If I could bottle up these 85-degree days in July and save them for early February, I would, especially if the fishing that is part-and-parcel with summer comes along with my preserved point in time. From sunfish and crappies to white and largemouth bass, this time of year presents fast fishing and getting in on the action while it’s hot — both metaphorically and in terms of the thermometer — is the best time to connect someone with the outdoors, especially young anglers.

The primary reason for this is the fast bite. Introducing new anglers (or reactivating those who might have been out of the game awhile) to your favorite summer pastime is a numbers game, and continuous action keeps them engaged, regardless of if they’re five or 75 years old. Whether that’s the bobber going down again and again, or a hard hit and slash from a jig and twister on the retrieve, or a strong pull in the weedy shallows around a dock, simply having something at the end of the line consistently is what creates a strong connection with the joy of angling. Targeting those active summer species like panfish and bass is a fantastic gateway to that enjoyment.

What helps is they are available on many waters. Bluegills are as ubiquitous as summer butterflies. The shallows of many lakes boast teeming schools of these favorite panfish which provide consistent action not only for those just learning to fish, but those who might be learning new ways, such as on the fly rod. The same is true for white bass. While perhaps not as common as sunnies are, these bigger panfish provide an incredible fight and help novice anglers hone their skills as they seek out swirling schools and cast and work spoons, jigs and other smaller lures through the areas of high activity. When either option is discovered, the action can be nearly endless.

Crappies offer a similar experience when a school is found. Whether along a deeper weedline during the day, or rising up to the surface as the sun sets, specks offer an abundance of options for catching them. When it comes to fine-tuning a slip float setup, crappies are incredible instructors for newer anglers. They also allow for other ways to connect, such as tossing a small jig and tube and working it strategically through the water column, or burning small spinners to cover water and find where the school is, before setting up with more stationary options. Once they are located and the pattern is established though, that consistent connection is often a given for the rest of a fishing trip and likely in the days that follow.

Finally, largemouth bass offer some bulk to new anglers, and provide that same advancement up the learning curve. For those looking to try out a variety of lures — tubes, spinnerbaits, stick baits and soft plastics — bucketmouths are great teachers too. What’s more, most lakes were they are present have good populations lurking around docks, cabbage clumps, established lily pads and other structure and the occasional lunker mixed in to make for a memorable fish mixed with consistent takes of those offerings.

As summer heats up, add to the experience for new anglers and for yourself by targeting the hot bites going on in the waters around you. Summer specific species like bluegills, crappies, white bass and largemouth bass provide many ways to fish, but more importantly, a relatively easy and exciting angling experience this time of year … in our outdoors.