hot fun in the summer time

Hi folks, The really busy season is upon us.  Guided a small brook yesterday and just returned from bank fishing with kids and parents this morning.  Pretty hot and sunny out there, but we are still managing to get enough rain to keep the water levels in decent shape for mid summer. Water temperatures are getting high and the lake I was on this morning was 74 degrees on the surface.  The small brook I guided yesterday was 60 degrees.  Keep your thermometer handy.  The best fishing this time of the year is certainly early morning.  Especially if you want to catch trout.  Tugged on native brook trout yesterday with 3wts and dry flies.  Beautifully colored fish that just through themselves at the fly.  I love seeing fish come to the surface regardless of their size.  This morning we got fish to eat off the surface , except that they were smallmouth bass who have a love for the floating rapala.  Man is there some electricity in the rod when these fish are hooked.  Everyone jumped and we landed a few and missed a few.  Really important on the surface take with a bass to be patient in setting the hook and then really strike them. Had the kids working garden hackle on the bottom with a tight line.  We caught yellow perch, fall fish, pumpkin seed, and more smallmouth.  Kids do not care what they catch as long as they catch something.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy