Best Time of Day

[velocty98]

Gentlemen, what is the best time of day to fish for Lakers and Bows?  I've never caught a trout through the ice.  It sounds like everyone has a different opinion on depth.  I've read posts with guys fishing on the bottom all the way up to right under the ice.  Is there any type of structure that I should key in on?  Any info would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

[Fishin is the Mission]

The best time of day is when you can get to the lake.  OK...seriously I've caught trout all day long.  Some days they bite early and late, other days it's all day...then some days they don't bite at all...that's fishing.  In my experience, trout are not that picky about the time of day.  Walleyes and Perch can be very picky, but not usually Trout.

As for how deep, I've had my best days fishing the bottom two feet...usually the deepest section of the lake...that's where the warmest water is.  Browns and Brookies like to congregate at any stream coming into the lake or around weeds.  Rainbows can be found most anywhere in open water as they like to roam more than the other two.  Lakers, find their food source and you find them.  Schools of Ciscoes or smelt are your guide.

  Good luck.

[Van_Cleaver]

Sometimes the best time of day is actually night (bows). As stated before, it seems largely to depend on the mood of the trout.

[deadsmelthead]

I'm becoming a firm beliver in the hour before and after when the moon rises and sets, which I might add happens during the day a lot. Just look up and see how many times you see the moon up in the sky during the middle of the day.I'm not speaking of Major and Minor Solar & Lunar times. Strictly Moonrise and Moonset. I have been taking notes on my GPS and the evidence so far is leaning heavily around these times to a higher fish activety. I have been keeping track of this for about 8 months now, all open water and now that he ice is setting up I really can't wait to add more data to it.The big thing to go along with this is you have to first find them, so if you have a spot where you have caught them before head out to it around these times..
As far as water depth as others have said I have caught Trout on the bottom and tight to the ice in water ranging from 5 to 20 fow, finding what they are feeding on can really help you pin point them. I predominately target Lakers and Browns thru the ice.I can't say anything as far as Bows, I really don't target them and to be honest I have only pulled 1 thru the ice and that was while Laker fishing.

[cl733]

Well if you wanted to take my dads advice, you gotta be there before the daylight,he swears by if youre not there in the dark to be set up you might as well stay home.Me on the other hand leave town in the dark and show up there in the light and still catch fish but not usually as much as he does. I dont realy care if i even catch any fish anyways , i just like being out there and if i catch one all the better if i dont catch anything, no biggie , but i do believe the old saying   the early bird gets the worm.

[velocty98]

Thanks for all of the great advice guys!    I can not wait for some good ice and catch some fish.  Is the bite as good around dusk or after it gets dark?

[salmotrutta]

It seems each lake i fish have a different bite time.On one lake it is Rainbows at 7 and Browns at 8.You can set your watch to the bite .It's very weird.On another small pond 9:30- 10:00 seems to be the best time.

[NAD42]

for lakers...as soon as the sun comes up, til around noon....that is my $100.02.

[brown-time]

Daylight for the first good bite, then about 10 for the numbers of fish.