Northwest Fishing Reports

I know when targeting larger trout it is very important to start fishing before sun up and also I rarely catch trout in the middle of the day on a sunny day.

I was wondering if you bass are the same way?
do you bass guys focus on evening or morning or do you find it just as good or better to fish during mid day?

big fish lite line wrote:I know when targeting larger trout it is very important to start fishing before sun up and also I rarely catch trout in the middle of the day on a sunny day.

I was wondering if you bass are the same way?
do you bass guys focus on evening or morning or do you find it just as good or better to fish during mid day?

it's not so much the time of day, but the location. Trout and bass and other fish will be in different areas, during the middle of the day, as compared to early morning or towards evening.

It's just that most fishermen fish the same spot over and over again, whether its daytime or nighttime. Since the fish may not be at that particular spot during the daytime, most fishermen would think that "the fish are not biting", when in reality they are someplace else.

thats one way to look at it
so your saying you have just as much success in early morning as you do mid day:^o

I have heard a lot in the past of fishing off the tides. Trent has helped me become more of a student of this practice. But anyways I have seen more bass biting towards the late evening 2hrs before and about that much after the tide. And usually around the same timeframe in the morning in relationship to the high tide.

big fish lite line wrote:thats one way to look at it
so your saying you have just as much success in early morning as you do mid day:^o

Not really. I don't have a boat, and so I fish from shore, which is a bit more limited on lakes. I would say my early morning success is a bit better during early morning, but not much better. Can't get up as early nowadays (age/laziness), and so I have to make do with mid-day fishing.

In lakes, Trout tend to go deeper water during the middle of the day (and so they are not accessible from shore).

But the river on the other hand, during the high heat of summer, the steelhead will hang in the shallow riffles, white water, where most anglers don't even bother casting. Mostly people will continue to pound the deeper runs, where the fish lay during the early morning and and dusk. But these deeper pockets are not where they would lie during the hot mid-day--not enough oxygen for them.

Shad_Eating_Grin wrote:it's not so much the time of day, but the location.

i 2nd that

location > time of day

big fish lite line wrote:do you bass guys focus on evening or morning or do you find it just as good or better to fish during mid day?

with like all fisherman, successful trips area always fresh in your memory as opposed to poor days. so if you always fish a certain time of day, you can quickly assume that those are the most productive periods.

i use to think mornings were the best times, as i tried to be the first one out. it produced alot of fish, but as time went on, i couldnt always get up that early. thus something had to change. i learned how i can produce the same quality fish during other times of the day.

bass are very opportunistic feeders, given the right opportunity, the right presentation, they will feed. yes even if they already have something stuck in their throat.

that being said, ive learned to approach things with an open mind.

I have heard a lot in the past of fishing off the tides. Trent has helped me become more of a student of this practice. But anyways I have seen more bass biting towards the late evening 2hrs before and about that much after the tide. And usually around the same timeframe in the morning in relationship to the high tide.

whats all this about tides I'm talking freshwater?

Yep, time of day makes a big difference in where the fish hang out. Their activity levels also change so you've got to change your lure selection and/or presentation techniques.

Just when I think I've got them "dialed in", I get skunked.

You need to read more on fish feeding times. Just go to YouTube and type in Doug Hannon or the Bass Professor and check out his shows and look at all of them this will help. This week I have fished Long LK at day light with out a bite in shallows and in 5-6 feet of water the bite started with in the hour of high tide fishing the same areas. Thats why I fish the tides its a moon thing not too many people know about. Thats why I get lunkers no dinks!

big fish lite line wrote:

I have heard a lot in the past of fishing off the tides. Trent has helped me become more of a student of this practice. But anyways I have seen more bass biting towards the late evening 2hrs before and about that much after the tide. And usually around the same timeframe in the morning in relationship to the high tide.

whats all this about tides I'm talking freshwater?

Maybe he's talking about sea bass/rockfish?

Well the tides are dictated by the moon. In the ocean it causes water to move, in lakes and rivers it causes fish to move. You wouldn't think the moon would affect fish but it does even in water with no noticable tide change. Fish are more active and feed more around the moon or tides, even in freshwater. Works on most fish that I have seen and fished for.

big fish lite line wrote:

I have heard a lot in the past of fishing off the tides. Trent has helped me become more of a student of this practice. But anyways I have seen more bass biting towards the late evening 2hrs before and about that much after the tide. And usually around the same timeframe in the morning in relationship to the high tide.

whats all this about tides I'm talking freshwater?

Start studying brutha. Tides are caused by the gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon. Just because it makes the saltwater go up and down on the beach doesn't mean it isn't effecting freshwater. The raise and lowering of the ocean just makes it more apparent to us what is going on with the gravitational pull. Monitor them and your fishing times on the lake and tell us what you find out.



fishislife

Thanks fishnislife. Thats exactly what I was going to say. A lot of people think its an ocean thing but give it a try and you'll be amazed. As a youngster I did it a lot by accident. Now that I have fished it on purpose I try to do it more often than not. Some don't believe in it, but I feel that it is part of setting myself up for success.

fishnislife wrote:That and the fact that people religiously look at the fishing magazines for the - poor, fair, good, best - rating that you see for the month and listen to those instructions on daily Moon phases, but don't feel that the same concept can happen on a daily basis. Well.........it does.
As far as the best time to fish, besides when all things are perfect, late at night. If I could fish everytime in the middle of the night I would. Big fish eat in the middle of the night. Other than that, early morning at the crack of dawn.



fishnislife

Well said!=d> =d> =d> =d> =d>

I prefer morning fishing but not before it gets light out. On sunny days the fish will seek cover or deeper water once the sun comes up. Try fishing docks, shade, or deeper structure if it is sunny out. If it is cloudy or windy you will find the fish are easier to catch all day long.
I hope that answers the original question.

My favorite time to go fishing in the summer is when there's overcast or low light situations, whether it's morning, evening or in the middle of the day.

kzoo wrote:My favorite time to go fishing in the summer is when there's overcast or low light situations, whether it's morning, evening or in the middle of the day.

bingo. the best day for summer fishing is mostly cloudy with a light wind, just enough to put a little chop on the water.