Summer season has come and gone. For me personally, it was a blur, and one NOT to remember. July flew by, and here we are in middle of August. Summer patterns for both smallmouth and largemouth have been in play for well over a month. Bass fishing in the northwoods continues to be mediocre. On good weather days, fishing is good. On poor weather days and post-thunderstorm, very poor. It's the dog days of summer now. I recently concluded my summer season guide trips that took place from July 26th thru August 11th. As of late, we’ve had some very good days on the water, and some poorer days on the water. This has all been a product of each day’s weather, yet also relative to lake choices, preference of species, and fishing style. Unless sunny with some wind chop, smallmouth have been belligerent and uncooperative for the most part, while largemouth bass have been more reliable. You just got to take what the fish and lakes will give you each day, and do not settle for anything. We are past summer peak, and many of our bass now live offshore. Most fish will be living offshore now thru fall turnover, but will revisit near-shore areas if the food is present.