The hardest season to catch LMB? 2024
kiteman reply :
I live in Texas where the winters aren't usually that bad and fish can be caught. The pre-spawn and summer months are both excellent. I find spawn to be without a doubt the trickiest time to fish, and thus hardest time to catch them. It's particularly hard for me because I bank fish in a deep quarry pond, and it is very windy usually so the water is choppy and it's nearly impossible to see beds with that depth and choppiness. Even though, the water is actually very clear. I feel like it's almost a waste of time, actually. I'm wondering if this is a sentiment I share with other bass anglers, or if I'm just doing something wrong...
EGbassing reply :
I've gotten skunked several days in a row now. I wonder if they're spawning here because I usually do pretty well in the spring, but not right now.
Mr. Aquarium reply :
my hardest season is winter to just before prespawn. I live in MA. We may have open water all winter but the weather is so up and down winter through April that its tough. Mid April when water temps hit 50 and the herring show up. Its balls to the wall.
kiteman reply :
On 4/5/2019 at 12:45 AM, EGbassing said:I've gotten skunked several days in a row now. I wonder if they're spawning here because I usually do pretty well in the spring, but not right now.
If you're in AL then I think you fall victim to similar patterns as I do. Spring can usually be categorized as pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. Pre-spawn is when I catch the most and the biggest fish. Spawn I barely catching anything, and post-spawn is about as successful as pre-spawn. So you're probably in the spawn phase right now as well. If you see bass just chilling around shallows and not moving anywhere, they are males guarding nests, while the females are just roaming around finding other males to spawn with, so none of them are particularly interested in feeding.
In fact one of the most successful ways to catch fish during spawn is to mimic predators like lizards. The bass won't eat them, but if it gets in their nest they will pick it up in their mouth and spit it out beyond the nest. You're supposed to set the hook in that brief moment before they spit the predator out. I think the females are even harder to catch, but they are the bigger and more desirable ones...
TnRiver46 reply :
Easy answer, spring spawn. It’s funny because that’s what everyone talks about and looks forward too, the toughest fishing of the entire year
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 4/5/2019 at 2:20 AM, TnRiver46 said:Easy answer, spring spawn. It’s funny because that’s what everyone talks about and looks forward too, the toughest fishing of the entire year
and I thought it was just me.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 4/5/2019 at 2:26 AM, Tennessee Boy said:and I thought it was just me.
Spawn: the most used word yet useless part of bass fishing
kenmitch reply :
They don't all spawn at the same time, they'll do it in waves. Look for staging areas or parts of the lake that are still cooler.
I avoid the beds myself. I'd rather get skunked than bed fish.
Glaucus reply :
Nov-Mar for me
J Francho reply :
When surface temps fall below 32° F.
WRB reply :
Nearly every lake with LMB the spawn doesn't happen all at once, it's happens in waves and last over a month. Mother Nature doesn't put all her eggs in one baskets to increase successful reproduction.
You should have all 3 spawn phases overlapping with bass coming in and going out of the spawn areas.
After the females stop eating during thier pre spawn period and transition to the actually egg laying spawn the bass no longer are feeding, they are in nest protection. When a spawner strikes anything it's intent is to kill the introduer or chase it away.
You must be very quick reacting with any strikes because your lure isn't in the basses mouth more then a second. Very aggressive spawners are easy to catch because they strike over and over again every time the lure gets too close.
If you are not catching spawning bass it's because you don't detect strikes.
Tom
TnRiver46 reply :
It is obviously true that bass don’t all spawn at the same time . But they spawn in the spring and therefore at least 1/3 of the fish are not biting in spring. Thus, why I ranked spring the hardest season to catch bass (with personal and local bias)
On 4/5/2019 at 3:05 AM, kenmitch said:They don't all spawn at the same time, they'll do it in waves. Look for staging areas or parts of the lake that are still cooler.
I avoid the beds myself. I'd rather get skunked than bed fish.
Amen on that last part
On 4/5/2019 at 4:06 AM, WRB said:
If you are not catching spawning bass it's because you don't detect strikes.
Tom
Or in my case I’ve never seen one
DSTN reply :
Early spring has typically been ok for me. Nothing special. For me the hardest time (except when we're iced over) has typically been on the back end of summer before fall bit kicks in.
Jcj90 reply :
Spawn is the toughest conditions? Not for me. Nov-March for me here in NY. I used to do real good in March, last few years not so much. I guess it has something to do with the unseasonably cold and snowy/wet march weather we’ve had the last few years.
Koz reply :
Winter is toughest for me. Even though we have milder winters with temps usually in the 50's during the day and 30's at night I assume that temperature is relative to the bass. So what would be spring air and water temps up north are our winter temps in the south.
I probably need to learn more patience if I'm going to fish in the winter.
928JLH reply :
Winter here can be tough water temps dip into the 40s. Summer time is difficult because surface temps hit almost 100. Scorching sun and blue bird skies. My favorite times to fish though for the challenge.
Have you looked into getting a fishing kayak? Great way to get off the bank and very economical.
The Bassman reply :
For me it's late summer before the first real cold front (usually late Sept.). I call it the doldrums as the air can be very still. Except maybe for early morning topwater my success tanks when there's no wind. In the past I've mostly waded creeks at this time. Fishing can be great then. Because of some orthopedic issues that's less of an option now.
the reel ess reply :
Dead of winter in the middle of a cold spell for me. You might get one day that's 55 and sunny, so you go. You are usually fishing all day for (hopefully) one bite. But it can be a big bite.
Also, in March-early April, we will get several days of warm weather (middle of the week while I have to work) and I get good reports of big bass jumping into the boat. Then by Saturday we get a cold front with rain and it throws a wet blanket on the bass's prespawn festivities. Usually, followed up by a bluebird sky day and wind out of the NNE. Again, fishing all day for one bite. It doesn't affect crappie as much because they are usually deeper. But it gives bass that were getting in an amorous mood a bad attitude.
scaleface reply :
I usually dont even know when the bass are spawning . The water is too dirty to see beds . In the spring , I simply fish shallow cover than fret over spawning bass.
N Florida Mike reply :
For me its mid-summer and mid- winter.
They bite fine for me when their beddin' . The cold fronts in between do slow em down though when spawning, which can be late dec. if unseasonably warm to Late march if it was a colder winter.
In other words, the spawn doesnt affect the fishing for me at all, it usually makes it better for me. Its the cold ( what counts for cold here ) and the extreme heat that slow em down.
EGbassing reply :
On 4/5/2019 at 12:57 AM, kiteman said:If you're in AL then I think you fall victim to similar patterns as I do. Spring can usually be categorized as pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. Pre-spawn is when I catch the most and the biggest fish. Spawn I barely catching anything, and post-spawn is about as successful as pre-spawn. So you're probably in the spawn phase right now as well. If you see bass just chilling around shallows and not moving anywhere, they are males guarding nests, while the females are just roaming around finding other males to spawn with, so none of them are particularly interested in feeding.
In fact one of the most successful ways to catch fish during spawn is to mimic predators like lizards. The bass won't eat them, but if it gets in their nest they will pick it up in their mouth and spit it out beyond the nest. You're supposed to set the hook in that brief moment before they spit the predator out. I think the females are even harder to catch, but they are the bigger and more desirable ones...
Thanks! I think the shad were actually spawning today but I couldn't get a bite on anything.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 4/6/2019 at 5:29 AM, N Florida Mike said:For me its mid-summer and mid- winter.
They bite fine for me when their beddin' . The cold fronts in between do slow em down though when spawning, which can be late dec. if unseasonably warm to Late march if it was a colder winter.
In other words, the spawn doesnt affect the fishing for me at all, it usually makes it better for me. Its the cold ( what counts for cold here ) and the extreme heat that slow em down.
Even in my limited experience down there, Those Florida bass just sit back and have a good hearty laugh at all the bass boats during a cold front
jbsoonerfan reply :
Late July and August when I would rather just jump in as opposed to fish.
N Florida Mike reply :
On 4/6/2019 at 9:22 AM, TnRiver46 said:Even in my limited experience down there, Those Florida bass just sit back and have a good hearty laugh at all the bass boats during a cold front
Pretty much. You know they're there, because you've caught em there, but they wont bite.
But ... that being said you can usually catch a few even then.????
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 4/5/2019 at 2:20 AM, TnRiver46 said:Easy answer, spring spawn. It’s funny because that’s what everyone talks about and looks forward too, the toughest fishing of the entire year
I believe what a lot people think is the spawn is actually prespawn. The fish are shallow and feeding, so they assume they're spawning because they're in the shallows for the first time in months. Once they actually lock on the beds and begin actually spawning, catching them is much more difficult imo. Now for trying to target a really large fish, the spawn is great because they'll sit where you can see them and try to target that large fish specifically.
Winter, especially January and February, are historically my toughest months for numbers but good for catching some of my biggest fish of the year.
WRB reply :
^^^^this^^^
Our winter is 45-50 degree water temps and the bass population in deep water 40'-60' and less active suspended around baitfish fish schools. Active cycles are very short meaning hours of fishing with marginal success.
Tom
Paul Roberts reply :
I guess for me, it's mid-winter. Sometimes we get thaws that give me open water. I can find the fish, but they are tough to catch, at least in the numbers I know are there. I can be happy with two or three most days.
The spawn... I guess actual egg-dropping is a tough go. They are pre-occupied. But then, I haven't cast to a pair of spawners since I was a kid. Now, just pre, and post, yes. To the larger females. They are catchable, being somewhat aggressive just pre, and hungry, just post. But, both seem to require really slow presentations: Falling and killed jigs and plastics the best. Tubes seem to do well then. I simply leave the males alone. They are the smaller fish here, and they have a heck of a job ahead of them.
Sam reply :
For me, the toughest time to catch largemouth bass is when the air temperature drops below 70*, starting in November and going through March and I don't fish.
Why? Because I am from south Louisiana and any air temperature of less than 70* means it is cold and I hate cold weather.
I will bundle up and fish a late season club tournament, like last year when my buddy and I came in third on the Historic James River in December, but that's about it.
It is better to stay inside and watch sports on TV then to try your luck in cold weather.
Bankbeater reply :
November through February. The bite has shut down because of the cold weather. If you happen to get a warm day with no ice on the water you'll need to be in the right place at the right time.
TnRiver46 reply :
We are extremely lucky to have a ton smallmouth and water temps that rarely go below 45, some years never below 50. A smallmouth will feed himself silly at 47-49 degree water temp
Catt reply :
Probably pre-spawn!
Only because the bass are scattered, finicky, & the weather is subject to change hourly.
My favorites are the dog days of summer & the dead of winter. Because they are predictable!
Russ E reply :
On 4/7/2019 at 8:59 PM, Catt said:Probably pre-spawn!
Only because the bass are scattered, finicky, & the weather is subject to change hourly.
My favorites are the dog days of summer & the dead of winter. Because they are predictable!
This is spot on, for me. Every trip during prespawn is a search mission. I never know where the fish are going to be. Later on in the year they are predictably in certain areas and it is just a matter of finding the right presentation.
Ksam1234 reply :
Right after ice out ! Can’t get a bite for nothin ! Which is what’s going on right now
BoatSquirrel reply :
In the late summer to early fall when water temps get into the lower 70s, the bass will really scatter, often suspending. On top of that, the TVA is usually drawing all of our lakes down and it will make you want to mow the lawn instead of fish.
Hi-Powered Red Neck reply :
Spring time spawn is the hardest time for me. But it's also some of the most exciting fishing. Locating beds is fairly easy in clear water so it's sight fishing. I'll fish everyday I'm off. Just targeting the big girls. I didn't do so well this year. I had a double digit right off my dock. I stuck her last year post spawn and she was 9.6 with no belly. I only managed to hook one this year. That fish was 6ish, I unhooked her took a quick pic and put her back. By the time I left the house the female where no where to be found. Just the bucks guarding the nests. When I get back home it will be post spawn in most of the lakes around my house. Fishing is about to get good in my area.
James D.G reply :
July and August, for me
Ksam1234 reply :
It’s crazy to see how many people have a hard time in pre spawn , pre spawn is probably my favorite time on Lake Erie. All the smallmouth are super shallow. 30-50 smallmouth in a 6 hour day are common. Little to huge they are just super aggressive an destroy anything around. My favorite time of year !
J.Vincent reply :
Right Now in Michigan on Lake Erie; where the water is 48 to 49 degrees, off colored and raining; the bass don’t know what the heck to do !
everythingthatswims reply :
Fall turnover is the worst time for me. Fish just get weird during that time. Cold water pre spawn can be weird too, fishing will be really good for a few days and then really bad for a day or two. IMO, when the water is that cold, they can just decide to not feed for a little bit.
ww2farmer reply :
These are the times I struggle for largemouth and typically target smallmouth instead.
#1: right now.... just after ice out until the water gets into the upper 40s. A largemouth or two a day is the norm, but usually have moderate to excellent success with smallmouth.
#2: the summer to fall transition......they just seem to scatter for a while and putting patterns together is tuff. Everything caught this time of year has to be worked for, and it's all junk fishing. Smallmouth are often not that willing this time of year either. It's possibly my least favorite time of year.
#3: late in the fall.... when water temps get below 45, largemouth fishing stops for me and I target smallmouth exclusively again until I call it a season.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 4/8/2019 at 4:57 AM, BoatSquirrel said:In the late summer to early fall when water temps get into the lower 70s, the bass will really scatter, often suspending. On top of that, the TVA is usually drawing all of our lakes down and it will make you want to mow the lawn instead of fish.
Shoot you can have those early September yellow jacket mowing sessions.........
Dogface reply :
Winter for me. My plugs keep bouncing on the ice. It gets better when the ice melts.????
bazzelite19 reply :
I would say late summer and early fall. Ofcourse winter time as well.
Wizzlebiz reply :
During spawn will be the hardest for me since I refuse to mess with the reproductive cycles of the fish I like to catch. Cant catch them if I wont go. Lol
N Florida Mike reply :
For me it’s summer, esp. late summer. We don’t have long cold winters, but it gets tough after a cold front for a few days too.
I love spring and fall. I do well all stages of spawn here.
skekoam reply :
I've been at a local golf course pond twice now and skunked both times. I know fish are there too. About two months ago I fished the same ponds and pulled 8-9 small ones, but it was still fun. I just used a senko dragging across the bottom and nothing. Even tried casting out towards the middle (deeper water) and not even a bite.
AstroFishingTV reply :
Going fishing in the winter may be a day where you can barely catch five but those five that you do catch are worth talking about! Winter is the best time to catch your PB bass. I caught mine around this time last year, throwing a crankbait on a road bed. There can also be days your only catch one. That's part of fishing, we call it that for a reason, we don't call it catching. ????
WRB reply :
If you look up the results of every bass tournement about 10% of the angers blank.
We all have days where nothing goes right, even during a good seasonal period.
Anyone thinking they had a bad day only catching 5 bass is kidding themselves.
It reminds of gamblers who only remember winning but are always broke.
Tom
Bird reply :
I fish mainly clear bodies of water so site fishing for beds is an effective way to land some good fish during spawn but some reservations doing so.
I'm one of those that have a great deal of respect for the fish I'm catching, or trying so can't help but to feel a little guilty dropping a bait in a bed but it is a great time to land really good fish.
The hardest season around here to catch fish is winter by far.....especially when your sit'n around the woodstove.
FishingGeekTX reply :
I too am curious about how the seasons will actually play out.
This year I caught fish moderately easily late spring on mostly topwater in shallows/grass, in some cases all day at a moderate place.
As summer heated up, I caught progressively fewer, but I did not change where I fished all that much.
Come fall, I caught 0-5% of the spring fish, in the shallows *even in the magic dawn hour. However, in every case I have fished at a particular lake since it's been colder (think 50-60, not winter yet), when I found the fish they were all clumped up so much that I caught fish every 1-2 casts for hours...madness. I suspect on big water lakes, that's also possible, but my guess is finding them becomes the entire game..and could result in many a skunked trip if they are not found.
I found them in the deepest bowls one day, and another similar weather day, none deep, they were all fairly shallow feeding mid-day where shallows meet steep drop-offs.
I'll be trying again this week for 3 in a row where it's a bonanza. SO nice too, I don' thave to get up early, just casually take a trip mid-morning and fish for 3-4 hours...so much less hectic than getting up at 5am.
A-Jay reply :
This about covers it for me ~
A-Jay
Troy85 reply :
Late Summer on the tidal waters I fish. Water is 90ish degrees and there usually there isn't much wind to move the water on those slack tide days to position the fish.
813basstard reply :
I know summer puts them in predictable places but that 95 degrees feels like 105 will wear on you. Mentally worst than physically.
You start to ponder your existence in the grand scheme of the universe...and why can’t get that 2 pounder to bite
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