Best time of day/year for rock fish

[OAS_5150]

I've heard different things from different people. But I believe there are at least 4 or 5 people or even 40-50 on this forum that know the real answer. Would you please enlighten a guy that has tried all times and struggles please? I get lucky on occasion. I know there's a lot more that goes into it as far as my question goes but my buddy and I were having a debate over this topic earlier. Thanks

[OAS_5150]

And how about walleyes apparently they are a totally different fish than they were back home in Nebraska. Any insight would be much appreciated thanks in advance

[tacklemake]

I like early morning before it gets to hot and that's when the bait is braking top water or at night on a full moon when they feed all night..............woody

[Travis C.]

It depends on where you are fishing for them... river or lake?

Usually in a lake setting the higher the sun gets the lower in the water column the bait goes and stripers won't be far from them.

In a river it depends a whole lot on current/oxygen/food but gotta have all three present.

Conditions that prolong either scenario above help your cause..for example clouds over a lake and long hot summer days forcing generation in the rivers. Follow the bait and your following the quarry.

[tkwalker]

I've heard different things from different people. But I believe there are at least 4 or 5 people or even 40-50 on this forum that know the real answer. Would you please enlighten a guy that has tried all times and struggles please? I get lucky on occasion. I know there's a lot more that goes into it as far as my question goes but my buddy and I were having a debate over this topic earlier. Thanks

Rockfish migrate daily, from what I call a bedding area to a Ambush/ feeding area. This happens on land locked lakes such as JPP as well as a River setting of the Cumberland . (Backwater to humps, rock structure in lakes and Tributaries to wing walls and Islands in rivers).

This is when the early and late fishing is really important if you know their path of travel, back and forth daily. Now we are talking schooling fish here as well as the rogues who follow the schools . Now these migrations are like I said "daily movement". This is after the Stripers have done the Bi-Annual Spring Migration to spawn from the lower end of the fishery and move upstream ... They also will do this again in the Fall when they go through a false spawn. Now depending on the fishery a certain percentage will not leave the upper end in the Summer. Also there is a percentage that will stay in certain areas of a fishery upper or lower depending on their comfort zone, and bait fish availability, but the daily migrations will still apply .... Hope this helps <'TK>< :)

[nomad60]

Now here's a subject dear and near to my heart...I'm starting to feel like the neighborhood stalker...going after these fish and trying to learn everything I can about them. I was going to head out striper hunting tomorrow (even got myself some 7" smokey joe-colored red fins) but the old Cumberland is rolling along a litle too fast for me to be comfortable. Hopefully next Friday!

[Headhunter]

A biologist many years tagged some stripers in Old Hickory. In 24 hours those fish were swimming from drakes creek area to cordell hull dam and back. I don't remember the time of the year, but to me that was impressive. Stripers (and I would guess hybrids) can cover some distance if they get the urge.

On priest I have ran bass I caught on a drop near Four corners (this was in early 90's) to Fate Sanders area and caught them on the same drop the next day.

[Alphahawk]

Rockfish migrate daily, from what I call a bedding area to a Ambush/ feeding area. This happens on land locked lakes such as JPP as well as a River setting of the Cumberland . (Backwater to humps, rock structure in lakes and Tributaries to wing walls and Islands in rivers).

This is when the early and late fishing is really important if you know their path of travel, back and forth daily. Now we are talking schooling fish here as well as the rogues who follow the schools . Now these migrations are like I said "daily movement". This is after the Stripers have done the Bi-Annual Spring Migration to spawn from the lower end of the fishery and move upstream ... They also will do this again in the Fall when they go through a false spawn. Now depending on the fishery a certain percentage will not leave the upper end in the Summer. Also there is a percentage that will stay in certain areas of a fishery upper or lower depending on their comfort zone, and bait fish availability, but the daily migrations will still apply .... Hope this helps <'TK>< :)

Go take TK to lunch...if he will go....and you will be blown away by the info this man has on stripers....but the thing is he can discuss any specie we fish for and when you can sit and talk to him...and look in his shop at maps...logs...scrap books and such....you know he knows his stuff. A valuable resource for information.



Regards