THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 · CEDAR CREEK LAKE
Early bite before the heat takes over, then hunt deep ledges when sun bears down.
WATER 90°FAIR 93°FWIND 5 MPH SSESEASON SUMMERPOOL -4.7 FT
We're in the thick of summer and water's sitting at 90 degrees, so bass are in full survival mode. They'll feed at first light when it's coolest, then tuck into the deepest shade and structure they can find once the sun takes over. The lake's clarity is moderate and pressure is steady, so no dramatic swings today, but the bluebird sky and heat will push them deep fast. Pressure stays locked in, so don't expect a sudden bite window. Bass are shallow early, pulling out to ledges and deeper brush by mid-morning and staying there until evening cools things off again.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 6:52 AM to 8:30 AM
Shallow riprap, seawalls, and ledge breaks in 4 to 8 feet of water near the dam and main lake points.
Topwater popper or prop bait in bone or white, worked steady with pauses. Keep it moving just fast enough to hold the fish's attention but slow enough they can track it in the morning light.
Bass are in the shallows at first light hunting shad before the sun gets too hot. This is your best window for aggressive, active bass willing to chase. Topwater triggers reaction strikes and shows you where the fish are staged before they scatter deep.
MORNING · 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Deep ledges and drop-offs in 18 to 28 feet of water, especially near mid-lake humps and main lake structure.
Lipless crankbait in chrome or shad pattern, burned fast across the ledge break, or a shaky head with a 3.5-inch finesse worm in green pumpkin fished slow on the bottom.
As the sun climbs and water warms, bass slide off the shallows to the deep ledges where it's cooler and darker. They're still feeding but getting picky. Fast-moving crankbaits trigger reaction strikes. If that slows, drop to a finesse worm on the bottom where the bass are hunkered down.
MIDDAY · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The deepest ledges and channel breaks in 22 to 32 feet of water. Target any place with steep drop-off and nearby brush or timber.
Shaky head with a 3-inch finesse worm in green pumpkin or watermelon, fished tight on the bottom with short, subtle hops. Let it sit between twitches.
This is the toughest part of the day. Sun is straight overhead, water is at its warmest, and bass are locked on the deepest, shadiest structure available. They're not looking to chase, so downsize and slow down. Work the strike zone right on top of them, just a few inches of space. Patience and precision beat speed now.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Deep ledges and drop-offs in 20 to 28 feet, but start working back toward slightly shallower structure if shade and cloud cover develop.
Shaky head with finesse worm in green pumpkin, fished slow on the ledge. If clouds roll in, transition to a lipless crankbait or small swimbait in chrome.
Water is still hot and bass are still deep, but if clouds build or the pressure starts to drop, they'll get more active. Stay on the deep ledges early in this window, then if conditions soften, start drifting toward 16 to 22 feet where they may be migrating back slightly as the afternoon cools.
EVENING · 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Ledges and secondary structure in 12 to 20 feet of water. Shade lines along deeper banks and timber are prime.
Small swimbait in shad pattern (3 to 4 inches) on a light jig head, fished on a slow, steady retrieve. Follow up with a lipless crankbait in chrome or shad pattern if the bite is active.
As the sun lowers and air temperature drops, bass start their move back shallow. They're more willing to chase now. Work the transition zones between deep ledges and shallower structure where they're moving through. A slow swimbait mimics the natural shad they're keying on and gets them to react.
DUSK · 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM
Shallow ledge breaks, riprap, and seawalls in 6 to 12 feet of water. Focus on any current break or shade line near structure.
Topwater popper or prop bait in bone or black, worked steady with pauses. Keep cadence moderate, let the bait sit for 2 to 3 seconds between twitches.
Last light is your second chance at active, aggressive bass. They're sliding back shallow as the water cools and light fades. Topwater again shows you where they're stacked and triggers reflex strikes. Even a tired bite can explode if you put the right bait in their face when the sun is low.
NIGHT · 8:45 PM onwards
Stay on shallow structure and riprap in 4 to 8 feet if the moon is bright enough to navigate safely. Otherwise, pack it in.
If fishing: dark topwater like a black popper or a dark-colored swimbait fished slow so the bass can track it by feel and lateral line.
After dark with a clear sky and first quarter moon, you can stay shallow on riprap and seawalls where bass may feed during the cooler night hours. But visibility is your call. Safe bet is to head in once the light's gone unless you're confident on the water and the moon gives you enough light to navigate.
Where to fish
- Main Lake Ledges — 18 to 32 feet · Steep drop-offs with hard bottom and nearby timber or brush for shade.
This is the summer sanctuary. Ledges hold cooler, more oxygenated water and give bass quick access to shallow feeding zones at dawn and dusk without leaving the deep zone they need to survive the heat. - Mid-Lake Humps and Points — 20 to 28 feet · Underwater humps with sharp breaks and surrounding flat expanses that funnel baitfish.
Humps concentrate bass and baitfish year-round. In summer, bass hold on the slopes and breaks where it's cooler and they can intercept shad moving through the water column. - Dam Area Riprap and Shallow Seawalls — 4 to 12 feet · Riprap shoreline and nearby shallow structure with hard bottom.
Current from the dam oxygenates water and attracts shad. Bass hunt this zone hard at first light and last light when the heat subsides. It's a natural funnel for shallow feeding. - Creek Channel Swings and Inside Bends — 15 to 24 feet · Channel drop-offs with timber and hard transitions from flat to deeper water.
Channel swings are major migration highways. Bass stage here in summer waiting for the light to fade, then move shallow to feed at dusk. The structure provides shade and the proximity to deep water gives them an escape route when sun climbs.
What to throw
- Topwater Popper — 2.5 to 3 in · Bone or White · n/a (Early morning (6:52 to 8:30 AM) and dusk (7:30 to 8:45 PM) when bass are active and looking up.)
Work with steady twitches and pauses, keeping it just fast enough to hold attention but slow enough to stay in the strike zone. Let it sit for 2 to 3 seconds between twitches. - Lipless Crankbait — 2 to 2.25 in · Chrome or Shad Pattern · 1/2 oz (Morning (8:30 to 11 AM) when bass are transitioning deep and still willing to chase.)
Burn it fast across ledge breaks and over submerged timber. Keep the rod tip up and reel steady to maintain a tight, vibrating action. - Shaky Head with Finesse Worm — 3 to 3.5 in · Green Pumpkin · 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz (Midday (11 AM to 2 PM) and whenever bass are locked on deep structure in 20+ feet.)
Fish it tight on the bottom with short, subtle hops. Let it settle between twitches. Work the strike zone within 6 inches of the ledge or drop-off. - Small Swimbait — 3 to 4 in · Shad Pattern or Natural Translucent · 1/8 oz to 1/4 oz on jig head (Evening (5 to 7:30 PM) when bass are starting to move back shallow and willing to chase.)
Fished on a steady, slow retrieve through transition zones. Keep it in the 12 to 20 foot zone where bass are staging, not hunting. Let the tail action do the work. - Shaky Head with Watermelon Finesse Worm — 3.5 in · Watermelon · 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz (When green pumpkin slows or if water stain increases slightly.)
Fished on the ledge with the same subtle hop and pause as green pumpkin. Work it close to timber or brush if present on the ledge.
How to work it
- Ledge Dragging — Midday (11 AM to 2 PM) when bass are tightest to deep structure and least willing to chase. · Mid-lake humps and main-lake drop-offs in 18 to 32 feet of water.
Position the boat in deep water and drag a shaky head or small jig along the lip of a ledge, keeping contact with the break. Work it slowly, listening and feeling for the structure change. - Early Light Shallow Burn — Early morning (6:52 to 8:30 AM) during the narrow window when bass are shallow and feeding. · Shallow riprap, seawalls, and ledge breaks in 4 to 8 feet near the dam.
Fan cast topwater poppers and shallow crankbaits across shallow structure near riprap and seawalls. Move the boat slowly and keep searching until you locate active fish. - Transition Zone Drifting — Evening (5 to 7:30 PM) when bass are moving off the deep ledges and migrating back toward shallower night-time structure. · Secondary ledges and points that connect shallow flats to deep structure.
Drift slowly (less than 0.5 mph) through the 12 to 20 foot zone, casting a small swimbait or lipless crankbait ahead of the boat and working it back as you drift.
Pro tips
- Scout the early light topwater bite hard for 30 minutes then mark those shallow structure zones. When the fish move deep at 8:30, you know exactly where they'll come back to at dusk without wasting time searching.
- If you mark shad on the sonar suspended in 14 to 18 feet mid-lake, bass are not far below. Transition to the shad-pattern swimbait at a slow, steady retrieve and let the baitfish profile draw reaction strikes.
- Water temperature at 90 degrees means bass are stressed and compressed into tight zones. Fish your best ledges and drops methodically in the heat of the day rather than roaming. One ledge fished thoroughly beats five ledges fished fast.
If conditions change
If a front rolls in and pressure drops, bass will feed more actively in mid-morning and you can stay with the lipless crankbait bite longer, even into early afternoon. If the sky clouds over significantly, extend the shallow bite into late morning, then transition to the deep ledges. If the wind picks up and pushes a warm breeze, it'll stabilize the heat but also dirty the water slightly, which means go to a slightly larger, darker finesse worm or a crankbait with more vibration. If the water clears after a rain spell, downsize everything and go to natural translucent colors like ghost or smoke shad. If the stain increases and visibility drops, swap to chartreuse or bright patterns and upsize finesse baits slightly.
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