Fishing in Different Seasons

The best times to fish are always early in the morning from 6:00 am am to 9:00 am, late morning to afternoon from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or afternoon to dusk from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Fish are much harder to find in hot days or too cold days. Learn what are the best times to fish during different seasons in the year.

1. Fishing During Spring

• Early Morning: Fish aren't biting. The water is cold and doesn't heat up because the sun is low and the rays bounce off the water. Best to wait until a week or so after thaw, as spring turnover takes time for the water temperature to even out to 39.2 degrees.
• Late Morning-Early Afternoon: Fish are biting off and on. The water begins to warm up because rays begin to penetrate the water. Remember to fish the downwind shoreline, as the winds will push the warmer surface water along with surface food into that area.
• Afternoon-Early Evening: Fish are eating a lot because their metabolism and digestion are cranked. Water is warm because the sun is directly overhead.

2. Fishing During Summer

• Early Morning: Fishing is excellent from before sunup to just before mid-morning. At this time of year there is abundant food and cover for fish, so finding hungry fish can be a challenge.
• Late Morning-Early Afternoon: Fishing is poor for most of the day. Fish move to deep water to cool off.
• Afternoon-Early Evening: Fishing is excellent from early sundown until dark as the waters cool and fish rise up from the depths.

3. Fishing During Fall

• Early Morning: During the early morning, fishing can be excellent as the air and water temperatures are still relatively cool. The fish are often more active and feeding after the cooler nighttime temperatures.
• Late Morning-Early Afternoon: By late morning, the water has warmed up slightly, and fish become more active, feeding in both shallow and deeper areas. This is a great window to fish as temperatures stabilize, making fish less sluggish.
• Afternoon-Early Evening: The afternoon to dusk period in fall can also provide prime fishing opportunities. As temperatures begin to cool slightly, fish become more active again, especially near the water's surface. This is a great time to catch fish that are transitioning to their feeding habits for the night.

4. Fishing During Winter

• Early Morning: Fish aren't biting much from sunup to early morning. The water is cool because the sun is too low to penetrate the water.
• Late Morning-Early Afternoon: Fish are biting off and on in warmer, shallow water. The water is generally cool due to the season.
• Afternoon-Early Evening: Considered one of the best fishing times of the year. Sun is directly overhead for several hours and the water gets more comfortable near the surface. This makes for seasonally good fishing because fish are putting on weight for the winter.

Learn more about where to find and how to use fishing reports in your state and catch more fish.