Waking up super early is easily the worst part of fishing for me.

[GaryH]

Wake up early and go to bed late. I'll have all the time to sleep when I'm taking my long dirt bath. Till then I want my body unfit for anything else but dirt. Hopefully that's not too soon..

[tander]

Been getting up at least by 5am for almost 50 years. When I am at the ramp, I either fishing close by or waiting for good running light. I am only 7 minutes from my local reservoir ramp.

[Captain Phil]

In my younger days, I was always the first one on the lake and the last to leave.  When I started tournament fishing, I noticed the biggest fish of the day are caught between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.  This may have more to do with my fishing style than the fish themselves.  Unless it's in the heat of summer, I don't see any advantage to getting up before the sun.  

[roadwarrior]

47 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

In my younger days, I was always the first one on the lake and the last to leave.  When I started tournament fishing, I noticed the biggest fish of the day are caught between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.  This may have more to do with my fishing style than the fish themselves.  Unless it's in the heat of summer, I don't see any advantage to getting up before the sun.  

Many of our members who target big bass only suggest 10-2, which matches 

pretty closely...Fish Chris comes to mind.

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Totally worth it today.  I CRUSHED a new PB today.  Now I’m wide awake.

 

 

[Bankbeater]

I've been getting up at 4 AM to go work for years now.  Problem is when I want to sleep in I still get up at 4 AM.

[Big Rick]

11 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Been awake since 6PM, it's almost 6AM now, going to head to the lake in a few. Fishing and hunting are the only 2 things I love getting up early for.

I lived that life for years. Patrol all night, fish all morning... We worked 12 hour shifts starting at 1800. Sure made for some good off days, though. Retired now and still can't wait to get on the water at the first crack of dawn. My favorite time to fish. I feel that if I missed the sunrise then I missed the best part of the day. 

[DogBone_384]

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I can sleep when I'm dead.

My sentiments EXACTLY...

 

I work 24 hour shifts and am used to being up at all hours anyway.

 

3 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

Retired now and still can't wait to get on the water at the first crack of dawn.

11 years and counting!

[A-Jay]

23 minutes ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

Totally worth it today.  I CRUSHED a new PB today.  Now I’m wide awake.

 

 

Congrats !

Hope we catch a glimpse of this killer Bass.

A-Jay 

[Darth-Baiter]

39 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Congrats !

Hope we catch a glimpse of this killer Bass.

A-Jay 

Of course!

 

 

[N Florida Mike]

Mine is mostly related to the season.  In the summer, Im on the water first light, done by 11 unless they’re still biting. Spring , fall and winter , I fish pm.

About the only exceptions to that is when I saltwater fish from a boat, we usually leave early and its an all day event.

The occasional hunting trip is always starting early too. 
I never set an alarm and wake up well before time to go every time...

[Finessegenics]

I used to be an early bird when it comes to fishing but not so much anymore. In the summer especially, I prefer the late afternoon/evening bite. Maybe this is impossible depending on where you live where it is just way too hot to be out even in the late afternoon. The only time I'm getting up early is when I'm hitting a lake that is a further drive away so I don't end up wasting a day. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I have always been a daylight to 2-3 in the afternoon fisherman.  I wake up all week around 4:30 so waking up early to fish is never a problem.  Hell, I often wake up, have a couple cups of coffee, read everything online and still get to the lake by daylight especially in the fall.  During the early spring and late fall/winter I will intentionally get to the lake later in the morning after it has warmed up a little but for the rest of the year it is daylight.  I have had too many instances where there was a an excellent morning bite that died as the sun got higher in the sky.  The fish in my avatar is my PB smallie and that was caught at little after 5 AM when it had just gotten light. 

 

It also depends on whether I am fishing local or driving a far distance to fish that day.  I used to wake up at as early as 1 AM so I could get to the lake by daylight.  I have started to change from that practice since driving extremely tired scares me and I don't enjoy fishing as much throughout the day when I really tired.  When I am very tired I do not fish as well and am lazy in the boat.  I don't change lures as often or try different spots- I just go through the motions too much.  I'd rather get to the lake at 7:30 with full energy than get to that lake at daylight in a zombie-ish, sleep-deprived state.

 

I do like the idea of getting to the lake later in the day and fishing till dusk.  I used to always fish the evening bite when I dated that girl with the summer cottage but......  That is something for me to consider in the future.  

[MN Fisher]

I got no choice in the matter. The days we can get a respite worker to come watch the wife - my fishing time is from 8:30 or 9am to 1pm or 1:30pm...that includes travel, launch, land, return time...so maybe 3-3.5 hours on the water

 

And that's once a week max - if the weather is crappy for the canoe the day the respite worker can come...or something comes up and she can't make that week - I don't go

 

This year, I got the canoe out 6 times total over the 6 month season (early-April to end-Sept.) due to Covid interference on top of the weather/other issues.

[Bird]

I've always been an early riser, I'm actually hyper and have to get up, wife complains. 

 

Doesn't really matter whether I'm hunting or fishing, up early. 

 

[A-Jay]

56 minutes ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

Of course!

 

 

Great Pic !

A-Jay 

[Catt]

9 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

It's my job to wake up the birds.

 

They call me to ask if they can let the sun come up!

 

I've worked construction most of my life, on the job working at daylight, & quite at dark thirty.

 

Now with 3 ruptured disc 4 hrs sleep is normal so I may as well go fishing.

[Dirtyeggroll]

I find it hard not to get up (too) early when I know I’m going fishing.

[Junk Fisherman]

1 minute ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I find it hard not to get up (too) early when I know I’m going fishing.

 

Agreed.  I always set an alarm but rarely use it.  

[slonezp]

Up at 4am daily whether I need to be or not

[papajoe222]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Many of our members who target big bass only suggest 10-2, which matches 

pretty closely...Fish Chris comes to mind.

 

 

I joined that group a few years ago. Besides, four hours of chucking and winding is about all this old fart can handle. Give me a 45min. nap and I'll be back on the water at 6:00

[Bluebasser86]

Some bite windows only happen first thing in the morning, like this one this morning.

[galyonj]

22 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Just get a couple dogs and you will be up 1 hour before the sun everyday 

Cats are good for that, too.

 

The dog sleeps in a crate, so my wake-up call is a cat walking across my face.

[the reel ess]

5 Hour Energy. You're welcome. Don't drink it all at once. Sip about 1/4-1/3 of the bottle. Repeat after a few hours.

 

I love to see the sunrise. You miss some of the best fishing of the day if you aren't on the water early. I caught the fish in my profile pic early.

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I love to see the sunrise. You miss some of the best fishing of the day if you aren't on the water early. I caught the fish in my profile pic early.

 

People that never get out at daylight, especially on the water, are missing out.