Despite the high fishing pressure and boat traffic on our lakes from 4th of July holiday and onward, July can produce excellent fishing depending on what you are seeking and how hard you are willing to work. July is typically one of the most stable weather months of the year, and it generally leads to consistent and predictable daily fishing. Right now, summer fishing patterns are in play, and summer peak is underway. I begin prioritizing early mornings and evenings for peak fishing times and avoid the traffic by fishing more out of the way locations.   While smallmouths still offer excellent fishing on our deepest and coldest lakes where they relocate to deep structure or roam for pelagic baitfish, their feeding windows are often short-lived and relative to forage locations and time of day. In mid-summer, smallmouths can be caught as shallow as 2 feet to as deep as 30 feet depending on water temperatures and the developing thermoclines and summer stratification. Weather and water temperatures will drive their feeding movements and locations. July in this part of the world is a top largemouth bass month where their feeding and activity level peaks on the