Big Fish Feed Midday?

[Dwight Hottle]

All of my biggest bass smallmouth & largemouth have been between the hours of 9am to 6pm because those are the hours I usually fish. I personally have never had a bigger bass early in the morning between 7-9 am which makes me think why bother.

[roadwarrior]

I used to keep detailed fishing logs. I no longer do so, but when I did, I quickly noticed that almost all of my big bass (over 5 pounds) were caught at night. I used to bass fish mostly at night.

 

 

It is illegal to fish at night in Tennessee and most Southern States.

The law is quite clear: "Nightime is for drinkin' and foolin' around".

 

 

 

[.ghoti.]

It is illegal to fish at night in Tennessee and most Southern States.

The law is quite clear: "Nightime is for drinkin' and foolin' around".

 

 

 

 

Why do think I no longer fish at night? LOL I got my priorities straight, amigo.

[RoLo]

I've posted this several times in the past, nearly all our best fish have come during the midday hours,

basically between 10 am and 4 pm. I've found this to apply in saltwater too,

where most of our personal best fish were also taken under a high sun. 

 

Roger

[WRB]

Sight fishing is better with the sun overhead and live bait in or near a bed is going to get a big basses attention.

Big bass feed when the opportunity gives them an advantage and when they are active, if both of those situations occur between 10A to 2P then that's is a good time to fish. Caught lots of DD bass on swimbaits, big plastic worms and jigs throughout the mid day period, if the boat traffic is very low on week days.

During the late 60's to mid 70's caught lots of DD bass on live bait; crawdads, water dogs, fly lined big night crawlers and live shad throughout the day, didn't see any advantage mid day unless targeting bed fish. I stopped fishing live bait because I prefered to use artificial lures.

If you believe the 10A to 2P theory that's when you should fish, get on the lake at 9:30A, go home at 2:30P!

Tom

[Shane Procell]

10:00 AM - 2:00PM

 

Nearly all of my biggest bass, both smallmouth & largemouth were caught mid-day.

 

I have said this for years. When I tell my clients that they can expect the better fish from 10am to 2pm they usually think I have a screw loose. I am not sure of the science of this theory but over the years I have been on the water....I am a believer that the bigger fish will feed around midday.

[hoosierbass07]

  This is fascinating stuff.  Last year was my first year fishing and I only fished in the evening.  I never did catch a really big fish that amazed me.  I found myself fishing at a spot this spring around 1pm to 2pm and that is when I caught my personal best two pound and fifteen ounce, almost three pounds.  I thought it was simply being in the right place at the right time during an early spring day.  Now I'm starting to think the 2pm time also had a major influence. From what most of you said I'm definitely going to try to focus on fishing from 10am to 3pm this spring.  

[Catt]

I know quite few big bass anglers with hundreds of DD bass who swear big bass only feed at night!

[greentrout]

Once read an article from an experienced basser who claimed he slept in and rolled out of bed, ate his leisurely breakfast then got in his boat and

caught 10 pound plus bass at will. I think he told the truth but was not saying he like some others had some advantages most of us don't have and that's OK by me. No class *** on my part.

 

That being said, my largest bass have been caught early in the morning, middle of the day before a front and just plain luck any other time.

 

I love to bass fish.

[geo g]

I have caught one double diget fish in 30 years of fishing.  It was an 11.4 bass,  caught a noon at Loxahachee in three feet of water, chasing bait.  So Doug Hannon is right on with his observations.  The man left us way too early.  

[phototex]

I have no idea - but most of the really big bass that I've personallyl caught hit between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

[Rhino68W]

Both of my PBs (caught 5 minutes apart) were caught around 1100-1200. But when I am fishing for numbers and fun, the mornings seem to be the most productive. However, I am very new to fishing so I will defer to the knowledge of the vets.

[cyclops2]

Big fish need HEAT & light to see & catch those smaller fish.  Low sun angles penetrate far back under boats & docks. Vertical sun rays hide him even at the edge of a dock.

[Hi Salenity]

10:00 AM - 2:00PM

Nearly all of my biggest bass, both smallmouth & largemouth were caught mid-day.

X2

[Dwight Hottle]

My PB largemouth came just before 9am.

Smallmouth was 1-2 pm. Almost all my biggest smallies have been 10am to 3pm.

[FD.]

I've posted this several times in the past, nearly all our best fish have come during the midday hours,

basically between 10 am and 4 pm. I've found this to apply in saltwater too,

where most of our personal best fish were also taken under a high sun. 

 

Roger

 

 

You and Lo don't get up before 10 so you data may be skewed towards the afternoon...

 

While I don't have multiple DD's, I do have over 50 in the 5,6,7,8 club, and they are spread all through out the day.  They also come from 20 different bodies of water which may have something to do with the spread.  The predominant bait by far is top water mostly a buzz toad.

[A-Jay]

Big fish need HEAT & light to see & catch those smaller fish.  Low sun angles penetrate far back under boats & docks. Vertical sun rays hide him even at the edge of a dock.

 

I going to say this is open to debate - Wide Open.

 

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

Yup, cause fish ( Bass ) can't possibly feed/ hunt at night...

[gulfcaptain]

They have us all fooled.  Face it the big fish know we are gonna be fishing hard early in the morning and when it gets mid-day and hot, well the jet skies, pleasure boaters, and swimmers are out.  And we don't like to stand in the hot sun.  They had a union meeting and discussed proper feeding times when the bigger fish will eat.  The ones caught out of that peak time......well they weren't at the meeting.  I mean come on fish go to school to learn how to aviod us. 

[deep]

They feed whenever the hell they want to feed. The real question is when are they easier to fool. The answer, for me (strictly speaking of NLMBs in clear highland reservoirs), is during low light periods. (Low light includes but is not limited to early and late in the day.)

 

Ya'll have fun getting a suntan.

[Bluebasser86]

I've caught big bass all different times of day and night. Like deep said, big bass are top of the food chain predators, they feed whenever they feel like it and when the best opportunity presents itself. 

[Raul]

Most of the big fish I´ve caught were caught between 1 - 4 PM, under what most would consider the worst conditions: clear blue skies, almost glass surface, blazing heat and scorching sun.

[hatrix]

We'll a lot has to do with what time you can fish from a personal point of view. Also maybe a factor is where you live. The last good fish I got was on Christmas Eve and got it a little bit after 12:00. From about 11-1 I got 4 bites that day and caught 3. The one that got off would of been another 5# fish. This topic has been brought up many times and I can for sure say 10-2 11-1 or whatever is the time frame I have caught more fish over 5# in.

[RoLo]

Most of the big fish I´ve caught were caught between 1 - 4 PM, under what most would consider the worst conditions: clear blue skies, almost glass surface, blazing heat and scorching sun.

 

Within the 10 am to 4 pm framework that I mentioned early-on,

the Noon to 4 pm time-slot has been the 'best-of-the-best' for trophy fish (fresh & salt)

Though I know this to be the case, I can only speculate as to why.

 

Roger

[cyclops2]

My very clear rivers.

 

I can catch anything that travels in........LARGE SCHOOLS.....1/2 hour before sunrise to about 1.5 hours after sunrise.  Then they leave the choice  feeding places & scatter into smaller groups.  Sun down is a waste compared to all other times. 

 

Any cover is loaded or they are cruising just off the bottom from 10 to 4 pm out in very open areas.  Structure is not used by these fish. Fully exposed to other larger predators.  All species.  Almost  all are wearing sunglasses.