Morning vs. Afternoon Fishing

[DragginBallz]

Looking for a little advice. I typically fish morning for salmon and lake trout and usually have no trouble catching them. Multiple times I have fished in the afternoons until sunset using the same techniques and lures and have had zero luck. Wondering if there is any tips or tricks to fishing afternoons? Should I be targeting them differently?  

[Yankee Troller]

I run a double charter every Saturday from May through September and I can tell you afternoons are much slower. It still beats sitting at the dock BS'n.

[GAMBLER]

I find King, brown and steelhead fishing are slower in the afternoon.  When I fish afternoons, I usually start off fishing lakers until the sun starts to get lower on the horizon.  The way I target lakers, mid day is the easiest time of the day to target them.  

[Earl28]

Tell us more about productive evening fishing.  Thank you

[chinook266]

It's usually slow in the afternoon but that hour or 2 before sunset.........oh man can it get crazy. My tip: if out of Olcott in PM, green NBK spin doctor with matching Atomik fly is killer.

[Yankee Troller]

23 hours ago, Earl28 said:

Tell us more about productive evening fishing.  Thank you

 

If I knew I'd limit out more in the afternoon and get back in time for a decent dinner! 

[13owhunter]

I have had some good afternoon high sun fishing.  I cant get out as much as Id like so Ill take it, especially on a nice day.  Most of the time I fish similar techniques as in the morning but run more chrome/UV flashers and may pull a clean meat rig.  If you are marking fish and they arent biting, switch up your presentation or location a bit.

 

 

[TyeeTanic]

Morning will always be best. But if full moon (or close to it) night before .... I find the late morning bite is better.

The theory is that salmon take advantage of the moonlight to see bait fish and eat all night, so they're not that hungry

first thing in the morning.  The bite normally starts up at 10 am to 11 am.

[zach]

Evenings can be good, just set expectations accordingly. About an hour n half before dark, I load up on the carbon series of spoons. Seems to help us and I also don't like full moon- seems half of em are full by sun up. 

Edited May 7, 2025 by zach