Covington County has been plagued by four straight-days of record-breaking temperatures.

Tuesday, temperatures soared to 98 degrees; Wednesday, they hit 102 degrees and on Thursday, they were 100 degrees.

On Friday, temperatures made it 100 degrees, which topped the record of 96 set back in 1998.

Today, temperatures are expected to hit 98 degrees, which is just shy of the 1985 record of 99 degrees.

Forecasters are calling for a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after lunch today, but aren’t predicting a decrease in temperatures.

The soaring temperatures are wreaking havoc on local bait and tackle shops, owners said.

In Opp at Parrish Bait Shop, owner Jimmy Flowers called this year “the worst in my 17 years.”

“Our sales are way down,” he said. “It’s just too hot for the fishers to be out there.”

Flowers said his shop had a slow year in 2010, but “this year will probably be worse than last, if it continues on its course.”

Flowers said his store offers a little bit of everything from live bait, including crickets and worms to fishing lures and other items.

“There has been no rain,” he said. “The river is down probably the worst in my whole life.”

At Sporting Lifestyles, manager Ralph Ricks said business has “definitely slowed down,” from a couple of months ago.

“We were doing pretty good before the heat,” Ricks said. “This is the slowest Friday this spring.”

Fishers DeLana Riley and Chris Henagan, who were shopping at Stokes Sporting Goods on Friday, said while it was hot outside, it wasn’t too hot for them.

“You can catch fish, but it depends on where you go,” Henagan said. “Lake Armstrong is a really good spot.”

Riley said the best way to combat the heat while fishing is to stay hydrated.

“Take and drink plenty of bottled water,” she said.

The pair said they enjoy fishing all year long.

“The best time to go is at the open season of bow season,” Henagan said. “You’ll catch the big bass.”

Ricks said he intends to make his way to the riverbank today.

“It’s never too cold to go hunting, and never too hot to go fishing,” he said.