For Joel Kunz, Old Guy Fishing is getting back to basics, not worrying about being competitive, and just enjoying yourself.

The high-horsepower, go-get-‘em, summertime, big-water-walleye days are behind me, and a chance to sit with a friend, son or grandson on a dock or in a small boat, and enjoy a tug on the line, gains priority. So, I followed my basic instinct and visited the local bait shop—iconic Ma’s Bait in Fremont—and talked to Dan about his ideas on Old Guy Fishing for July and August. He was on the same page as I was; here is what we came up with.

The day starts with being prepared from top to bottom. A good, wide-brimmed fishing hat is better than the baseball-style cap worn by most. The extra shade helps keep direct sunshine off your neck and ears and provides better cover for your eyes, which should be covered by good UV-resistant, polarized sunglasses. Make sure to bring sunscreen—and use it. Dry the bottom of your hands with a towel if you are over-worried about the sunscreen affecting the fish bite, or just use a little fish attractant, which I do anyway unless I am fishing with stink bait; then I don’t think it matters. Dress for the weather, and if planning on shore fishing, bring a chair, cooler, water and/or a few sports drinks, plus some good snacks or sandwiches. Be aware of any potential weather situations that may change during the day.

Step two brings us back to the bait shop where a bit of guidance usually helps. That guidance includes potential locations, and it is a great place to get the best and freshest bait and a couple of extra candy bars. Dan’s and my summertime suggestion locally is catfish, as given away by the earlier stink bait reference. There are numerous shore locations where anglers can find a comfortable place and that tug on the line we are discussing. Channel cats provide the bulk of the action and properly taken care of eat very well. Medium-heavy tackle is best for most applications.

There is a locally favorite brand of stinkbait sold at area shops that I have experience with, catching lots of fish. It is great for numbers, but I also like to use some fresh cut-bait in the array to try to encourage some bigger fish to bite. For flatheads, live bait and bulked-up tackle are the only way to go. This is day or night fishing, and the hotter it gets, the better the bite can be. Bring good bug repellent or a Thermacell device, and if fishing at night, keep your light a few feet away from you…and downwind.

Given the chance to be in a boat, there is another favorite pastime of mine that is catching walleyes, casting the rocky shorelines from Lake Poygan to Lake Butte Des Morts, with number 9 or 11 floating Rapalas. There are a surprising number of fish in the shallow water, and your catch will probably include a few smallmouth bass, northern pike and maybe even a muskie. Early mornings and late afternoons are obvious good times to be fishing, but good wave action can provide the catalyst that feeding fish use any time of the day.

That brings back memories of night fishing weedy flats and rocky areas with floating crankbaits on Waukesha County lakes when I was young, catching some of the biggest fish of my life. Daytime traffic puts the fish down, and they will use the shallow areas to feed at some point at night. Pockets in the weeds, and just about any submerged structure, will hold fish. A full moon is my favorite night to fish topwaters and shallow-running baits, especially for bass.

Summer is a good time for Old Guy Fishing, but don’t be lazy. Be prepared, tell someone your plans, go with a friend, carry your cell phone in a Zip Lock bag and enjoy making new memories.

Looking for a new area to fish this season? You’ll find plenty of suggestions in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.