In my days of bass fishing, I’ve experienced many situations in which the bite has gone from 0-10 or from 10-0 very quickly, for no apparent reason. 
 

Decided to go an impromptu experiment this evening. I fished my pond for about an hour, with zero bites. Instead of trying to chase bites, I decided to stay in the normal place where I know the fish are, and fished the same lure for the entire time. 
 

After getting zero bites for an hour, all the sudden I got 6 bites within about 10 minutes, using the same exact presentation as before. I stopped due to the mosquitoes also getting active… but the change in the fishing results was dramatic. 
 

It would certainly seem like the bass were there all along, but just weren’t ready to eat until a certain time, for whatever reason. I won’t claim to understand it, but it seems like the whole “bite window” thing is real. Incidentally, this increase in bites actually did line up with what was predicted on the Bass Forecast app, which I’ve been evaluating throughout this season. Coincidence? Maybe… but maybe not. 
 

So, what do you all think? Do you put stock in the idea of the bite “turning on” during certain time slots with any semblance of predictability? 

Yep. See it nearly every outing 

Bass only active about 20% of the time during a 24 hour period, about 5 hours and inactive about the amount of time. The balance of 14 hours or so the transition between active and inactive in a neutral mood. 
Active bass are easier to catch with inactive bass nearly impossible and neutral bass are the fish we catch most often using slower lures like soft plastics.

Bass are individuals but at times group to take advantage of prey a time period being called today a “ bite window “. The lakes I fish have short 20 minute active periods repeating throughout the day and night occurring about 3 to 4 apart. The bite windows happen about 6 times during the 24 hour period or 2 hours total of very active bass easy to catch.  Timing can be very important to be at the right place at the right time, difference between a good day on the water vs a long tough day.

Tom 

31 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Bass only active about 20% of the time during a 24 hour period, about 5 hours and inactive about the amount of time. The balance of 14 hours or so the transition between active and inactive in a neutral mood. 
Active bass are easier to catch with inactive bass nearly impossible and neutral bass are the fish we catch most often using slower lures like soft plastics.

Bass are individuals but at times group to take advantage of prey a time period being called today a “ bite window “. The lakes I fish have short 20 minute active periods repeating throughout the day and night occurring about 3 to 4 apart. The bite windows happen about 6 times during the 24 hour period or 2 hours total of very active bass easy to catch.  Timing can be very important to be at the right place at the right time, difference between a good day on the water vs a long tough day.

Tom 

This is some awesome information so I’d love to hear a bit more about it if you don’t mind. My first question is how do you determine when a bite window is happening? Probably sounds stupid but are you just catching more fish, seeing more blow up’s, seeing more activity on electronics etc? Or is there a lot more that goes into this? 
Also you said that this is what happens on the lakes you fish, but is it a very different across the country from what you’ve found?

This is definitely something I overlook in my fishing and im interested to learn more. 

This is some awesome information and an awesome thread!

 

Okay, let's say you're using a crankbait and not getting bit. The bite turns on. Will they likely bite whatever crankbait you're offering?

 

If they won't hit the orange craw you're throwing, and you change to a gold black back crank (assuming you recognise the bite is on, and you don't miss out changing colors), will they then hit the new color? In other words, when the bite is on, does it matter what color, if what they want is a crankbait?

 

Second, if you're throwing a crankbait, the bite turns on, and they don't want that, will they then hit a spinnerbait? Or does it really matter what you're throwing when the bite turns on, as long as it's something reasonable and known to work.

 

Or... will it be, they will choose what depth in the water column they will hit?

 

So if you're throwing a crankbait but they want a topwater, will any topwater work? Or will it be bait specific?

39 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

This is some awesome information so I’d love to hear a bit more about it if you don’t mind. My first question is how do you determine when a bite window is happening? Probably sounds stupid but are you just catching more fish, seeing more blow up’s, seeing more activity on electronics etc? Or is there a lot more that goes into this? 
Also you said that this is what happens on the lakes you fish, but is it a very different across the country from what you’ve found?

This is definitely something I overlook in my fishing and im interested to learn more. 

PM your email and will send my Bass Behavior chart.

Tom 

Bite windows or brief feeding periods are real.  I’m convinced that light penetration is a major influence of when and how long they last.

Lots of trips when I fish, two other friends are out there somewhere in their boats. We text each other when we catch a fish, depth, and what we caught it on. It's crazy how often it picks up for all three of us and the stops. Yes, I believe invite windows.

Bite windows - yes

 

Predictability - only vaguely. Wouldn’t it be great to know you don’t have to arrive at the lake until a specific time and then only fish for an hour and 37 minutes because you had the bite window so nailed down? It happens, but not enough to be able to make any claims about having it “figured out.”  Just generalities.

Can try this app which predicts feeding windows amongst other things. There is the basic/free app as well as an upgrade version you pay more for additional features: 

 

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1056000899

This is all good info.  I think bite windows are real, but here is another thought:  @JackstrawIIIYou say the fish were there all the time, but I say a group of fish moved into the area you were fishing and you started catching them.  Then they moved on, or the commotion of catching spooked them, or you caught the active ones, or the fish you caught and released alerted the group of fish and they quit biting.

I have no data to back this up, just my opinion.  I think groups of bass move more then we think.

I keep moving changing speed and depth until the bass give me clues to where they are and what they want.  If I run into an adult bass I will flog that area good and stay as I keep catching them or move on when the bite stops.  That area where you intercepted those bass is always a good place to try.  I think this is called a "milk run".

i definitley believe in bite windows. you ever drive a ways and notice and notice there seems to be deer in every field at a certain time. drive the same road the next day and see nothing. there is definetly smething that drives fish and game to be active at certain times. That doesnr mean thats the only time you ca get a bite but they certainly turn on and off during the day.

Absolutely 

Is bite window related to solunar calendar ❓

 

Yes. Just like we have a circadian rhythm so does wildlife.

Certainly! 

 

On the 4th of July my Brother, a buddy, and my wife's boy were jigging minnows and leeches next to the dock. 

 

Several people were lounging on the pontoon tied on the dock, drinking adult beverages, my wife, SIL, and a few friends were on a lily pad just feet from our position. 

 

All of the sudden the bite was on...we landed several crappie and bluegill, a 3lb LMB and two in the 2lb range, a few small ones. Then an 18" walleye and a even a gar(!). After about 30 minutes it shut off. 

 

It was fun! I caught a small 12" LMB and tossed it on to the lily pad...it swam right by my wife as the ladies shrieked and cursed me  : )  

Yeah I mean you can see them on the cheapest electronics.

 

Fish will suspend and do nothing most of the time and then other times they turn into 'angry spaghetti' and can be caught on just about anything you can get in front of their faces.

I believe in this when it comes to muskie fishing more so than bass fishing.  Maybe it has to do with the sheer numbers of bass out there compared to muskies though.

9 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

It would certainly seem like the bass were there all along, but just weren’t ready to eat until a certain time, for whatever reason. I won’t claim to understand it, but it seems like the whole “bite window” thing is real. Incidentally, this increase in bites actually did line up with what was predicted on the Bass Forecast app, which I’ve been evaluating throughout this season. Coincidence? Maybe… but maybe not. 
 

So, what do you all think? Do you put stock in the idea of the bite “turning on” during certain time slots with any semblance of predictability? 

 

Timing may just boil down to when the bait is most vulnerable

and or the bass have some type of an advantage over the prey which could increase the bass's chances of feeding successfully.

 

For my own quest for plus size bass, "Timing' is Always Paramount.

That's not to say that Location and the getting the Presentation Right are not.

They most certainly are.

So while Location can mean which Lake, which area on the lake, and especially which specific spot on the lake.

And the Right Presentation can mean so much more than just What Bait;  factors such as how I approach an area, my final boat position, determining the best casting angle, and even whether I chose a vertical or horizontal type deal.

Timing can encompass, time of year/season, as well as time of day/night.

  For me that final piece of the puzzle, timing, often seems like The Toughest Nut to Crack.

While I can & often do have some success on bigger bass in areas & spots that are 'similar' to other big fish producers, and there's situations where a particular bait that has triggered bigger bites for me will work in a few different scenarios, the Timing Deal is just So Hard to Replicate at times.

It can be very random depending on the lake.

Clearly early & late in the day (low light conditions) can be somewhat predictable, but not always.

The Biggest/Rarest fish seems to have their own 'schedule' and It's up to me to figure it out.

  Sometimes I do, more often than not I do not.

But that what makes it feel like 'hunting" them down. 

It's also why I will Camp out on a certain deal for days, weeks, months & yes, even seasons. 

If & when I will only get a shot at a bass that is in the top 1 or 2% population wise, 

and she is only going to be at a spot for 5 or 10 minutes a day/night, or a week or a season  . . . .

You tell me how important timing is ?

Some of the best 'windows' from last season

https://youtu.be/V3OYj82bUXQ?feature=shared

Fish Hard

😎

A-Jay

 

3 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Can try this app which predicts feeding windows amongst other things. There is the basic/free app as well as an upgrade version you pay more for additional features: 

 

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1056000899

 

This.

 

I swear by the solunar calendar. I know some tournament guys do as well. It has proven to be very accurate. Fishing trips are planned around it. Won't leave home without it. Even check it throughout a fishing trip.

 

The bite turned off? Check the app and see what it says. Yep. Nearing bottom of cycle. Oh well, keep trying. They'll turn back on soon. (When the app says.) It really can be that close to it.

 

Is this what Ben Franklin was working on? AI just straightened me out on it: "While Franklin was known for his interest in natural phenomena and published an almanac ("Poor Richard's Almanack"), his work predates the development of Solunar Theory."

 

Well Kudos to whoever did invent the solunar calendar! OK, had to look that one up too:

 

"The Solunar calendar, which predicts animal activity based on the sun and moon's positions, was invented by John Alden Knight in 1926. Knight, a fisherman, combined his observations of animal behavior with the positions of the sun and moon to create the Solunar theory according to Florida Today. He coined the term "Solunar" by combining "sol" (sun) and "lunar" (moon) says Mack's Lure. 

 

Knight's work was based on the idea that the gravitational forces of the sun and moon influence animal behavior, particularly the feeding habits of fish. He developed tables that identified "major" and "minor" periods of activity, which are still used by anglers and hunters today"

 

Most definitely there are " bite windows". I've experienced them  many times. Most common to me is fishing a heavy overcast drizzly day. Fish hitting every where. The second the sun comes out the bite turns off, I mean dead off, not a bite to be had.

Doug Hannon believed in the tables and also in the fact that it's natures clock.. as in grass shrimp, crawfish, insects of all types and egg laying behavior for LMB and all other types of fishes..

 

I realize this doesn’t answer your question but I firmly believe the tables are significant in understanding. Tides are yet another example, incoming, outgoing etc. At any rate it’s a DeepDive for sure. Happy learning 😉

 

@bulldog1935 has good understanding of the tidal impacts as it concerns saltwater, intercostal waterways etc.. 

I believe it in them. I mean I'm not always hungry. Sometimes I'll pick at food, Sometimes I can't get enough. Can't see how bass would be much different. 

@F14A-B

Not just tide motion, but bite windows also exist in freshwater rivers and lakes (latter also have sun, moon, and wind currents).  

Heavily-hit fish stop feeding as a defense mechanism.  This is why you see no-bite cycles that last 20 to 30 minutes.  

When the desire to feed overcomes defensive shyness, one fish will eat, and all join in feeding in competition.  

Then they all settle back into another no-bite cycle.  

Another thing we notice in the salt, fish feed more aggressively at new moon than they will at a full moon, simply because they get to feed all night in a full moon  

I have witnessed the phenomenon of bite windows my whole life.  When I am driving to the lake, the bass are biting.  When I get to the lake the bass stop biting.  When I leave the bite starts back up.  The old saying you should have been here yesterday, sums up my   fishing in one sentence.