Midday Summer Big Bass

[Bonefish]

The other day I was reading Doug Hannon’s (“The Bass Professor”) explanation of the best time to catch big bass in the summer months was at midday (10-4), and his slant on this was, big bass can see better when the sun is the brightest. He suggested too think back and see at what time of the day or night you caught your biggest bass. My biggest bass (8-2) was caught at 11a.m. on June 6th along a drop off on a weedbed. His thought was big bass hide in dark, shady cover on bright sunny days to ambush their prey because their color vision is best during full sunlight. I personally think a lot of big bass are caught at night during the summer months and that maybe because most of the fishing occurs at night during the hot months. What are your thoughts on this?

[Tim_T]

I am not sure what to make of this because I don't fish the middle of the day this time of year unless I am stream fishing. I tend to early mornings, late evenings and night fishing.

That being said, I trust Doug Hannon's observations. He makes a great point about tournament fishing that I often recall. In most tournaments (not all) don't pay attention to what the winning angler did, that is not the predominant pattern. The winning angler is usually doing something different from everyone else. Most likely, second through tenth were doing the same thing that made it the dominant pattern.

[sglass]

I hooked a HAWG at Wilgreen four years ago and it was around noon and close to 100 degrees out. Hooked it off a crankbait off a point leading to the main lake. Came off at the boat but she would have went 6-8 easily. Would have been my biggest YTD.