PRO-FILE
Clark Wendlant
Qualifications: Wendlant is the FLW's only two-time Angler of the Year winner, and since 2005 has earned four top-10 finishes in July and August. He also holds the record for top-10 finishes on the FLW tour (23). His career winnings total $1.2 million.
On Boat Traffic: "Summer can be a tough time to fish. Sometimes you've just got to suck it up and deal with it, but early mornings and late evenings are good times to get out on the water. It's cooler and the jet-skiers and boaters aren't usually out yet. And by fishing in the backs of creeks throughout the day, you can also avoid a lot of the traffic."
Killer Tactic: Conventional wisdom says to work deep humps and rock piles for suspending fish this month. But to really get into the action, heed FLW pro Clark Wendlant's advice and start beating the shallows.
"During August most people are thinking deepwater structure," says Wendlant. "After being deep and suspending during June and July, those fish usually start coming shallower in August and September."
The pro doesn't just fish the main-lake shoreline; he's already moving into feeder creeks during August. "Start thinking of getting into the backs of creeks and start throwing a crankbait around docks, rocks or
laydowns," says Wendlant.
Even when moving into creeks and concentrating on flats and coves, Wendlant isn't fishing deeper water. "A deep channel near a flat can be good, but people always want to go to the channel and fish," he says. "A lot of times those fish get right up on the flats and gravitate to cover."
Use a weedless crankbait around any cover when searching for fish. "They'll be suspended, so if you're fishing in eight feet of water, look to that five- to six-foot depth for fish. If the water is dirty, try fishing two to four feet deep. The dirtier the water, the higher the fish will be in the water column," says Wendlant.
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