Getting into summer fishing

[SenkoSam]

baits that i modify

 Curious - which baits? how modified?


Questions - do you ever fish from a boat?
               - if so would you use a fish finder-sonar?
               - what is the depth range you fish in this lake?
               - what weight jigs?
               - do you move along the shoreline and cast everywhere you can?

Bottom fishing is okay when using bottom weighted lures, i.e. jig & trailer, plastic worm or creature bait Texas rigged. As for myself I use ball head jigs no heavier than 1/8 oz with soft plastics in many shapes and actions. I also modify plastics and many work better than anything I ever bought
.

The above is my latest discovery: two different size grub bodies with curl tail cut off and attached by melting the ends with a candle flame. Notice also the use of an unpainted ball head jig.

I have a mold for the above swimbait and added color using a plastic dye. It caught crappy and bass.

These are examples of lures that cover quite a bit of water and at the depth fish are at whether on bottom or mid depth.
Since you've been able to catch different species fish, no reason other fish species won't bite whatever you cast as long as lure size, shape and action are proper for that lake. 

There are tons of lures and ways to fish them but at the same time it's not possible to know which of them you need. But one thing I've found is that fish are nearer the surface in summer in early morning and that's where I fish my lures.