Catching Big Fish -
Why Timing Matters
If you’re into
catching big fish (and who isn’t?), you may recognize the following
scenario. You’ve read all the latest fishing magazine tips,
listened to the older fishermen talking down at the tackle shop, and
done some Internet research, but you’re still catching fish that
barely make the legal limit. Never the big ones. Sound familiar?
Well, it may not
be your technique or your bait or where you’re fishing. Catching
the big fish – the real lunkers – is as much about WHEN you fish as
it is HOW you fish. ‘When’ pertains to two specific issues: time
of day and time of year. Get either one (or both) wrong, and it’ll
take a hefty portion of good luck to catch the big ones.
Now, there isn’t
one rule here that pertains to all big sport fish, so it’s no simple
matter to get it just right. But, if you do your homework on the
types of fish you like catching, you can plan your attack and get
better (and BIGGER) results. The Internet can be your best ally for
research and quick answers.
The Best Times to Catch Big Bass
Since bass are so
popular and the big ones are pretty hard to catch, I thought some
basic tips about timing were called for here. Most bass species are
solitary predators. They don’t typically school. While they will
eat voraciously when the opportunity presents itself, catching the
bigger ones calls for some forethought.
Time of year is
one big factor. Winters are when bass are at their pickiest. Not
the best time to entice a big fish to strike. Avoid the really cold
months and also the hot Summer months. Both water temperature
extremes tend to put bass off and make catching them much more
difficult. Fish deep if you choose to try it!
The best time of
year for catching big bass is during their pre-spawn weeks. This
generally means early Spring for most parts of the U.S. The female
fish are bulking up in preparation for laying all those eggs, and
they are at their least picky in terms of what they’ll strike. Try
fishing the weed beds for the really big fish.
The other ‘when’
factor for catching big fish is time of day. This one’s a bit
easier and tied directly to the seasons. When the water temperature
is comfortable (late Spring and early Fall in most locations in
North America), you’ll find the bigger bass hanging around weed beds
at various water levels during the late morning through late
afternoon. Vary your depth to locate the best striking zones.
When it’s really
hot out, your only good shot at catching some big fish is early
morning and at moderate to deep depths. Bass rarely strike during
the hottest part of a Summer day unless it’s very overcast or a
particularly cool day. Plan your fishing trips with this in mind.
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