late start in the fall?

[gim]

This time of year in the north, our mornings are cool and crisp.  I have generally noticed that the bite is not as good in the early morning hours as it is in the summer.  I'm tempted to start later on if I have the chance, after the temps have warmed up some.  Any thoughts on this?  The other morning it was a frosty 31 degrees here.  I don't see anything quite that cold in the 14 day forecast, but when it drops down to the 40's or 50 degrees at night, I think it may be more productive to fish the warmer hours of the day instead.  Kind of like early spring here in the north.  Fellow northerners, I need some opinions on this.

 

I just realized this is posted in the Fishing Tackle section.  Oops

[Jar11591]

Yep, I’ve found the later (and earlier) in the year, later in the day when it’s warmer seems to be better. Even some sunshine seems to get the fish eating more than an overcast day this time of year. 

[T-Billy]

The bass bite has been warming up come mid morning for me lately, and continuing through the afternoon as the water falls into the 60's, but I've still been starting early in an effort to get on some more of those big pre-dawn floaters. ?

As the water continues to cool, late morning on will get better and better.

[GreenPig]

I'm on the lake at daylight. They'll eat early, the air temp makes tougher for us.

[Bluebasser86]

I still catch most of my fish before 10am even during the winter months. 

[GReb]

More bites in morning and evening but biggest always seems to be early afternoon 

[CM-fisher]

I do most of my fishing in the evening this time of year mainly because of wind conditions (being a kayak fisherman). If I had a boat I would definitely fish midday to early afternoon when it's warmest. Morning bite definitely is hot in the summer months but cools down as the weather cools down in my experience

[papajoe222]

Feeding windows change daily, but we all know you can catch fish that aren’t feeding. Personally, I go fishing when I can. That being said, I find that as the water cools, the fish move up in the water column to warmer water until the lake turns over. Although the sun doesn’t warm the water as well in the fall, I still  feel that later in the day gives you a slight advantage. 

[A-Jay]

A few places still have an early morning deal for me

but they are almost always super short lived.

Then it's several hours until there's any more action.

So I like the 10 to 5 pm shift this time of year.

My best stuff often turns on about 2 hours before sunset.

And ends right after the sun dips behind the tree line,

which can be at least a couple of hours BEFORE sunset depending on the lake. 

Either way, I'll get to put all this 'theory' to the test tomorrow.

Plan on looking for them on main lake points and deep flats.

Blade Baits, Rattle Baits & Swimbaits.

A-Jay

 

 

[Bankbeater]

Around here it seems like it's more about how much the temps warms up during the day.  A 20 or 30 degree spread usually shuts the bite down.  If the morning low is close to the afternoon high I do better on the water.

[padlin]

43 this am, went out at 11 when it was 54, party sunny. Did pretty good 5' or 6' down but nothing near or at the surface.

[WRB]

The only impact air temps have on bass is the surface water temps cool slightly unless coupled with cold winds that cool the water column faster.

Green aquatic vegetation tends to hold bait and bass longer making those areas a good target zone.

Find the primary prey and the bass will be close. Transition means moving, here today gone tomorrow until the lake turns over and it’s the cold water period. Active time periods are not predictable…go fishing to determine.

Tom

[Swamp Girl]

It's 5:58 in Maine, nearly dark and in the thirties, and I'm leaving to fish now. I hope you're wrong about later and warmer being better, but last week I went fishing at this time and had fish on within minutes. We'll see, huh?

[T-Billy]

The colder the water gets the more it matters. I often still start early when the water's in the 40's but the afternoon bite is consistently better. I love to fish and don't mind working for 'em through the morning.

[Deleted account]

Not really, but a bit in the late fall where it butts up against early winter.

[gim]

On 9/30/2022 at 5:30 PM, Bankbeater said:

If the morning low is close to the afternoon high I do better on the water.

I've found this to be a correlation this time of year.  If the low isn't super cold, then the morning bite is generally more productive.  If its clear, calm, and frosty overnight, then the bite doesn't seem to kick on later on in the morning towards noon, after its warmed up.  Clouds over night tend to keep it warmer than a clear, calm night.

[Spankey]

You are a bit more north than me and my mornings have not touched the 30’s yet. I’m out  a first light still. First few hours have been wind free making for half decent fishing. The nicer smallies have not been cooperating but we’ll have to see how the game plays out. We have been in a poor stretch of weather for the last handful of days. It might force me off the river and have to switch gears and lake fish. No problem. 
 

We have been in dire need of some rain and what we are getting even late into the season May spark a better bite. Might create a bit better river flow and take the lake level up some and push some fish shallower. 

[gim]

1 minute ago, Spankey said:

We have been in dire need of some rain

You're not the only one

[Spankey]

Just now, gimruis said:

You're not the only one

This has been the reason I believe my fishing is off this season. And throw in the excessive heat that went along with it. 
 

I hate to bring up too much about rain because year after year there are guys on here that get devistated by it and just as many living in severe droughts. I’m just slightly inconvenienced compared to many. 
 

I feel I’m alway fishing for that big one. Alway hope he’s there. I try to fish hard and never give up. But in the full scheme of thing my control of it is very limited. 

[A-Jay]

Except for some awesome foliage colors,  it sure felt and fished like late August yesterday. 

Bite was non-existent.

Going back tomorrow for a rematch.

A-Jay 

[Bankc]

Most of the year, I try to get up early to fish.  However, sometime from the late fall to early spring, I'll transition to catch the evening bite.  Partly, it's because I believe the fishing is better.  But mostly, it's because it's just easier on me to fish when the weather is nicer.  In the middle of winter, I'll fish in the middle of the day.  

 

We're still a good ways away from that here.  For me, the transition will probably take place around Thanksgiving.  Usually, the middle of October is when the fall fishing pattern begins for us.  Right now, even though it's cooled off a good bit, the lakes are still in the mid to high 70's and low 80's.  

[Bluebasser86]

Our fish must be different here. The number of fish I've caught first thing in the morning in the winter time, big fish included, I've lost count of. Not just early, but also on shaded banks. They still use shade to their advantage and still use low light conditions to their advantage. The weak winter sun does very little to actually warm the water most days. It's my belief that we just use the "Wait until it warms up", as an excuse to not venture out into the most uncomfortable parts of the day, which is just fine with me if people stick with that train of thought. 

[galyonj]

11 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They still use shade to their advantage and still use low light conditions to their advantage.

 

One can just about be successful on the water by simply fishing shade lines. There are always other variables to solve for, but working that at least keeps me from fishing totally blind.

[Spankey]

Majority of my key spots to fish are shaded and I like having myself set up in that transition area. 

[Darth-Baiter]

around my parts, it is almost magical early.  fog layer just floating above the water.  crisp cold air, warm water still.

 

but my friend always says, "oh when it warms up the fish should get active".    it does make me wonder why i am out so early.  maybe just for the ambiance.