Morning vs evening fishing

[Scott F]

I fish mainly for smallmouth and I do best during the middle part of the day.

[Raul]

1 hour ago, 2tall79 said:

I much prefer to fish the late afternoon/evening hours.  That being said Doug Hannon has always professed that the largest bass are caught midday.

 

Yup, most of the few 10+ mommas I've caught were during midday.

[WRB]

Targeting sight bass or bed bass 10A to 2P gives you the advantage of positioning the sun so you can see down into the water better than earlier or later. 10A-2P is the time period most bed bass are caught.

80+% of my giant bass were caught before 9:30A the balance scattered from mid day, afternoon, dusk, night , dawn. For me the big girls are active during the pre spawn morning with low light.

Tom

[RoLo]

We all know that fishing is even less predictable than the weather.

That said, I'd go with 'dusk' in both Autumn and Spring (thermal advantage).

Roger

[JustinJ]

I dont know why, but i never do well during the morning. Most of my big fish have came mid- late afternoon.

[N Florida Mike]

I prefer fishing late pm when all the works done.But I'm learning that the fish don't always prefer that.A lot of it is the season.In winter , the bite is usually best for me from late morning on.The middle of the day is often best in winter.My biggest and second biggest fish were caught between 11-1,in the winter.

In mid to late spring , I love the early morning bite.Then I fish shade( esp. docks ) if I'm still out after 11 or so.Summer I fish very early( best time ) and very late.And frog fish after dark.! I also fish deep holes in the hottest part of the day very slowly with a big worm.I generally do better in fall in the pm.It may be that I just fish then more.

I also believe the moon has a lot to do with it,which can enhance the fishing anytime. Also, the pressure is a factor.

More often than not,I go when it's the most convenient for me!!

["hamma"]

the am, just before sunup, then the rest of the day is upon me, I can leave and come back if I want to evening fish,..all in the same day.,....what a concept huh?

[geo g]

I am fishing South Florida, south of the Palm Beaches most of the time.  Our Florida Strain Bass are very sensitive to cold front.  In the summer, and winter, I like the evening bite for different reasons.

 

1). In winter, especially around a cold front the heating of the day allows the water, and fish to warm up and I feel it makes them  more active.  Afternoons usually provide your highest water temps of the day.  Florida bass can lock jaw quick with a good cold spell.

 

2). In summer it is so hot and humid down here that the afternoon evening bite is better for me.  It is cooler while packing everything up, and putting the boat back on the trailer.  It has nothing to do with the fish, but rather the fisherman.  The morning bite is good, but packing up is brutal with the mid day sun.

[Largemouth21]

I like evening. Im not saying its the best but i like it. The bass fishing heats up when the sun just starts to set. So does the bluegill.

[razor6570]

I love fishing the morning. Nothing like being on the water when there is no wind and it looks like glass! Watching the sun come up and hearing the fish jump in the early light!

 

I really don't have preference though. Normally I just go out when I have the opportunity no matter if it is mid day. This past year my best days on the water was in the evening. Really got into the smallies this year and the best bite was in the evening.

[hunterPRO1]

On 1/6/2017 at 7:55 AM, the reel ess said:

Right now it's middle of the day. But most of the year, and in SC, it's summer a good bit of the year, I prefer evening until sundown. Once the summer pattern sets in that seems to be my best bet for bigger bass. And I do so love the topwater action. Often times, when I don't have time off, I'll take a few hours in the morning and go to a local place. I'll make the time up by working more later in the week. Then I want to be on the water as early as possible.

I want to try a few nights this year.

make sure you bring a black buzzbait.

[the reel ess]

15 minutes ago, hunterPRO1 said:

make sure you bring a black buzzbait.

Absolutely! I've caught more bass on one black buzzbaits than all others combined. I can't keep a skirt on it. Right now it has a soft plastic on it.

[Jacob Phelps]

I have had some of my best trips fishing as the sun sets. When I go out in the kayak, I usually wait until a hour or two before sunset to get on the water. 

[gim]

I generally fish more often in the evening during the summer months simply because that's when I can most often get out there (because I work during the day).  On the weekend I prefer the morning.  When its raining, I don't have a preference.

[CrustyMono]

I have better luck in the morning, but that is because i usually fish from a boat. In the morning, it is darker and getting lighter. At night, it is lighter and getting darker. The bite is good earlier in the morning and gets worse the later it gets. The evening bite gets better the darker it gets. Boating is easier when it is going to get lighter, like in the morning.

[jr231]

I like fishing both equally. It's like honey In the morning. Or evening.. 

[shimmy]

All of my 10s came in the AM.

[flyfisher]

I got into night fishing last year because it was easier to do after the kids went to bed and i wasn't disappointed.  The only bad part for me is that there are limited areas that are open for night fishing.  Either way, I prefer it to the morning bite which can be good but it seems like the evening and into the night has been a better producer for me.

[everythingthatswims]

I like the mornings during summer, and evenings during spring and fall. At least where I am from, usually in the summer you are looking for the water to be at its coolest combined with low light, which is in the morning, and in the spring and fall you want it to be at its warmest with low light, which is in the evening.

[Bankbeater]

I usually fish early morning when it is warm outside.  This time of year I prefer going fishing from mid day to sunset.

[Catt]

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Red Sky in the Morning, Catt take Warning.

Red Sky at Night, Catt Delight.

 

I might be starting to lose it a little -

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

Red Sky in the Morning, Catt take Warning.

Red Sky at Night, Catt Delight.

 

I might be starting to lose it a little -

A-Jay

 

 

Don't fear the night...fear what hunts at night!

[SFL BassHunter]

Afternoon and Evening has been best for me. I've caught bigger fish overall.

[Catt]