So I saw it was 106 in DFW yesterday and supposed to be as bad again today. It's been a little cooler out here in West Texas and no doubt a lot less humidity, but it's still not exactly optimal fishing conditions.

So if you were going fishing after a 100 degree day and the wind is too low to drift, what do you do? I have a pontoon and have never really tried putting a trolling motor on for a controlled drift. I don't see it working very well, but maybe. I'll be going either after dark or early in the morning. The wind seems to always die after dark this time of year and I just don't think anchoring would be worth the trouble.

Do you just not even go out to begin with? I know you cant catch fish from your couch, but at least it's cooler there.

Sounds like you need to tuffin' up buttercup and figure them out. Don't you crawfish on me yet, can't trust a forecast 5 days out anyway.

Try to locate fish and anchor up on them, look for humps, points, creek channels, any where deeper water is near shallower water. If you have a FF look for those structures that are holding bait and you should find fish. Blues anyway.

Hopefully we find them stacked in the channels like hurricane is saying. Some good spots available now since it rained.

Yeah, that would work at Hubbard Creek, but Ft Phantom is a lake that doesn't play by the rules. I only catch fish out there in the summer when drifting. Granted, it could be because I suck, my I prefer to give myself a little credit... Fall can't get here fast enough!

This time of the year I'm trolling most of the time. Even when there is enough wind to drift, I still prefer to troll a lot of the time.

How fast? Always with the wind or against sometimes too? Or just following contours?

I don't figure I'll ever troll in my pontoon. I'd have to spend too much on another battery or two and that's not how I would normally fish though I know of several people who are wildly successful doing that. Maybe sooner or later I'll give in and spend the money.

When there is not enough wind to drift, I drop the trolling motor, point it straight forward, lock it tight so it cannot turn.

Put out four lines, two long lines port and starboard from rear and two shorter lines port and starboard from the front. Go long from the rear and short from the front so they can't tangle.

You can control drift speed with the trolling motor and steer by using the outboard as a rudder. You will be drifting straight forward rather than sideways.

Works great.

I've used the trolling motor and have had good success, not my preferred method because it drains my batteries and I'm too lazy to steer but that could change since the boat I have now has auto pilot, just haven't had to use it this year for trolling, I'd prefer to anchor down but at times when fish are scattered it is a good resource to catch fish.

Thinking about stepping up to a better trolling motor myself, but like said I'm not sure the expense would be justified.

Tommy, if you do ever decide to buy a new trolling motor, buy you a wireless saltwater minn kota!!!! Life changer!!! Lol! I've been running wireless for about 8 years or so I think and I couldn't ever stand for anything else.

I would never had spent the money on a wireless gps trolling motor but since the boat I bought had one, I don't believe I could live without it!!! Lol

All this really varries from day to day. .7 mph is generally my starting point.

I try to troll to where the fish are and not let the wind dictate where I go. I have a foot control tm so it's not very easy to do and in strong winds is much harder.

If there isn't any wind I usually just crappie fish.