Morning Fishing in the Fall

[papajoe222]

JCfishing mentioned something in the fall turnover thread about fishing the fog on the lake early in the morning. This got me wondering about fishing early on fall days as I've always waited until the sun was up for three or four hours.  My thinking was the cool evening temps had cooled off the surface layer of water and the sun would warm it up a little if given the chance.  I've even waited until mid afternoon on days when the air temp and cloudy skies worked against that train of thought. 

What say you?  I know, get out whenever you can, but if you have a choice?

[IntroC]

I prefer late afternoons when the temps warm up a little

[Team9nine]

Fall morning bite has historically been really good for me down into at least the low to mid 60s. Beyond that, I usually preferred afternoons, though high 50s water occasionally has its good mornings, too. These days, every trip is a later day trip, regardless  

[Jig Man]

We hit the water at sunrise just encase there is a top water bite unless the air temp is below 32°.  If it is we check the hour by hour forecast and go when it is supposed to be at least 32°.  
 

The reasoning is better parking and first to the hole.

[Pat Brown]

Lately it's been pretty much pointless to cast until about 10 am at my spots but it's been dropping in temp like an anvil.

 

Bite seems best from 12-4 pm right now.

 

Stable/prevailing conditions = better morning bite usually.  Warm low pressure front arriving early in the morning?  Better get there early!

[FishTax]

For me the best bite for the last few weeks has been about 4-6p on sun warmed gradual Banks, about 10' off the bank. I haven't been able to find them much outside of that pattern, but hopefully today I'll give it another try 😎

 

I haven't tried mornings lately because of my schedule. I love the smoke on the water and would go just for the beauty though. 

[gim]

I’ve posted about this twice recently. Overnight low temps are the indicator here. Frosty cold overnight lows inhibit the bite right away in the morning. Best to wait until it warms up. On Monday this occurred when I went. The overnight low was 34 degrees, and we didn’t start until 10am after the sun had come out. Didn’t catch a bass until 10:30. Best fishing was from about 11:30-2.

 

On Friday the overnight low was 55. So we started right away at 8am and the fish were already chewing.

 

Clouds play a pivotal role here too. They keep the atmosphere insulated and the temps don’t drop as low.

[The Budget Angler]

For me at my spots, water temps are still fine for mornings (>55 F).  However, I have noticed a more consistent bass bite in the fall.  Whereas in the summer the hottest part of the day can be impossible for fishing, the hottest part of the day during the fall can still produce fish.  I went out a few days ago at 3:30 pm when it was windy and partly cloudy and hit a topwater bite.

 

I agree with others when they talk about overnight lows, but I also personally have to remember that water temperatures do not fluctuate as quickly as air temps.  This is especially true if your spot is pretty shallow.

[softwateronly]

16 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

JCfishing mentioned something in the fall turnover thread about fishing the fog on the lake early in the morning. This got me wondering about fishing early on fall days as I've always waited until the sun was up for three or four hours.  My thinking was the cool evening temps had cooled off the surface layer of water and the sun would warm it up a little if given the chance.  I've even waited until mid afternoon on days when the air temp and cloudy skies worked against that train of thought. 

What say you?  I know, get out whenever you can, but if you have a choice?

Until the water is almost frozen, I do the opposite and set my schedule to be there before dawn if possible.  I find big bass chasing in the cool/cold mornings and find it to be the most consistent bite of the year.  I figure they have the greatest advantage over their small mass prey. 

 

scott   

[Swamp Girl]

5 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Until the water is almost frozen, I do the opposite and set my schedule to be there before dawn if possible.  I find big bass chasing in the cool/cold mornings and find it to be the most consistent bite of the year.  I figure they have the greatest advantage over their small mass prey. 

 

scott   

 

I agree with Scott. I launched in the dark the last two mornings and will launch again in the dark come Tuesday morning. I know many experienced anglers like to wait for the air and water to warm, but even on clear nights when it's literally frosty when I launch, I tend to do well and sometimes catch a bass on my first or second cast when it's at its coldest and darkest.

[Susky River Rat]

Personally I go when it’s comfortable now. I am not near as diehard as I used to be lol 

[Catt]

Personally I think it depends on what part of the country you live. 

 

Fall down south the fishing is great all day but our temperatures aren't nearly as cold.