I just wrapped up a week long fishing trip to central Florida. I primarily used @road warrior tactic he describes in his post on guaranteed way to catch bass. I’ll post a review of that once I’m back in NY (spoiler alert: it works exceedingly well, but there’s some things to keep in mind). We blew it up from ~7am-9am and 6pm-8pm, but the mid-day bite was awful. I understand the mid-day bite is almost always more difficult, but I wanted to reach out to the BR community to see what you guys do to get the bite in the middle of the day. 

Dragging on bottom deep, my favorite way to fish. If I have all day to fish, midday is usually my most productive time 

Slow, deep, and tight to cover. Midday is when I catch my bigger fish, though my PB came at 10:05PM on Christmas 

Lots of variables go into that decision. Some lakes I fish are just difficult during midday no matter what you do.

This is my usual assumption but like anything with bass, certain lakes at certain times of year, midday can be the best time.  I think nothing is certain.

 

scott

Statistically speaking, a larger percentage of bass are caught between 10am and 2pm than morning and evenings.

Maybe it's because I fish residential lakes but I find no real relationship with time of day and success. Bright mid day conditions with some wind produces some great action. Traditional early morning or evening calm situations are sometimes slow.

Big water smallies are not as sensitive to the "mid day slump" as largemouths, in my opinion, and some of my best fishing for numbers and size has come around noon.  It's more about the wind than time of day.  

 

If I had to pick one short time period, though, I would pick late afternoon, but well before dusk.  3:30-5:30.  

10 AM - 2 PM

 

                                                            

Same times for me also.

 

 

Mid to late afternoon is about the only time I fish, so it’s always the best bite window for me - because it’s the only one ? I simply adjust to conditions, both weather and water, with my approach. There are also seasonal bait adjustments, but nothing ‘secret’ or special. Use the sun to your advantage when you have it, because nothing positions fish tight to cover/shade better. Also use things like heavy cloud cover, wind, stained water and rain inflows when they occur to position active fish and more aggressive bites (in general). Adjust bait selection accordingly.

I feel like bass are more predictable in the middle of the day  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

True TroxBox

 

I see it when they can see food & still detect any side attacks by pike.  That DO NOT attack from the blind area of a bass.  Their tail angles.

I do a lot of my frogging mid-day.  Fish will get under those heavy scum mats for shade.  If you can find one that is shaded by trees, even better.  After awhile you learn how to read the water depth under those mats by sight.  You can even see deeper water holes by looking at the mats.  There's your targets.  Don't bother asking how......just takes a LOOOOOOT of practice.