There are ways to enjoy the fishery without dealing with the headaches and backaches associated with being on Lake Wylie during the busy summer. My personal favorite is to arrive early and leave early; during the summer months, it's not unusual for me to get to the ramp as early as 4 a.m. These early morning dark hours are usually when the fish are feeding the best. I will fish until 9:30 or 10 a.m., and I am usually putting my boat on the trailer as most of the pleasure boaters and jet skis are showing up.

If I decide to make a day of fishing, I seek protection. By that, I mean areas of the lake where pleasure craft are less likely to travel, such as coves designated as "no wake" areas or the far reaches of the rivers and creeks. These small and usually shallow areas typically have a smaller populations of resident fish but can still be an enjoyable time on the water.

Another great alternative is to fish at night. Bass, being the predators they are, feed heavily at night, particularly during the summer months. There aren't any jet skis, wake boarders or water skiers after the sun sets, just a few folks out cruising the lake enjoying the cooler temperatures.

When I decide to fish on the main river and creek channels where large groups of fish gather this time of year, I prepare myself and my boat. I lower my trolling motor to keep my propeller in the water even while "surfing" the larger boat wakes. I bring along a "pro-pole" or even a conventional fishing chair to lean against or sit in to aid in keeping my balance while perched on the front deck of my boat.

Rainy summer days are great for fishing! The low light conditions usually bring the fish up and actively feeding and it eliminates most of the boat traffic.

Enjoy the warmer weather and the great fishing, but keep a few other things in mind:

• Always have your lights on during low-light periods so other boaters can see you

• Never assume another boater sees you

• Be very aware of boats heading in your direction and drive slower, keeping an eye out for those big wakes

• Trim the nose of your boat down as you cross through wakes.

There is no substitute for time on the water!