Prior to a recent U.S. Open event at Lake Mead in Nevada, a tournament in which temperatures commonly reach the 120 degree mark, veteran Missouri pro Charlie Campbell visited his doctor.
"I'd been told not to go out in real bad heat," he explained.
Campbell had suffered a heart attack the previous year and he wanted to avoid any health complications that might arise from fishing in the furnace of the Mohave Desert.
"I did exactly what the doctor told me and I didn't get sick at all, but a bunch of guys did," said Campbell.
Fishing in the extreme heat of summer is dangerous, and not just for someone like Campbell. All anglers — even those without health problems — should prepare for the heat, according to Campbell.
"I usually take care of myself by drinking plenty of water and juices and wearing the right clothes. And the doctor said that you want to drink water, juices or Gatorade only," he emphasized.
In other words, nix the carbonated colas and alcoholic beverages.
"It's really important to start drinking water the night before a hot day. Then, on a really hot day, I'll drink at least a gallon of water. You need to put water inside you, the same as you do in a radiator to keep your car cool."
Equally important is proper clothing. Campbell's hot-weather attire consists of loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, both made from a lightweight, porous material.
"And always wear white clothing," said Campbell, explaining that light colors do not absorb the heat like dark-colored clothing does.
"Always take a towel along to wipe off the perspiration to cool you down."
A good hat is absolutely necessary, continued Campbell. He wears a white cap with a back flap that shields his head and neck from direct sunlight. Sometimes Campbell "keeps cool" by donning a light-colored straw hat, which he occasionally dips in the water and puts back on his head.
Another option is the "Cool Tie," one of the new water-absorbing neckerchiefs that can be worn around the neck.
And if the heat becomes unbearable for Campbell, he still has one more tip for cooling down. "When it gets real hot, just jump in the water."
Finally, don't forget to apply sunscreen. And reapply it throughout the day.