Does getting up early to begin fishing at dawn or before sunrise really help you catch more fish?

sometimes you catch more fish, sometimes you don't. Ive caught a lot of fish at dawn and dusk

Or if you're bad at boat launching like me, it's better to go early so there isn't a line of people getting angry at you. LOL's.

ive always had luck at it

My opinion ,I have had good luck starting at dawn,but also had good luck starting later in the morn. Alot has to do what you are fishing for and how you present it to the fish.This is just my opinion..JOHN

I believe fishing early and late are both helpful in the summer because when the sun is coming up or going down it is cooler and the fish bite more.

Many fish species are more active in low light conditions. So yes, fishing in at dawn or sun down can produce better results. I have noticed that some GIANT bass come out at night! One day when I was fishing the shoreline all alone it was about 9:00 PM on a summer day so there was still a little light left and all across the lake were BOOM BOOM BOOM giant bass jumping here and there. It sounded like someone was dropping big rocks into the lake! They must have been in the 4 or 5 pound range because those were some big splashes and ripples!

Many times it pays to get out early, especially if the lakes you fish have heavy pleasure boat/personal watercraft traffic during the day. Some of the lakes I fish are no wake from 7:00 pm until 10:00 am. It's nice to be out there without worrying about the hassle of dealing with skiers or pwc. It also seems that once the lakes get a lot of traffic, the bite shuts down.

It is just biology. Many fish species feed in low light conditions, thus making them more susceptible to being caught. Walleye in particular have structure in their eyes to give them an advantage in these conditions. I have also noticed that Lk Michigan salmon feed in low light conditions but stop feeding at full dark such as on a moonless night.

I don't think I catch any more fish at dawn or dusk than I do at mid day.
Some of my best fishing has come at high noon when everyone is back at camp having lunch.
I do tend to fish deeper when its a bright sunny day if the water is clear.

I believe it depends on the situation. Some lakes and species it does matter. I have the most luck at dawn most times and if not the dawn the evening at dusk is best.  On the lake I fish most often the pike tend to bite the best in the am when I catch them heading back to deep water out of the shallow areas where they have been feeding all evening. The bass well they seem to bite at any time of day you tick them off hitting them in the head with a lure. Crappies seem to be the best bite in the evening just before dark.

thanks, good to know

There are really just too many factors involved to say for sure. species, time of year, weather, etc. for instance in fly fishing for trout a good hatch seldom comes on first thing in the morning. a routine is Get up around 7 and grab a cup of coffee, meet up with some buddies for a nice relaxed breakfast around 8. head to the river and fish around a bit until a big hatch starts at 10:05. go have lunch and a nap them go back and catch the spinner fall around 6:00.

Just an example but I would have to say yes morning and evening are best most of the time, at least in the summer months.

I really enjoy the fishing at dawn.  After a good nights rest, there is not anything that can bring God's peace to your soul.  Not only do I like the dawn, I enjoy minutes or hours of fog which usually gives you an advantage over other anglers that may not know where they are going where they are going in the dense fog.  This is where your electronics really pay off.  Next to the right bait and a good rod and reel your electronics can put you on a dime.  Just be careful of other boats, logs or tree tops!  Most lakes have several boat ramps and I always try to get one as close as possible to where I am going.  Got tickled one year crappie fishing with my son.  Fog was dense enough to cut with a knife but we found our spot and put some really nice fish in the boat.  After a while he said to me:  Dad, I can hear people talking but I can't see anyone.  I laughed since I knew several friends were going to be fishing in the same area.  As the fog finally burned off, he realized we were in the middle of five or six other boats.  It was a great day and and everytime I get in a fog my memory goes back to a wonderful time with my son.  Good luck and good fishing.  Uncle Tom

Early bird gets the worm! LOL

Yes, but the early worm becomes breakfast!

Flooded lake levels and closed ramps all spring got me totally independent of my boat. Fishing has been much more relaxed. The heat is just too extreme, so we've been getting under one of the many lake bridges an hour before dawn. I've done that since age 9 just out of family tradition, and we've always caught the greatest number of keepers that way and time of day. I now understand why big fish come up "gulping air" at dawn, making them more accessible. They are at their shallowest depth simply because dissolved oxygen is at its lowest at dawn, affecting the whole food chain. Fish of many species are hungry then and must follow their food supply into water only inches deep. I think bridges funnel more air if any is stirring, raising DO there higher than anywhere else 24/7. Just before sunrise shad begin jumping and make their daily move to deep water, as the DO increases as sunlight gets stronger, activating plankton in the lake. Once the shad are moved out the catching rate drops suddenly. Bass will move into their deeper feeding zones, so what has worked for me is to follow them, watching for signs of shad as I move about by boat. But I'm not boating in this heat, so am satisfied with bridge activity until about 9 AM. Hunt for balls of shad in this heat, finding the bass nearby.

lots of good info here

Hello,it seems that out here in Ca, we catch the most fish in the morning up to about 10:30 am then it slows down until about 6:00pm then the bite picks up again...When it slows down thats when start fishing for trout,also sun fish....We do catch bass in the slow time but we have to work at it........JOHN

The fish are going to be more active at those times, because it is the beginning and end of the low-light feeding opportunity of night. They are more likely to be shallow and actively feeding and that's why people say they bite better and you can catch more at those times. The truth is, however, that if you understand the fish and can follow their movements throughout the day, and have reliable electronics to stay on the structures, you can catch them good at any time of day with good presentation.

I don't know about the fish, but I LOVE getting out there at dawn.

Yes; see sonar charts for best dates and times in front part of NAFC magazine you get from the club.

Weather will always trump everything else. You can go out at the ideal time on a preferred day by the charts and if a cold front just passed through, good luck!

Oh so true! A cold front kicked me in the teeth this morning.    

Not so true regarding saltwater fishing...the weekend guys usually fish at dawn, but the guys with a little more knowledge fish the tides...

As a general rule, dawn and dusk fishing is better than other times of the day to shorebound anglers like me, but there are exceptions. If there's a current (a river, stream or creek) or if the lake or pond is as murky as a divorce lawyer's heart, then the advantages of dawn and dusk fishing are minimal. But in still water, and in clear to stained stuff, I've gotta say "Yep"... dawn and dusk are the best times to get a line wet. Cooler in the dog days, too.

I would say it all depends. Some fish are nocturnal feeders . another factor that would effect this would be seasonal as it may take time for water to warm up in spring wear fish are more active, another may be conditional there is a lot less recreational use at these times of days.