The Reel Thing: Summer weather means sunfish season

As spring makes the turn to summer in East Tennessee, the environment for fishing in the area changes with the season. The spring was one of the best times to go fishing for bass, as it is in the heat of the species spawning season. But, just because the weather is warmer, doesn't mean they haven't stopped biting. In the summer, many bass species, like smallmouths, largemouths, and stripers, migrate back into deeper waters. When going for bass, live bait tends to work the best. In particular shad or other kinds of smaller bait fish tend to do the trick, though worms and artificial bait can be successful. However, the most common type of fish in the summer is typically the sunfish species. The most common of these is the bluegill, but other types like the redbreast sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, rock bass, and warmouth can all be found in lakes, rivers and streams in Tennessee. The bluegill's diet primarily consists of insects, so worms, crickets, and the like all work well as bait for the sunfish. Just be aware of the sharper fins. Another fish that can be caught in the summer is the catfish. The blue catfish spawn typically runs from May to June, and once out of spawn, the species is very active and very hungry. The catfish has a very wide array of things it will eat, from insects to other fish species to even some plants, so a bevy of bait options are at an angler's disposal. If you have a story you'd like to share, a fishing event upcoming, or an update on your local waterways, feel free to reach out to Andrew Smith at asmith@sixriversmedia.com.