Where and when to fish is asked by beginners to the sport. What knowledge is needed is where the fish are at what time. This can vary throughout the year. There are three items fish rely on no matter the time of day or year. The items are the structure, cover, and food source. Fish have one thing on their mind and that is survival. You need to find these elements and then apply the other variables such as water temp, the life cycle of species, and the time of day. It determines where they will go throughout the year.
Morning or Evening
These two times of the day have low light conditions giving the predator an advantage. There is less visibility in the water and the larger fish hide in cover waiting to ambush their food. Also, there are differences between the morning and evening that make a difference.
In the morning the water comes alive. The various aquatic insects hatch in the morning. Many of the smaller fish species gather and spawn at sunrise. Phytoplankton and algae photosynthesis ramps up with the sun’s energy triggering the feeding cycle and dissolving oxygen into the water. The oxygen helps the fish become more active increasing the feeding activity.
Fish Act Differently During the Day
Where and when can change throughout the day. In the evening hours, the water temperature is likely a little higher, increasing the fish’s metabolism. A higher metabolism is conducive to feeding as they use more energy. The light levels have dropped allowing them to come out of the deeper water or heavy cover. The majority of fish will seek shelter from the bright sun and retreat to an area to hide. When the sun goes low they come out of hiding and feed.
One other factor to monitor is the barometric pressure. If the pressure is dropping fish will become more active. When the pressure is rising they will shut down and seek cover. You may still catch fish during increasing pressure but work the heavier cover in those instances. A stable barometric pressure has a reduced effect on fish, as a result, time of day will become the major influence.
Where and When to Fish in the Spring
This time of year is spawning time for most freshwater species. The fish will congregate near the spawning areas. The spawning areas vary by species but is usually in a shallower area of the body of water. The common element is cover and a lot of it. Some fish will choose weedy areas while others like gravel and rock-strewn territories to deposit the eggs.
Tributaries and coves are two examples of prime spawning grounds. You need to study the species to know their preferred spawning environment. Your state’s fishing regulatory body will have publications online to help with this information.
Where and when means the time has to be right. The morning and evening hours work for many fish, but some prefer the night time. The spawn will have some species more aggressive making them prone to hit anytime.
While some species will not feed during the spawn cycle. A few examples are, muskies will not bite during the spawn, while bass will hit almost anything coming near its nest. Also, some fish feed heavily prior to spawning.
In many states targeting fish on spawning beds is illegal. The vast majority of anglers find it unethical. This information is intended to understand where to find fish before and after the spawn.
Summer
The fish have moved away from the spawning areas by this time of year. The available food supply near the spawning areas is depleted. They will be more spread out in search of food. The cover and structure is still an important element in finding the fish. The fish will follow structure
to cover in deeper water to find food. The water may only be a couple of feet deeper.
In the shallows, during the summer the insects will be active on and around the water. The presence of weeds along the shoreline makes the insects gather in larger numbers. They will be drawn to the insect activity and feed. The frogs and other amphibians are active in the feeding on insects also. This is an added food source for fish. Since all fish are curious the splashes get their attention. The use of surface lures can be productive in these situations.
If there are cover and structure near the mouth of tributaries or coves it is the first place the fish will go to feed. After feeding in these areas they may roam in search of food. All species act differently in this regard with some covering miles of water and others staying within a few acres.
You need to know their tendencies. The morning and evening will yield the best catches of the overall species. If you are fishing for catfish or walleye go at the start of the night and fish into the dark for best results.
Fall
This is the time of the year fish will feed to put on weight for winter. The majority return to shallow water. This is because the prey they eat will have rebounded in sufficient numbers. The prey spawns also and during the summer they grow and become a great food source. A lot of minnows and other bait spawn several times a year greatly increasing the numbers. The bigger fish know this and take advantage.
Fall feeding is heavier to put on weight, therefore, they will have more feeding windows. Morning and several times throughout the day and into the evening you can catch fish. This is a good time of the year to do the all-day fishing trip. The fall is the best time to catch a trophy or a personal best with the activity level up. The fish have fed and grown all summer and are going to weigh more with the increased feeding.
Winter
In the winter fishing will be tougher. The water has cooled down and fish become lethargic. They are cold-blooded creatures and their metabolism slows down. The majority of anglers take this time off and pursue other hobbies. If you are the hardcore type winter does have something to offer. Where the water does not freeze you still need to find the fish. They will still seek cover and structure but it has to have a stable temperature.
The majority of fish will school up in deeper water or near a discharge supplying warmer water. They will not be eager to chase prey. The presentation must be slow or stationary as they will not waste energy at this time of year. You will find patience is needed in the winter. The bites will likely be fewer but the fish tend to be the larger ones. It is a trade-off, do you want to catch a few big fish or wait for warmer weather.
Where the water freezes to ice thick enough to support you and your gear, ice fishing is an option. I do not and never have ice fished so I cannot help you with that facet of fishing. I suggest you find someone who ice fishes and has the gear. That way you can try it out before spending money on equipment. I do know many anglers enjoy the sport of ice fishing. It is not practical in my region due to a lack of places to ice fish.
Conclusion
This is general information on when and where to find fish. The region you live in will make the seasons vary. The fish although will behave basically the same everywhere. Bass is still a bass whether in Florida or Minnesota. You reading about the target species will greatly help in catching more. If you want more information on the structure and cover read the article on the site that is more detailed.
Keeping fishing simple for tight lines and bragging rights.
John McIntyre