Optimal fishing times... 2025

Eric J reply :

I live in the Northeast. Lower Hudson Valley, NYS. Any reason not to hit the lake round 4:30 or is that too early?

It's sunny and 78*. Am I just wasting an hour?

Largemouth21 reply :

Why would you be wasting any time if you were fishing. If you go at that time and catch fish, you know it’s a good time. If you don’t it was still a nice time outdoors and now you learned something

NHBull reply :

I don’t go out before 6:00 until after spawn

Rahlow reply :

It’s actually 5:30, fish don’t observe Daylight Savings Time. So yer good.

WRB reply :

Bass are active feeding about 20% of the time during a 24 hour period. Low light gives bass an advantage over it's prey. What hours are they active? Only time on the water can determine when bass are active, dawn and dusk are usually a active periods.

Tom

lo n slo reply :

give it a shot and then get back to us ????

kenmitch reply :

I'd just go fishing. If you wait the hour you wasted it waiting, if you go and fish it can be a warm up period if nothing else. I guess you could just sleep it out and dream about fishing an extra hour also

Russ E reply :

i think people put too much emphasis on time of day when fishing.

I go whenever I have time. you can usually trigger a bite any time of day.

I have caught most of my larger fish between noon and 3pm.

most people are not on the water that time of day around here.

Brad in Texas reply :

Here in north and east Texas, we are approaching 100 degree days about a month early. It'll sap the strength right out of you. So, what I do is get up early and get on the water at daybreak. If I am fishing my home lake where a canoe sits around 175 feet away and ready to drop in the water in just minutes, I like going out about 2 or 3 hours before dark, another great time. I ought to take up night fishing!

*** Someone once wrote that while fish bite best early AMs and late PMs, that often many really large bass are caught right after lunch time. Hmm?

Brad

Eric J reply :

I posted my catch in another topic... Long story short; PERSONAL BEST 7lb 2oz!!!!

I guess the time was just right...

Eric J

Angry John reply :

The heat index is over 100 and the temp is headed that way by Saturday. If I had the choice I would not be on the water after 10 am and not before 7pm. The heat of the day is just miserable and also when the pleasure craft are at their peak.

greentrout reply :

I live in Mississippi...our Summers are brutal...weatherman says with heat index 100 plus tomorrow with a lot of humidity... there's a lot of night fishing here....fresh and saltwater...

good fishing...

BuzzHudson19c reply :

I get out as early as I can. Nothing better than having the water to yourself. The "best time to fish" thing is overplayed. Sure more fish are active at certain times depending on weather and time of year, but you can catch them at anytime as long as you know where to look.

the reel ess reply :

I like the evenings when it gets really warm. I also happen to love topwater fishing so that's a good match. My next favorite time is early morning. I love catching the sunrise. But as Bill Dance once said "The best time to go fishing is when you can."

Bluebasser86 reply :

Can't catch them at home, I'd always be willing to give it a shot.

Catt reply :

Best time to go fishing is anytime ya can go fishing!

Mobasser reply :

I agree with Cat and Bluebasser86. Go for it, at any time you can, and good luck

NHBull reply :

My larger than average fish have been at dusk but my PB’s have been mid day sunny days. Fish when you can

jeff25 reply :

My top 5 biggest have all come during the middle of the day if that tells you anything

roadwarrior reply :

On 5/31/2018 at 9:36 AM, Brad in Texas said:

*** Someone once wrote that while fish bite best early AMs and late PMs, that often many really large bass are caught right after lunch time. Hmm?

Well, several of our members have caught most of their biggest bass either side of noon,

between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

Eric J reply :

I posted this earlier... I did go out and caught my new PB. 7.2 pounds. An amazing fight. Awesome evening.

BigAngus752 reply :

On 5/31/2018 at 3:40 AM, Eric J said:

Am I just wasting an hour?

Some of my happiest, most needed, most stress-relieving days have been two-dink fishing days. You couldn't waste time on the water if you tried.

Tennessee Boy reply :

I've never hit the water too early in the morning. If their not biting, at least your in position to catch them when they start.

Raul reply :

On 5/31/2018 at 9:36 AM, Brad in Texas said:

*** Someone once wrote that while fish bite best early AMs and late PMs, that often many really large bass are caught right after lunch time. Hmm?

Brad

On 5/31/2018 at 7:24 PM, roadwarrior said:

Well, several of our members have caught most of their biggest bass either side of noon,

between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

You tell me:

10 AM is early, more like 1 to 5 PM, @ 95-105º ish.

Choporoz reply :

AM or PM?

optimator reply :

I prefer first & last light. But I fish anytime I can.

WRB reply :

I have caught DD bass every hour the day and night. Unlike most of you the majority were caught before 10AM and everyone of my top 5 were pre spawners caught before 9:30 AM on overcast or light rain days. Bright blue sky sunny days gives the bass the advantage unless being targeted on beds.

Tom

Rahlow reply :

On 5/31/2018 at 7:24 PM, Eric J said:

I posted this earlier... I did go out and caught my new PB. 7.2 pounds. An amazing fight. Awesome evening.

See I told you bass didn’t observe daylight savings time,,,,, congrats

12591

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