When do fish bite?

[PikeKing23]

As soon as I blow the fish whistle

[JMZ]

I noticed that some guys put up their pop-up cover during the day even when it's not so cold. Are they  trying to block out the sun so the fish will not be spooked by the light?
I have covers I made from waterproof flooring insulation. They stop the holes from freezing and keep out the light.

[esox_xtm]

I feel like we may have a troll under this bridge.

Nah... Just a frustrated angler (I think). The OP has been a member since before me and has 3x as many posts as you do.

Sometimes it just gets, well, frustrating.

As far as pop-ups during the day when it's not that cold, it can keep the general public from seeing if you're catching anything (or not). 

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

If I was only given 2 hours to go ice fishing, the slam dunk time for that to happen would always be the last 2 hours of daylight. Have seen magic happen too many times to not make that the obvious choice. Have had many flurries of perch and crappie schools come alive at that time, as well as lake trout that know they are running out of light for the day. 

[Rebelss]

Well, I've caught 'em at all times....but the slowest always seemd to be mid morning and mid-afternoon. Early am is always good, and they seem to drop off after about 1:00 PM wherever I was at, lake or river. River didn't seem as touchy on times as a lake, though. Thinking maybe the currents have something to do with it.

[bullpine]

Perch bite early and late in the day because that is when the red worms that live in tubes on the soft lake bottom emerge.  It is during that time the schools of perch roam the bottom grazing on these tube worms.  Otherwise, perch bite best (all day long) in late winter and early spring as the females put on the feed bag prior to spawn.  Walleyes and crappie bite at night because that is when they have a sight advantage over their prey.  All of nature's creatures lay dormant or inactive when feeding would result in a net loss of energy.  Too much net loss of energy and they die.

[jimhaney08]

Generally speaking, and when targeting panfish through the ice - the first two and last two hours of daylight seems to be best for me.  Perch bite slightly longer in the morning than crappies.  You can still get bit during the day, but the best fishing for me is usually those first and last two hours.  Honestly I find you don't have to wait for daylight for the crappie to bite.  I've got on them while you still need lights to see your rod tip.

[slipperybob]

I noticed that some guys put up their pop-up cover during the day even when it's no so cold. Are they  trying to block out the sun so the fish will not be spooked by the light?
I have covers I made from waterproof flooring insulation. They stop the holes from freezing and keep out the light.

I just don't want to get sunburn.  Also if I got a hot hole, I don't want vultures hawking in on me. 

[DR.SPECKLER]

Yup!and dont throw fish in a plastic walmart bag or bucket until its time to leave.vultures  are attracted to that sound too.

[Scranton Joe]

I just don't want to get sunburn.  Also if I got a hot hole, I don't want vultures hawking in on me. 

... privacy is nice on the ice.

[primepin65]

I noticed that some guys put up their pop-up cover during the day even when it's no so cold. Are they  trying to block out the sun so the fish will not be spooked by the light?
I have covers I made from waterproof flooring insulation. They stop the holes from freezing and keep out the light.

Unless I'm moving around an absolute ton, I flip my shanty over every single time, regardless of the temps or sun. I hate wearing my jacket and the flip over blocks any wind/breeze that may be happening. On days that it's sunny but still cold, having the shanty flipped over can raise the inside temps by a few degrees so I won't need to run my heater.

And what everyone else said about privacy, although I'm a friendly dude that has no problem walking over to a group of folks just to kill time and see how they are doing.

[SirCranksalot]

I just got a 2022 calendar that tells me the best times. I won't post that info here---top secret!! Don't want everbody catching them all before I go.
 

[bullpine]

Best times are based on the full and the new moon when tides are highest.  No big secret there.