what time of day?

[ohihunter2014]

What's the best time of day to fish for largemouth, crappie, smallmouth? I will be fishing some local reservoirs, lakes, rivers.

[visagelaid]

Early morning and late evening.  But you can catch them all day.

[Team9nine]

They don't start biting until you get there  I never make it on the water before Noon. 

[RichF]

9am - 11am then again from 2:30pm to 4pm.  Those are my favorite times to fish.

[roadwarrior]

Most of my biggest fish have been caught between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

 

[jr231]

I second the above post ! But between 1-5pm when it's "too hot to fish" 

[riverbasser]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

They don't start biting until you get there

that pretty much sums it up, gotta love getting there at daylight though when its calm and a little fog over the water and their hitting topwater of course.

 

my favorite time to fish has to be when everyone else aint fishing. normally weekdays and at night

[ohihunter2014]

thanks guys. somewhat new to this and only fish weekends but have been going out around noon and no luck.

[MassYak85]

To be honest I've never had great luck in the mornings, not sure why. Evening bites have been good to me but like Team9 said, you have to be there to catch them so just go when you can. Some of my best fishing has been in the afternoon. 

[Bucky205]

The only reason I prefer top water this time of year is finding shad, and top water.  For whatever reason I have better luck finding shad first couple of hours.  I absolutely love top water on a still summer morning.

[Raul]

From dawn till dusk and from dusk till dawn, the catch is, just be sure to be fishing where the fish are.

[ohihunter2014]

1 hour ago, Bucky205 said:

The only reason I prefer top water this time of year is finding shad, and top water.  For whatever reason I have better luck finding shad first couple of hours.  I absolutely love top water on a still summer morning.

if fishing an open reservoir where one sides rocks the others woods would a frog be a good top water?

[Bucky205]

1 hour ago, ohihunter2014 said:

if fishing an open reservoir where one sides rocks the others woods would a frog be a good top water?

I like throwing frogs around grass if you can find it.  Open water I would rather throw a zara spook, or a rapala floating winnow.  Bass do like holding on rocks, and rip rap, I would try a crank bait there. Abut 15 to 20 minutes is about my time limit on a pattern, if I am not getting bit, I move.

[lonnie g]

evening seems to be best for me. don't know why

[NYWayfarer]

Depends on the time of year to me. For bank fishing right now when it's still chilly at night I like to go out early to late afternoon when the sun has had a chance to warm up the water.

 

In the dog days of summer I will go out early morning before it gets to hot.

 

when I am out on a boat or canoe I go anytime as I can find where the fish are hiding.

[Catt]

[ww2farmer]

There is no "best time", go when you can go.

 

I have been fishing a long long time now, and while the morning and evening are the most peaceful times to be on the water, sometimes the best bite is in the middle of the day. But it will run in cycles. For a week or so they seem to bite best in the morning, then it shifts to mid day, then to the evening, then to late afternoon, then to late morning. But, at least here, it's often not in any patternable order on if/when it's going to change. 

 

For example, the morning bite might be hot for a few days, then without warning it might shift to mid afternoon. Only mother nature knows why. So go when you can, like everyone else, your bound to go when it's slow and just have some so-so days, but when your there when it's "on" you'll have a fantastic day. I just like going fishing. The days where I have to grind for bites teach me as much or more than the days they are jumping in the boat. Even with all my time on the water, I never stop learning.

[LoweStinger]

I have some friends that say the only time to go is at the crack of dawn.. I just laugh at them lol... Well I have always gone when ever I feel like going and I catch them no matter what time of day it is. My personal best's have been in mid afternoon. Bass are opportunist's and hit out of reaction and instinct, I have caught bass that were so full they were puking shad and crawfish up but still hit my bait !! Do worry about what time of day it is, think more about what bait to use and the presentation for the conditions.. That's the key that will catch them at any time of the day.