GREAT TIME TO FISH

Time of Day/Season Sequencer/Turnover/Temp by Species

Spring/Early Morning

Fish aren't biting. The water is cold and doesn't heat up because the sun is low and the rays bounce off the water. But don't go home yet, because winter is over and fish are hungry and spawning. Best to wait until a week or so after thaw, as spring turnover takes time for the water temperature to even out to 39.2 degrees.

Spring/Late Morning-Early Afternoon

Fish are biting off and on. The water begins to warm up because rays begin to penetrate the water. Remember to fish the downwind shoreline, as the winds will push the warmer surface water along with surface food into that area.

Spring/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fish are eating a lot because their metabolism and digestion are cranked. Water is warm because the sun is directly overhead.

Summer/Early Morning-Late Afternoon

Fishing is excellent from before sunup to just before mid-morning. At this time of year there is abundant food and cover for fish, so finding hungry fish can be a challenge.

Summer/Late Morning-Early Afternoon

Fishing is poor for most of the day. Fish move to deep water to cool off.

Summer/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fishing is excellent from early sundown until dark as the waters cool and fish rise up from the depths.

Fall/Early Morning

Fish aren't biting much from sunup to early morning. The water is cool because the sun is too low to penetrate the water.

Fall/Late Morning-Noon

Fish are biting off and on in warmer, shallow water. The water is generally cool due to the season.

Fall/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fishing is excellent. Sun is directly overhead for several hours and the water gets more comfortable near the surface. This makes for seasonally good fishing because fish are putting on weight for the winter. Look for bait schools where bigger fish are more likely to be.

Seasonal Lake Turnover

Turnover refers to the exchange of surface and bottom water in a lake or pond. This annual recycling program happens twice a year. There's spring turnover and fall turnover and summer stagnation in between. From spring to fall, warmer water goes from the top of the lake to the bottom and cooler water moves from the bottom to the top.

An understanding of turnover, combined with knowledge of what kind of water a particular fish likes, can make you a real fishing genius. As always, good luck.

Spring Turnover

Spring Turnover

Once the ice is out, the water on the surface of a lake starts to warm. When it reaches 39 degrees it begins to sink and is replaced by cooler water from below. This exchange continues until the water temperature is constant in the entire lake. Early in this process, fish will stay in the shallow areas of the lake where the water warms up faster, and where the first plant growth of the spring occurs.
 

Summer Stagnation

Summer Stagnation

During the summer, the sun heats water near the surface of lakes, but it doesn't sink. Eventually a condition known as "stratification" develops, putting a well-defined warm layer of water over a cool one.

Fish like the cooler water, but they also need the higher oxygen levels found in warmer water. So they'll migrate to an area right between the two levels of water called the thermo cline. The thermo cline can occur between 2 and 10 feet in depth, depending on the size of the lake.

It's best to find a point or some other form of structure that extends out from the shoreline and slopes gradually down into the thermo cline. This should be a place where fish can find warmer water, but have quick access to deeper, cooler and safer water.

Fall Turnover

Fall Turnover

With the arrival of fall and cooler air temperatures, water at the surface of lakes cools, becoming almost as heavy as the cooler bottom water. Strong autumn winds move surface water around, which promotes mixing with deeper water. This is fall turnover.

As mixing continues, lake water becomes more uniform in temperature and oxygen level, allowing fish to move around freely. Fish can be difficult to find as long as these conditions prevail, usually continues until the weather turns cold, chilling the lake's surface.

Water Temperature and Turnover

Each fish has a different range of water temperature in which it can survive. Although fish cannot always find the exact temperature they prefer, they are usually found in water close to that temperature.

By combining a knowledge of preferred water temperature and lake turnover, you can kind-of-sort-of predict which fish will be in a particular part of a lake at a particular time of the year.

Fish that like warmer water will be surface feeders in the summer and bottom feeders in the fall. And fish that like cooler water will feed deep in the spring and on the surface in the fall. But don't hold us to this. Fish are always tough to catch.

Temperatures

Temperatures

Too many hot days in the summer can make fish in shallow lakes, ponds and rivers sluggish. The same thing happens in the winter when water temperatures are lower. Why? All fish are cold-blooded. Meaning they can't keep their body temperature at a constant level like humans and other warm-blooded animals. So the temperature of their surroundings influences the fish's body temperature and bodily functions. Really high and really low water temperatures reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, making fish less active and picky about when and what they.
So here's the first rule of when to fish. Fishing will be slower when it's too hot or too cold.
Understanding this bit of biology will help you decide what kinds of lures and baits to use, and how fast or slow to work them. Work your tackle slower in colder water and faster in warm water.

Light

Fish prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright sun of midday. Morning sun warms the shallows, creating more comfortable water temperatures for fish to feed. Late morning is best when the sun has had more of a chance to warm the shallows. This is particularly true during early spring in shallows with dark or mud bottoms because dark areas absorb heat more rapidly than light sandy bottoms.
Warm water temperatures make bait fish more active and available to game fish on cool early-spring days. On hot sunny days, fish move to cooler, deeper waters to stay comfortable. High-heat conditions make shallow and top water lures and bait best only in the early morning and late afternoon when cooler temperatures and lower light levels allow fish to cruise the shallows for meals.
In midday, hot water surface temperature, decreased surface oxygen and occasional increasing winds cause fish to move deeper. In these conditions, deep fishing baits, rigs and lures are best.
Already, you can see how a combination of time of day, light and weather can affect your fishing.

Variable Weather Conditions

Wind

Wind can play a large role in fishing success. Wind pushes water and surface food to the far shore, with bait fish behind it, and with game fish behind the bait fish. So if you're fishing from shore on a windy day, fish where you have to cast into the wind. That way your lure moves with the wind, just like the other food in the lake at the same time. If you're fishing from a boat, cast with the wind on a sheltered shore.

Storms

Storms and changing weather patterns affect fishing success since fish are keenly attuned to changes in barometric conditions. With many fish, feeding increases during the hours immediately before a cold front, but slows during and after a storm or front hits.
Fishing after a cold front is poor and continues to be poor for a day or two. Warm fronts cause surface water temperatures to increase, putting fish into a feeding mode. This can be particularly true in the winter, when a warming trend can cause otherwise sluggish fish to start feeding actively. Most of this feeding activity is on or near the warm surface.
Cloudy days improve fishing since the clouds prevent light penetration. Overcast skies cause fish to cruise for food more than they would during bright days when they tend to hide and stay close to structure. On overcast, cloudy days, fish are less likely to be at specific structure spots or areas and more likely to be scattered throughout a waterway.
A light rain is another good time to fish, especially a warm spring or summer rain. Rain can help you hide from the fish since the rain breaks up the view a fish has through the water surface. This is true for shore, wade or boat fishing. Rain also washes insects and bait into the water, creating a feeding binge for fish.
Hard rain conditions are a poor time to fish. A hard rain muddies the water, makes it difficult for fish to find bait or lures and causes heavy runoff, which can clog their gills. The increased water flow in rivers from any rain increases current flow and makes it difficult for fish to maintain a comfortable position in the river. High water levels can also create rapids, waves and unsafe fishing conditions.
When there's lightning or the possibility of lightning, get out of the water immediately, whether you're in a boat, wading or on shore. Safety first. Plus, there's no way you're going to catch fish in a violent storm.

Salt Water and Tides

Tides raise and lower the water level approximately two times per day and affect where fish are located and how they feed. The timing of a high or low tide changes daily and is also different for each coastal area.
A shallow area that might hold fish and may be a good spot to fish during a high tide, might be a bare mud bank during low tide conditions. And a slough (a slight depression in the bottom) that might be perfect for bottom feeding fish during a low tide, might be too deep and difficult to fish on a high tide.
Running tides (rising or falling) are best since they cause bait to move and promote active feeding among coastal fish. Changing tides, time of day and location are also important when you're fishing in brackish water—coastal water that's a mix of salt water and fresh water and contains saltwater and freshwater fish. Brackish water is found in most tidal creeks and rivers along coasts and is highly affected by tidal movements.
In general, the best fishing is almost always on a rising or falling tide—not dead low or dead high tide when there is little or no water movement.
Determining the best time to fish requires checking on many fishing factors and outdoor conditions. Read the local newspaper and visit with folk at a local tackle shop to get accurate tide information.

Fish Guide : Learning How to Fish

 Learning How to Fish

An Introduction

Fishing could be a good way to relish the outside, have some fun, and catch a tasty meal. many folks 1st learned to fish by having AN experienced angler take them fishing. i used to be introduced to the game once my father took my brothers and that i trout fishing. sadly not all and sundry that may wish to attempt fishing is aware of somebody that may teach them the fundamentals. notwithstanding what proportion facilitate a fisher was given everybody had to start out from the start – as a beginner. This web site cannot replace a private teacher however it will offer you with some solid facilitate, guidance, and data.

The first factor you ought to apprehend is that obtaining some gear along, finding an area to fish, and truly catching fish ar all stuff you will accomplish on your own. the basics of fishing aren't difficult. The nuances, on the opposite hand, ar endless. And generally the fish simply don't bite. It looks everybody WHO has gone fishing over once has ideas and recommendation to supply anyone WHO can listen. that's Ok and talking concerning fishing are often even as abundant fun as being out on the water. notwithstanding what you are doing or don't understand fishing once you start, through expertise you'll become AN accomplished angler. you'll improve your skills with every fishing trip you're taking, each bit of latest instrumentality you are trying, and any new information you acquire.

Fishing has several positives aspects thereto. In some ways in which it will assist you become additional virtuous. as an example patience could be a should if you would like to become an honest angler. 

It will take goodish time to catch a fish and a few day you'll not catch any the least bit. Even so, fishing is sometimes time well spent. Being outdoors helps relieve stress and provides a pleasant break from the grind of daily life. Taking a recreational fishing trip are often sort of a mini vacation - notwithstanding it's simply a visit of some hours. 

For me, going fishing clears my mind and refreshes my spirit.Another positive side of fishing is that it's hospitable virtually anyone. you'll be young or recent, use fancy custom created instrumentality or have cheap tackle you obtain from Wal-Mart, and fish from the shore or from a ship. If you have got kids, fishing are often a fun family activity. Fishing with children can even be challenging! On one hand your kids could also be impatient, and this can be a sport that's all concerning awaiting the fish to bite. On the opposite hand the experiences you'll share together with your kids and therefore the thrill of seeing them catch fish are often well well worth the effort you set into it.

How to navigate through the How to Fish Guide

How you answer a few basic questions will direct you in navigating through the How to Fish Guide. There are many paths through the guide and you will not need to see every page. For example if you live in Nebraska and want to fish locally, you probably want to find out about fishing in fresh water and do not need to know about surf fishing at the beach.

The guide is designed to walk you through what you need to find out in a stepwise process. Once you know where you want to fish, it is easier to figure out what kind of fishing you will do, and this narrows down what type of fishing tackle you need to learn about and consider purchasing. Wherever you are starting from you can go through the guide in whatever order makes the most sense to you. You will always have an option to click back to this homepage or to go the index.

There are a number of places for you to dive into the guide from here. You can either choose a particular type of place to fish, pick a particular type of fish you would like to catch, or choose from the few options I have dubbed “an easy way to begin fishing.”

Choose a place to fish.

Some people become interested in fishing, in part, because they have visited a particular place where they have seen people fishing. Others want to fish and know there are local places where they want to start. The choices here provide links that can take you to a page with more detail about each type of fishing location. I am referring to a particular type of water to fish (stream, pond, etc.) as opposed to a specific body of water like Lake Allatoona in GA.

Freshwater Fishing - You can go the Freshwater Fishing page or a particular body of freshwater:
Ponds
Lakes
Streams
Rivers

Salt Water Fishing Go to the Salt Water Fishing page or a particular type of Salt Water Fishing
Surf Fishing
Fishing on a Boat
Party Boat/Charter Boat Fishing
Brackish Water Fishing - Learn about Fishing in Bays

Fish for a Particular Species of Fish

Bass – the classic southeastern sport fish
Striped Bass – can be tough without a boat
Sunfish – probably one of the best bets for a beginning angler to catch his first fish
Walleye and Pike – the classic northern, cold-water lake fish
Catfish – varying in size from small to very large

Pick an Easy to Get Started Method of Learning How to Fish

Fishing in a lake from the shore – Sit and wait fishing with a bobber and bait. You can begin with some relatively inexpensive equipment, don’t need a boat or any special equipment, and you might even catch a fish!

Surf Fishing from the beach – Requires heavier tackle, which requires paying a higher cost than lake fishing to get started. Your success can also be quite variable. Some days you do not get a bite. At the other end of the spectrum, you can have productive days that can deliver some real surprises.

Pond fishing with the kids – This can be a great way to teach your children how to fish. Fishing at a pond can make things easier to manage for you and if there are panfish around, there is often a good chance you child will be able to catch one.

Party Boat Fishing on the Ocean - Try your hand at fishing without any hassle. You pay to go out on a party boat for a half day or full day and you can use the provided equipment and bait. Depending on the boat and how crowded it is, you are also likely to be able to get some help and be shown how to do things like baiting your hook, casting, and landing a fish.

Fishing For Hobby [relax you mind]

When we say fishing many folks examine catching a fish as one thing we want to survive. They associate food with survival and suppose that's precisely what fishing is all regarding. What several people dont understand is that whereas in business 2 billion pounds of fish ar consumed every and each year little of it's from the top of a cord. the large business fish is employed for food to feed our world however solely a number of ar used for fish after they return off a seize on the top of our line.

We can get entangled in several hobbies in our period of time however honestly once it involves fishing it's quickly become one in all the foremost preffered hobbies within the world. therefore once it involves craving for a recreational activity be happy to grab a rod and reel and go fishing.

If you think that fishing isnt Brobdingnagian then i will be able to throw variety at you that's about to be onerous to fathom. annually over fifteen million fishing licences ar oversubscribed which range goes up annually. That conjointly doesnt embody those that in several places that need a license like children and seniors.

Another issue to trust on however Brobdingnagian this trade is that the cash that's being spent. it's patterned that for each dollar spent on a license there's nearly twenty five spent on things that ar required for fishing. these items are often tackle, food, boats, covering and then forth. there's more cash spent on the hobby of fishing as compared to the other hobby out there.

There is little question that fishing is that the greatest hobby out there. once you ar holding the top of a rod its am fond of it takes all of your issues away for a minute. many folks dont understand that fishing has even been used for medical aid even in youngsters with issues. once you actually see all the advantages you may see why fishing is out and away the most effective hobby you may participate in.

There are several types of equipment you can buy for your fishing adventures. Even in almost all cases the cheaper equipment is still a good start for your fishing. Youngsters want to fish and they really dont care if their rod is worth ten bucks or a hundred bucks.
Young people are always looking for something to do. Once you introduce them to fishing for the most part they will not need to look any more for things to do.
When you take a long hard look it is easy to realize how important fish and fishing is to people. Fishing is easily the best hobby anyone will ever look at. Just sit back and remember that a bad day of fishing is better then a good day at work.

Surf Fishing Rig Tips

Three Popular Rigs

Don't spend too much time on end rigs, a good surf fishing tip for rigs is to:
Keep It Simple.
The less you have to worry about or get tangled the better.

Below are three very popular and simple surf fishing rigs.

The Fishfinder Rig



The object of the fishfinder rig is to pose little or no resistance as your target fish picks up the bait as possible. It is entirely personal preference as to your length of leader, but the average length is around 24 inches.
It is very simple to make up the fishfinder rig yourself.

The Fireball Rig



The idea of the fireball rig is that the foam balls keep the bait slightly off the bottom. The bright colors and movement in this rig make it a great choice on days when the surf is rough and the water is cloudy.
The rig works well when fished with natural bait.
You can make up the fireball rig yourself but it is a little more involved, so it's much easier to buy them already made up.

The High Low Rig



The high low rig is one of the best natural bait rigs there is. The rig works extremely well for most larger predatory fish, and gives you the advantage of having two baits in the water. The rig can be made up fairly easily, or can be bought ready made from your tackle shop.

Surf Fishing Tips For Artificial Bait

Always pack a decent choice of plugs, spoons and alternative varieties of artificial baits.
Depending on what you're when, artificial bait is even as sensible if not higher, than the important factor. establish from native anglers that lures ar taking fish.


Surf Fishing Lures - 3 Lures Every Surf Angler Should Have

Surf fishing lures ar a subject of a lot of discussion among surf anglers. The multitude of various sizes and colours create selecting the proper one somewhat confusing. Here ar 3 casting lures that each surf angler ought to have in their bag.

Surf fishing lures are a topic of much debate among surf anglers. The multitude of different sizes and colors make choosing the right one a little confusing. Here are three surf fishing lures that every surf angler should have in their bag.

Metal Spoons


The object of the large metal spoon is to resemble a large bait fish such as menhaden or mullet, and most are chrome or bright silver. When using a large metal spoon most surf fisherman will be after bluefish, but almost any fish will take them. These streamlined 2 to 4 ounce spoons will reach most outer bars with ease. Jigging the spoon on a medium fast retrieval tends to bring good results. If you are after bluefish remember to attach a 12 inch wire trace before the lure.

Lead Head Soft Plastic Tail Jigs


The great thing about this type of lure is the variety of combinations available. The action of the lure on retrieval will vary with your choice of tail, so always carry a few different colors and sizes in your bag for a quick change. Changing your choice of tail is a simple matter and can be done quickly and easily. You can use many types of retrieval when using the combination jig, but employing a slow and steady retrieve will see the most takes. Heavy mono-filament line will effect the jigs performance so try and use a short length of light weight leader.

Small Metal Lures


The smaller metal surf fishing lures are great for use with light spinning tackle, a 7 to 9 foot spinning rod and a reel loaded with 10 to 12lb mono-filament main line will allow you to use this type of lure to its full effect. The lure itself is designed to resemble a minnow and when used on a fast retrieve will attract small to medium sized bluefish. A very slow retrieve keeping the lure close to the bottom will produce trout and smaller striped bass.

There are many more surf fishing lures available, but these three lures will ensure you have a lure that will produce fish on almost every occasion.

Places to Fish

Fishing - Places to Fish

In the Trails.com Fishing section you will find great freshwater and saltwater fishing information, including details of where to fish and directions to good fishing spots. We have fishing “hot spots” for largemouth & smallmouth bass, striped bass (stripers), walleyes, and many more– something for fishing enthusiasts and anglers of all abilities and experience levels. Each fishing trip is a complete chapter from a fishing guidebook and includes a detailed fishery description, driving directions to the lake, reservoir, river, fishing hole, or ocean shore, and a list of the fish species available and the bait, lures, and tackle you will need to haul them in, all produced by well-known outdoor guidebook publishers. Every fishing trip is linked to USGS topographic maps from the fishery overview page, and many also offer a host of additional features like photos, regional locator maps, and interesting natural, geological, and historical information on the region. Looking to catch that giant trophy fish or record game fish? To find the perfect fishing trip for you, just click below on any state fishing section. Then browse by selecting a specific region or “Top Trail” from the list, or by simply clicking on the interactive state map.