​The Best Times to Fish in the Summer

Whether you’re fishing for bass, walleye, musky, or any other species, morning isn’t really a bad time to fish at any point in the year; but it can be especially crucial when fishing in the heat of the summer. Low light conditions make it a lot easier for fish to ambush prey so they’re likely to be actively feeding before the sun gets high and makes them more easily visible to baitfish or other predators. This is when you need to fish fast, cover water, and put your bait in front of as many active fish as possible.

Top Techniques for Morning Fishing:

• Topwater Lures: Fish are often looking up at this point in the day, so topwaters like the Heddon Super Spook can be very effective and make for a super fun bite.
• Quick Coverage: Move quickly to cover more water and increase your chances of encountering actively feeding fish.

I’ve had plenty of hot summer fishing days where almost all my bites come in the first hour of the morning, which definitely makes getting out of bed before the sun comes up worth it!

Midday may not be one of the best times to fish in summer. The sun is high and hot, boat traffic on the weekends can be brutal, and warm water or a lack of wind or current can have fish lethargic and inactive. There are certainly still ways to catch ‘em though, even if it is sometimes a grind. Many species will push to the deeper parts of the lake in search of cool water or lower light.

Top Techniques for Midday Fishing:

• Deep Weed Edges: These areas are excellent places to look for predators, especially in July and August. They offer protection and food while acting as a contour line for fish movement.
• Effective Lures:
• Swimbaits: 3.8” Keitech Fat Swing Impact
• Crankbaits: Rapala DT Series
• Drop Shot Rig: Roboworm
• Jigs: Berkley Flipping Jig

You may have to go long periods of time without a bite, but when you do get one, it’s likely to be the quality you’re looking for!

The evening can also be an excellent time to fish in the summer for the same reasons as the morning. As the sun goes down and light gets low, fish will begin to get active and hunt again. Sometimes they will even slide up shallower on top of the weed bed, rockpile, or highspot they were around. This allows a fish to see what’s around it 360 degrees, which makes it a lot easier to find prey.

Top Techniques for Evening Fishing:

• Fast Coverage: Similar to the morning, fishing fast and covering water can pay off big time during this window.