Very many hot days can make fish in shallow lakes, ponds as well as rivers quite sluggish. The same phenomenon takes place in the winter when the water temperatures are lower.
Why?
All fish are cold-blooded, meaning they aren’t able to keep their body temperature at a constant level. So the temperature of their surroundings affects the fish’s body temperature as well as bodily functions.
Very high and really low water temperatures lower the amount of oxygen in the water. This makes making fish less active and choosy about when and what they biting. When it comes down to finding the absolute best fishing times, a great starting point is to avoid extreme temperatures.
For a more precise analysis of the water and to find out when the fish are biting, fish finders and water temperature gauges can give anglers up-to-the-minute feedback on temperature.
Winter
In wintertime, cold temperatures – as well as a general lack of food – typically cause fish to slow down. Freshwater fish cut down their activity so dramatically that even their metabolisms take quite a knock. Spotting fish in the winter is far from unfeasible, however you need to nail your timing to get a fish to strike.
Spring
Just as with bears after their hibernation, when fish come out of winter, they are eager for a feast. On top of that, many species of fish are preparing to spawn, so you are able to look forward to a lot of activity. You still have to time your fishing outing right, though, as fishing during the spring can be hit and miss!
Summer
Fish are far more active when it’s warm however that doesn’t mean that they’ll be jumping at you when it’s 100-plus degrees. Fish don’t love the heat any more than we do. That being said, there are times when the fish will be lining up like you’re giving out free lemonade on Memorial Day.
Fall
While most fisherman elect to wet their line in the summer, there’s a whole army of anglers who’d argue that fishing is really much better during the fall. For some people, it’s like finding the best online betting offers – all year round. While fishing in the fall is certainly not as forgiving as summer, fishing when the leaves are falling can be pretty darn stunning. If you get your timing perfect, that is.
Early fall brings about a number of different changes. Fish aren’t as active at dawn anymore; however they’re still feeding as much as they can so that they can survive the upcoming winter. And you? You will be able to stay in bed and get ready for a late morning fishing trip. The upper aspect of the water column will have had sufficient time to warm up, and the fish will almost surely come knocking.
As the days begin to shorten, fish start to “call it a day” sooner and sooner. If you’re fishing in late fall, aim your fishing outing for early afternoon, and you’ll still get a good number of hook-ups.