Pro’s Pointers to get the most out of fishing experiences in August.
Story and Photography by Danno Wise

Although it seems like summer has already stretched on into infinity, August is actually just the mid-point in the year’s hottest season. Make no mistake about it – the summer heat will be at its apex over the next several weeks. As a result, one of the best ways to stay relatively cool and have a productive day on the water is to get out of the boat and wade.
The biggest advantage to wade fishing is the ability to quietly and thoroughly cover water. This is particularly helpful when fish are tightly bunched, skittish or lethargic.
Waders are also more capable of targeting specific fish and/or structure. If the bite is hot, they can stay in the same place and keep casting and catching. The ability to stay stationary when necessary also makes it easier to work finesse or slow-sinking baits. One overlooked advantage to being able to stand still, is that wade fishermen can fish slowly and cover water thoroughly even when its windy, which is admittedly rare in the summer months, but can happen nonetheless..
Wade fishermen can also fish shallower than any boat is able to float. Whether this is a shallow shoreline or a deep hole behind a shallow bar, wade fishermen can access water that’s off-limits to boaters. This is a big plus when fish are feeling pressured in easily accessible locales – which is common during the peak of summer vacation season.
Also, it is an entirely different experience than fishing from a boat. More often than not, anglers feel more connected to the bay system they are fishing simply by being literally immersed in it.
“The two biggest reasons I wade fish is to give the clients an experience they may have never had and to cover a fishing area more thoroughly,” said Capt Nathan Beabout of N&M Sportsman Adventures in Seadrift.

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