Prior to this week, my daughter had school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and i took her, which would allow me only to fish Monday and Friday mornings before work.

Last night, my wife and i decided to pull her out for the summer because we have a lot going on, and it was more of a "camp" style anyways, she's 3 almost 4, and cant just do whatever mom does during the day anyways.

long story short, i can now go fishing 5 days a week!!! It's worth waking up at 4:45!! WA-HOO!!!!

There is nothing better than waking up a 5 am to go fishing for the day. My dad and i do that every weekend both saturday and sunday, and dont get off the water until 2 or 3 pm. We both love it!

Only thing better is being RETIRED!  Get your chores done and fish the rest of the time.

Kelley

Early morning Fishin is BEST!

I drop a hook in the water at 6am 3 or 4 mornings a week and always catch nice size bass. It's fun waking the big ones up early, pticks them off and they hit the top water jitterbug like they want to destroy it. I have a couple of spots and they are always there early in the morning. You only get 1 chance at each spot but if you hook'em its a blast! Caught both of 'em this morning (3 & 4 lb'ders) and was back home by 7am with a hot cup of coffee. Awesome way to start the day!

Early morning Fishin is BEST!

I drop a hook in the water at 6am 3 or 4 mornings a week and always catch nice size bass. It's fun waking the big ones up early, ticks them off and they hit the top water jitterbug like they want to destroy it. I have a couple of spots and they are always there early in the morning. You only get 1 chance at each spot but if you hook'em its a blast! Caught both of 'em this morning (3 & 4 lb'ders) and was back home by 7am with a hot cup of coffee. Awesome way to start the day!

Why are you only getting one shot?

I much prefer evening fishing. I used to fish for musky all the time in the evening, and it's great for bass too. I am not an early riser.

tnbassfisher,

Regarding "only 1 shot", I was referring to top water with my jitterbug, the fish always go for it early in the morning but I dont always manage to hook'em.   Sometimes I can quickly throw'em a plastic worm and they will still hit it but its not as exciting as the top water hit.

Early morning fishing....nothing better. i am on the water by six and when i come back depends on the fishing.

On the Weekends when I am at the Camper with the Family, I am up at 0415, and on the Water for 0445. If the Fishing is Outstanding, I'll be out until 1300ish. If the Fishing is so so, I'll be back by 0830 to cook Bacon and Eggs for the Family on the Grill.

Only thing better is being RETIRED! Get your chores done and fish the rest of the time.

Kelley

Go ahead and rub it in Kelley! ;D

I have to fight an army of jet skis and tubers/waterskiers like the rest of us weekend warriors.

i try to be on the water by 4 AM. earlier if I cant sleep. top water until around 7 then it's cranks and soft plastics. I am usually off the lake by 10:30. best part is I avoid the crowd's, get to be the first one on my spots and I still have the whole day to spend with wife and kids. sometimes I take the 3 year old and get another hour or two on the lake.

I just fell in love with wading, and wanted to try topwater action. Is 6 am too late to start, and is a rage shad a good choice? Black with red flake?

6am should be fine, thats what time I usually start top water and I catch a lot of fish. I prefer my jitterbug or hulapopper but also catch a lot with my frog.

Make sure you have a rig ready with a plastic worm so if you miss the top water hit, you can quickly throw that worm near the same spot and you will likely get a hit.

I just fell in love with wading, and wanted to try topwater action. Is 6 am too late to start, and is a rage shad a good choice? Black with red flake?

you can fish topwater all day if you want, especially if topwaters but the best times are the times close to dawn (both before and after) and night time.

I wouldn't suggest rage shads for smallmouth in the areas you are wading. Go with something that has treble hooks or a single hook but smaller profile for now. I like poppers, walking baits, jitterbugs, etc...

Funny how i can be up by 4am to go fishing but can't ever make it to work by 8am on weekdays!         ;D

in my lakes I noticed that when I hit the lake at 6 the fish were hitting right away. so I started thinking about how much of the bite I was missing so I started coming earlier and earlier until I hit the 4:00 mark. around here it is like a light switch. you go from hot and heavy to nothing and you have to switch over to plastics. and even that is about 1 fish per 20 minutes average.