Favorite Time for Numbers of Big Fish

[papajoe222]

The spawn is over, the post spawners are starting to put the feed bag on and the bluegill are on their beds.  At no other time of the year can I catch numbers of big fish up shallow like now.  For the next week-10 days, outings of five to ten fish in the 4lb.-6lb. range are not only possible, but are fairly common.  After that, they'll start their move to their summer haunts and days like these will be few.

Is this scenario true on your home waters, or is there another period that produces quality fish in numbers up shallow? It could be time of year, or time of day, or a combination of those and other factors.

[WRB]

No, for me the pre spawn is by far the best time for opportunity to catch a giant bass, about 2 to 3 weeks before they move up into shallow water.

I find post spawn big females very lathargic and difficult to catch for a few weeks following the final egg laying.

When the big girls transition from post spawn to the summer period the bite gets better at night for me.

Tom

[scaleface]

Yes . Big postspawn bass  have been easy for me to pattern . A lot of my   biggest limits have been running points for them . But the window is narrow .

[davecon]

Latitude makes a difference. Here in Florida I catch the larger ones in December, January, and February. After that it's numbers so I switch over to Snook.

[38 Super Fan]

I run into a big post spawner every now and again, but not really often.

 

The early pre-spawn when they very first move up (generally March here) is the best time of year to get the big ones, and numbers of them, here in my neck of the woods.

[gim]

In the north, small lakes have fish spawning right now.  Larger lakes are still pre-spawn.  I know this because I saw it twice this past week on a small lake and a big lake.  But yes, I agree, after fish have recovered from spawning, they feel the need to eat and are often still in somewhat shallow water so my favorite time of year is the month of June.

[bagofdonuts]

I like post spawn as well. I love buzz bait fishing and it's on fire in the late spawn and post spawn. I catch a lot of numbers in summer deep cranking but a five pounder is a little tougher to come by. 

[NHBull]

Anything over 6lb in my lake is huge. The record may be just over 7.

 

No signs of spawning but we are close.  Let's hot there is something to the theory of "full moon" as it is this week

 

A lot of frustrated guys on the lake the last few weeks......and I am one of them

[Catt]

Dog days of summer @ night

 

[A-Jay]

While looking for big Smallies -  I have 2 separate times that can be very good. 

Starting in very early spring from ice out until right before they actually get on the beds.

And then again mid to late fall.

So spring & fall - Big Surprise right ?     No.

I do fish at night quite a bit in the summer and although it's a great time to get nice bass - rarely are these the biggest fish of the season for me - But then again, I'm a hack.  So that might be the deal right there. 

A-Jay

[FCPhil]

We are post spawn here in Colorado and I can't buy a bite on clear calm days here. My best fishing usually comes from windy or overcast days regardless of the season, but Fall is when I have caught my biggest bass. 

[Catt]

I can narrow it down even farther!

 

Tournament

August 2005: Team tournament, 5 bass @ 33.37

August 2003: solo tournament, 5 bass @ 30.667

Non-tournament

August 2007: 10.66, 10.89, 8.99 = 30.54; finished with 5 bass @ 42.46

 

Summer nights is peak tournament time down south!

[Bluebasser86]

I catch my biggest bass of the year during the winter months almost every year, November-early March. Numbers of big fish is usually March or April, prespawn or the fall coldwater period right before winter, usually late October into November. 

[Mike L]

In So Fla The biggest catches down here is Nov to Mar. The farther north you go the window gets narrower but just a bit. 

 

But peak all over the state is Dec thru Mar as long as a cold front doesn't move through.

The hottest months, say May through Sept you're gonna have to make specific decisions in specific areas to consistently weigh big bags. 

 

Numbers are caught year round.

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[lo n slo]

this past week, texas rigged worms on deeper structure and brush have worked well for me on one particular body of water. it has been alot of fun.

[Bankbeater]

This past week the numbers have turned on.  The bass have been sitting in the vegetation right next to the bluegill beds.