternoon bass fishing.
Evening- Once the evening rolls around and the sun starts to set, a switch seems to turn on and the bass are back to their heavy feeding, which is great news for any angler. During this time, bass tend to move back to shallow pockets and begin striking on any opportunity for food.
I like to use baitfish lures such as crankbaits and jerkbaits and put a heavy emphasis on the top water column. Cast your lure out, and vary your retrieval from fast to slow as you get closer to the bank. As soon as the sunsets, the feeding seems to die down greatly so take advantage of that golden last hour of sunlight and you&rsquo;ll be amazed by how good the action is. 
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<h2 class="page-content-carousel-title">Shop Fishing on GoWild</h2>
 
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Understanding how water columns work is key to being successful in the summer when you’re targeting bass. Without this knowledge, you’re essentially casting blindly, unknowing of where the bass are located. 

Understanding Water Columns & Fishing Depths | Summer Bass Fishing

The final of a series: GoWild Cofounder, CEO, Brad Luttrell is sharing the stories behind how GoWild came to work with each <a href="https://tickets.timetogowild.com/event/send-it-slam">Send It Slam</a> artist. 
In September of 2020, a text with a link showed up that said, &ldquo;You need to check this boy out. Now.&rdquo;
The sender was my friend Blake, whose music recommendations are always solid. In addition to that, I saw the link was to Red Barn Radio. If you don&rsquo;t know, Red Barn has famously found many musicians before their big break. In fact, it was because of Red Barn Radio that I started listening to Tyler Childers a full four years before nearly anyone else had even heard of him.
I dove into Cole Chaney&rsquo;s Red Barn show and it held up&mdash;this boy was good. A few months later, Cole dropped his debut, &ldquo;Mercy.&rdquo; I texted Blake again, &ldquo;shew, this kid is good. If he ever teams up with a band, he&rsquo;s going to be off to the races.&rdquo; Blake told me Cole had been playing a bit with a bluegrass band I was more than familiar with&mdash;Wolfpen Branch. I thought that would be a heckuva show, if I ever got to see it.
Little did I know, I&rsquo;d get to see Cole just a few weeks after &ldquo;Mercy&rdquo; was released. He played by himself&mdash;no band&mdash;at the Laurel Cove Music Festival in Pineville, Kentucky, and I made the five minute hike down through the woods from the main stage to see him. Standing with about a hundred people next to a creek, I watched Cole sing Kentucky lullabies and, in between songs, swat the moths flocking to the single light at his back. Just a young man, his guitar and the crickets, and it was one of my favorite sets I saw that year.
Fast forward to planning Send It Slam, we talked about a lot of possibilities for talent. When we decided to make this event a robust flavoring of Kentucky artists, I knew who I wanted to headline.
Cole Chaney.
Much of the GoWild audience grew up like I did. They may not have grown up playing with Tonka trucks in a coal pile or fishing on an Appalachian strip mine, but their journeys are similar all the same. They&rsquo;ve been through hard times, learned to love in small towns, lean on family, have family members who are preachers, and know more good storytellers than any city folk. Cole Chaney writes songs for people like us.
I recently got my wish of seeing Cole Chaney with a full band, and that band was in fact Wolfpen Branch. They played the 2022 Laurel Cove Festival&mdash;this year on the big stage&mdash;and it was one of my favorites I saw there, <a href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/laurel-cove-music-festival-2022/">as well as the media&rsquo;s</a>.
Cole Chaney and Wolfpen Branch are our closing act for Send It Slam, and having seen Cole a few times now and followed his journey for the last few years, I can promise you, this is indeed a boy you need ot checkout. Although, it&rsquo;s pretty clear, young Cole&rsquo;s come of age as a real songwriter now.
Send It Slam is presented by Black Rifle Coffee Company. <a href="http://senditslam.com">Grab those tickets</a>.
About the Author
Brad Luttrell is the Cofounder, CEO of GoWild. His career has taken him through journalism, advertising, technology and the outdoor industry. All along the way, he&rsquo;s had a guitar in his trunk and a song in his head.&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zyYuEZf1vFOb1OSCgQ5kT?si=ZG0ogR0zRzmmRQTbZZsroA">Listen to Cole Chaney</a> | <a href="http://senditslam.com">Buy Tickets</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2cNdxwvmdqGjSIlZ819i73?si=55a3cf9789fa4656">Listen To The Send It Slam Playlist</a>

Final of the series: GoWild Cofounder, CEO, Brad Luttrell is sharing the stories behind how GoWild came to work with each Send It Slam artist. Meet Cole Chaney. 

Send It Slam Artist Feature: Cole Chaney 

by: Dylan Hayward
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P78tFL4pXE8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/GoWilds-Summer-Bass-Fishing-Guide-Lures-Tips-and-Strategies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Summer bass fishing</a> comes with its challenges. The blistering sun drives bass deep into the water, and the unpredictability of clear weather can make timing a good day on the water, a bit of a chore. But don&rsquo;t be discouraged. When fished right, this can be one of the greatest times of the year to hook a monster largemouth.
Here are a few of my tips and strategies to make the most of the summer time weather, and boost your success of landing that lunker bass. If you're looking for a more comprehensive overview of bass fishing gear and strategies be sure to check the article titled "<a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/GoWilds-Bass-Fishing-Lures-Guide-Lures-Rigging-Types-Retrieving" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild's Bass Fishing Lures Guide | Lures, Rigging Types &amp; Retrieving</a>".
<h2>1. Fish the Cover</h2>
Just like humans, during the grueling summer heat, bass are going to look for shade. Water temperatures can be well over 10 degrees cooler under fallen trees, docks, etc. Not only do the bass like to be in cover, but so do baitfish, making this a perfect spot for bass to camp out in and wait to feast.
Make note of these areas and cast out a jerkbait, reeling in just under the water service with pauses every few seconds. When the weather is hot, bass are typically lazy and you&rsquo;ll need to pull that lure right into the strike zone in order for the bass to bite.
<h2>2. Find the Ledges and Dropoffs</h2>
If you can spot areas where shallow water quickly drops into deep water, this is a great place to try. A lot of times, especially during the summer, bass will idle right at the bottom of that ledge. If you can set up in the shallow parts, using a football rig, and work slowly up that dropoff, odds are you will get a bite.
<h2>3. Fish Heavy Vegetation</h2>
Finding a spot of heavy vegetation can be a gold mine. Bass love to hang out in these areas of dense cover as they wait for craws, frogs and other prey. Spots with a cover of lily pads are a an anglers dream and the perfect opportunity to cast out a topwater frog. This could easily be one of the best fishing experiences you&rsquo;ll ever be apart of.
<h2>4. Go Where the Bites Are <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oz4Qe3KIATA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </h2>
A lot of times we can have false hope about a spot that might look perfect on paper, but just isn&rsquo;t providing the action you&rsquo;re looking for. In pretty much every aspect of life, the philosophy &ldquo;patience is key&rdquo; is very accurate and should be taken as wisdom. But not in this situation. If you&rsquo;ve casted out multiple times and there has been little to no interest, write that spot off and head to another one.
When the bass aren&rsquo;t biting, casting for another hour isn&rsquo;t going to make a difference, in fact, it will likely have the opposite effect and make them even more paranoid and shut them down. In order to catch bass, you'll need to <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/Finding-a-Bass-Fishing-Spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">find a spot where the bass are biting</a>.
<h2>5. Follow the Oxygen</h2>
Bass can e more high-maintenanced than some people realize. They generally prefer areas of the water where the pH levels are perfect, and oxygen levels are high. However, there is usually a compromise to finding that sweet spot that bass have to accept, and you can take advantage of that by finding what those levels currently are.
Bass prefer areas of high oxygen, such as the warm shallow areas the water. However, those same areas generally have a much more acidic pH level, resulting in bass using excess energy to regulate the pH, making the added oxygen essentially useless. Because of this, they typically like to find an area of the water with the perfect mix of oxygen and pH levels. This is called the themocline and and the depth of this layer can vary throughout the year, although it&rsquo;s usually in the area where water is between 65-75 degrees. Find this spot, and you&rsquo;re in for some incredible fishing.
<h2>6. Follow the Shad</h2>
Towards the tail end of summer, you&rsquo;ll start to see shad school up together, and as we transition from August to September, these schools tend to congregate in more shallow pockets of water, where it can be a feeding frenzy for largemouth bass, and one that you should capitalize on.
Use a lure that immitates a shad, and try to make it match the size of the shad you are currently seeing, as this will seem more natural to the bass. Reel in at different speeds and different depths until you notice action, and take not of that sweet spot.
<h2>7. Fish the Right Depths at the Right Time</h2>
I touched briefly about the importance of finding the right depths when targeting bass, but it truly can&rsquo;t be overstated. During specific times of the year, bass will congregate to different depths of the water, and in order to land that giant bass you&rsquo;re after, you need to know which depths to cast in.
<h2>8. Throw Summer Lures <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hPhjrKY67k" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </h2>
Using the right lures is critical to summer bass success. Focus on using lures that imitate what bass are feeding on at the current times. A few lures I like to use are:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-319-biospawn-biggin-swimbait-bundle-4-75-inch-ExoSwim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shad Style Swimbaits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-334-gowild-crankin-classics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rapala Demon Crankbait</a></li>
<li><a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/gowild-294-ned-craw-bundle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ned Jig Head with 3in Ned Craw</a></li>
</ul>
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<h2 class="page-content-carousel-title">Brayden's Summer Lures</h2>
 
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</div>
<h2>9. Pay Attention to Water Temperature</h2>
Monitoring water temperature can help make the most out of your summer fishing. Bass will still bite your lures even in the brutal summer temps when water temperature can get up to the mid 80s. However, studies have shown that bass are most actively feeding when water temperatures hover around 70-75 degrees.
It&rsquo;s always a good idea to take note of the water temperature and adjust your strategy accordingly. On those hot days when the sun is beating down, bass are going to dive down deeper into the cooler water, and will be much lazier when going after a lure.
<h2>10. Get Your Casting &amp; Retrieving Right</h2>
One of my favorite strategies for summer bass fishing is to find a ledge or a steep drop off, set up on the shallow side and cast a few feet past, while doing a steady retrieve upwards along the ledge. Bass can be extremely lethargic during the warm summer months, so a steady retrieval that is smooth enough to catch a bass&rsquo;s attention is very important.
Following these Summer bass fishing tips should put you in a good position to land some big bass while your friends stand by and scratch their heads as to why you're catching them and they aren't!

The blistering sun drives bass deep into the water, and the unpredictability of clear weather can make timing a good day on the water, a bit of a chore. But don’t be discouraged. When fished right, this can be one of the greatest times of the year to hook a monster largemouth.

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