If you want to have a successful fishing trip, the right timing is crucial. Even if you have great fishing spots and good equipment, you may not get anything out of it if you don't time it right. There are a lot of factors to consider when preparing to go fishing.
Consider the time of day. Fish are cold-blooded animals, so their activities depend on the surrounding water temperature. They are inactive when it's cold, and swim deeper to keep cool when it's hot. Since big fish eat small fish and small fish eat bugs, the time when bugs are most active is also when fish are most active. When the weather is warm and mosquitoes are swarming, it is suitable for fishing.
Consider the seasons. Like all animals, fish are present in abundance at certain times of the year. Of course, this will also depend on where you live and what kind of fish you want to catch, but there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind.
Spring – Occasional fish catch during this season. Fishing is more likely to be good luck when the weather is warmer, such as late spring and afternoon. Bugs don't come out much in the spring morning, and the fish can't eat much at this time, so it's best to fish while they're feeding at dusk. At this time of year, the wind blows warm, food-laden surface waters toward the shore, and you can choose to sit downwind of the shoreline.
Summer – as long as you avoid the hottest part of the day, fishing is still great during this season. Before sunrise and after sunset, there is plenty of food and the fish are easy to catch. The sun is hottest at noon, and the fish swim to cooler, deeper waters.
Autumn – This season is not very stable, but it is very good when you can fish. In the morning and early afternoon, the fish are less likely to bite. But in the evening, after a few hours of sunlight, the sea becomes warm; Coupled with the fact that winter is approaching and will lead to food shortages, the fish will have to eat more than usual. Therefore, dusk is the perfect time for fishing.
Winter – obviously not the best time to fish. Unless you're into a completely different kind of ice fishing, you'll have to put your rod in storage this season.
Consider the tides. It is best to fish at high or low tide, as the rise and fall of the sea can cause small fish and bugs to move in large numbers, so it is also a good time for coastal fish to eat. Fishing is more difficult at high or low tide when the sea movement is reduced.
To know the high and low tide times in your area, you can search for "tide table" and add the name of the city.
If you're going to fish at high tide, choose a shallow area.
If fishing at low tide, look for a mudflat close to a mire (an area with a depression in the bottom).
Pay attention to the condition of warm and cold fronts. Since fish are cold-blooded, they are heavily affected by water temperature. This also means that they will behave very differently before and after the warm and cold fronts.
Many fish will eat more in the hours before the arrival of a cold front, and then slow down after the cold front arrives. Therefore, it is difficult to succeed in fishing after a cold front.
Warm fronts will warm up the surface of the sea, and fish will eat more. This distinction is most pronounced in cold weather, when fish usually do not come out; However, it doesn't make a difference in the summer, when the temperature is already high.
Watch out for the wind. The wind blows the surface water towards the shore, carrying small fish and bugs, constantly attracting predatory fish. Therefore, it is suitable for fishing when it is windy.
When the wind blows, fish on the shore and throw the bait in the direction where the wind is blowing. This way, the bait moves in the same direction as other small fish or bugs, making it easier to attract fish to be preyed.
If you are fishing from a boat, throw the line towards the shore in the same direction as the wind blows.
Pay attention to the cloud. Cloudy days can make the fish bolder. When the light is bad, they swim out of safe water. Cloudy days are a good time for fishing.
Watch out for the rain. Rainy days can be friend or foe, depending on how heavy the rain gets. Light rainy days are an excellent time for fishing, especially in warm weather. Raindrops blur the water, making it harder for fish to see you; It will also flush insects into the water, which becomes the best time for fish to eat. Heavy rains cause mud to splash, making it more difficult for fish to hunt, breathe and swim. In such weather, the fish don't want to come out just like you. That's also good, because it's not safe to fish when it's raining heavily.
Watch out for bugs. The feeding activity of the fish is definitely directly related to the activity of the bugs. Big fish will eat smaller fish, and smaller fish will eat insects. Therefore, places with a lot of flies or mosquitoes are good spots for fishing, as long as you make sure you bring enough insect repellent.
Take the moon as a friend. The moon controls the tides, and the tides are one of the very important fishing conditions. It's easy to track the activity of the tides with a simple observation, and careful attention to the moon's activity is even more rewarding. When the full moon and moon are close to the earth, they are good times for fishing. There are plenty of free lunar calendars online that can help you find peak times for fishing.
Learn about fish. Different species of fish prefer different water temperatures, times, and bait. If you want to catch a particular fish, be sure to do your research. If you want to fish for catfish, it doesn't matter when you go fishing as long as you don't go out of the shallow waters.
Go fishing when you have time. It's good to know when the fish are at their most, but the truth is that most people only go fishing when they are free. Even if you don't catch a single fish, you can still have a great afternoon with friends over a beer. Don't get caught up in finding the right time and forget to have a good time.