The sport of fishing may be a means of relaxation after a stressful work week or an incredible adventure that creates a lifetime of memories. Knowing the best times of day, best times of the year, and even a little fish biology can be the difference between reeling in dinner or going home empty handed.
Spring time fishing tends to be best during the afternoon to dusk hours, usually about one o’clock to five or so. This is ideal because the fish have been resting throughout the day and they are hungry, plus the water is warm from the sun being directly overhead. Early morning at least a week after the spring thaw, especially between the hours of six and nine o’clock is not such a great time for fishing, since the sun is low and the fish are busy with spawning and there is plenty of newly hatched fry swimming about for eating. Later in the morning until just after noon fish may bite here and there but it is still not an ideal time to land a catch. The sun is just beginning to warm up the water and any good fishing at this time of day will happen on a downwind shoreline.
Summertime is known as the season for fishing and the absolute best time is the hours between sunset and early evening. The fish are moving up from the shadows and the cooler waters. They are hungry and large fish are most often caught when they are following the faster moving shoals of bait. Early mornings during the summer may be okay for fishing, though most fish are not very hungry, since abundant food and cover are found. The worst times of the day during summer are the business hours, from about nine o’clock in the morning until roughly five o’clock in the afternoon. The fish move out of the warmest water and into the cooler, more shady areas. Warmer water contains higher oxygen levels and so fish in lakes and ponds tend to migrate to the thermocline, the area in the middle of the body of water found between two and ten feet deep. In the oceans and other large bodies of water, this zone is known as the temperature break. These zones are the most active feeding areas for most game fish species around the world.
In the fall, the fishing enthusiast will find the best time to put hook to water to be in the hours between noon and six o’clock. The sun is directly overhead, heating the surface of the pond or lake and the fish are almost in a feeding frenzy as they are putting on weight to see them through the winter. Early mornings in autumn are the worst times to fish during the season, since the water is too cool for the fish to be active due to the sun hanging low on the horizon. Later on in the day, fishing may be better in the shallower water. Deeper water will remain very cool and the fish will almost be lethargic.
Winter season fishing brings with it its own challenges and precautions. Weather considerations are more important in the winter than any other time of year, as plummeting temperatures, ice, and snow may be more risk than a day at the lake would be worth. Both the metabolism and digestion of most fish species slows down in the winter. A decent day for fishing with the sun overhead and between the hours of ten o’clock in the morning and four o’clock in the afternoon may offer up some bounty. During that time of the day, the water will be at the warmest temperature.
Another factor that influences successful fishing is the weather. Wind pushes food across the surface of the water towards the shore and the bait fish follow it, so naturally, the game fish follow the bait fish. The best place to fish when it is breezy is on a downwind shore, since nature is literally pushing the fish in that direction. Anytime a cold front or a storm moves in, fish tend to gorge themselves on whatever they can find and so may be that much closer to the surface. After the storms pass, however, it may be a day or two until the fish get back to normal. Rivers, lakes, ponds and creeks will be muddier after a cold front, making it more difficult for fish to see and catch their food.
Overcast days will improve fishing as most species hunt when the sun is not beating on the surface of the water. A light warm rain can be beneficial as it allows the person behind the rod to hide as the raindrops break up the surface of the water and make it difficult for the fish to see. Runoff will wash insects onto the surface of the water, drawing more fish towards a free meal. On the other hand, a heavy rain muddies the water and causes harder currents, effectively forcing the fish deeper into the water and decreasing the likelihood that they will bite.
Overall, the majority of game fish species are best caught in warmer water in the morning or early evening. This changes by season and with the weather. Fish do not bite as well when temperatures fluctuate too greatly as most species have their preferred temperatures and either become lethargic or hide when they are too cool or too warm. Most freshwater species such as Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass like their water to be in the sixty five to seventy degree range. Sunfish and Lake Trout prefer cooler temperatures while the Channel Catfish likes it warmer, up to eighty nine degrees. Saltwater species such as Pollock, Atlantic Cod and Haddock like their water to be cool between forty and fifty degrees. Albacore and Swordfish enjoy the sixty to seventy degree range, but the Red Drum and Tarpon will often be seen in waters that reach up to ninety degrees.
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