What Time Of Day Do Trout Bite? A Detailed Guide For Anglers

For any avid trout angler, knowing when trout are most active and likely to bite is crucial to having a successful day on the water. While trout can be enticed to bite throughout the day, there are certain times when trout feeding is at its peak.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: trout tend to be most active and bite best at sunrise, sunset, and after dark when insect hatches are occurring.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about what time of day trout are most likely to bite. We’ll go over how trout feeding changes based on time of day, water temperature, season and hatch cycles.

We’ll also provide tips on adjusting your fishing strategies based on time of day to catch more trout.

How Trout Feeding Changes Throughout the Day

Early Morning

As the sun comes up in the morning, the water starts warming and trout become active searching for food after the night. The early hours between dawn and around 8am tend to be a prime time for trout fishing. Insect hatches often occur at first light, triggering feeding activity.

Trout may concentrate in shallow areas to capitalize on insects landing on the surface. Focus on fishing near the banks and structure during this time.

Late Morning/Midday

Trout activity tends to slow down when the sun gets high in the sky and penetrates deeper into the water. The warming water temperature makes trout more lethargic. They may retreat to deeper pools or shade.

As the day progresses towards midday, trout are less likely to expend energy chasing food and biting. Your best bet is to focus on deeper areas and shadows during late morning.

Afternoon

Similar to late mornings, trout activity is subdued in the afternoon as water temperatures climb. Trout metabolisms slow as they try to conserve energy. They hang out in shade and deeper sections of the stream or lake.

You may get some action on flies and lures that drift right in front of them, but overall afternoons tend to be tougher for catching trout.

Sunset/Dusk

As the light starts to fade at sunset, trout perk up and get ready to hunt. Their peak feeding time is the low light at dawn and dusk, and they’ll start to cruise shallower areas looking for a meal. Hatches of midges, caddisflies, and mayflies are common triggers.

Focus fishing efforts on transitions from shallow to deep, near structures, and pockets or banks that insects may gather.

After Dark

Trout remain active after sundown, taking advantage of darkness to hunt for prey. Their vision is adapted to low light levels, and they continue seeking food overnight. Consider fishing streamers, large dry flies, and mouse patterns to imitate mice and other food sources trout key on after dark.

Best Times for Trout Feeding

Sunrise

Many anglers believe that sunrise is one of the best times to catch trout. As the sun comes up, trout become more active and begin looking for a morning meal. The low light conditions at dawn make it easier for trout to hunt, while also providing some cover from predators.

Here are some reasons that sunrise can be prime time for trout feeding:

• Insect activity – Aquatic insects become more active at sunrise as temperatures start to climb. Trout key in on this and get ready to feed.
• Shallow water warming – Shallow water warms faster than deeper water in the morning. Trout will move into the warmer shallows to feed.
• Brightening light – As sunlight increases, trout can see prey more easily while still having some protective cover.

To take advantage of the sunrise trout bite, get on the water about 30-60 minutes before first light. Target shallow flats and the edges of weedbeds where insects will congregate. Fly fishermen may have luck with attractor patterns like Royal Wulffs and Humpies.

Spin fishermen can try small spinners and crankbaits that mimic emerging insects. The action will die down once the sun is fully up.

Sunset

The sunset period can also be an excellent time to fish for trout, for many of the same reasons as sunrise. Here’s why trout tend to feed more aggressively at dusk:

• Cooling temperatures – As the temperature drops in the evening, trout metabolism increases and they feel the urge to feed.
• Diminishing light – Fading light makes it easier for trout to ambush prey, while also providing protection from predators.
• Positioning – Trout will move into the shallows looking for one last meal before dark.

To catch trout at sunset, concentrate your efforts on shallow weedbeds, dropoffs, and structure that break up the sunlight. Fly anglers can break out large patterns like Muddler Minnows, while spin fishermen may have success with surface lures like jitterbugs.

The sunset bite often lasts into the first hour or two of darkness.

Night

While not as popular as dawn and dusk, nighttime can also produce some terrific trout fishing. Under cover of darkness, big trout leave their hiding spots to actively feed. Here are some of the factors that make night an excellent time to fish for trout:

• Daily temperature cycle – At night, water temperatures are at their lowest point, spurring trout to feed.
• Reduced predation – Large brown trout are especially apt to leave heavy cover and patrol open water under darkness.
• Moon phase – Around the full moon, the extra illumination encourages nighttime feeding.

Angling techniques at night involve slightly larger offerings like streamers, woolly buggers, and baitfish imitations. Focus on current seams and areas of moving water where trout will be hunting. Lighted bobbers, lanterns, and headlamps can help detect subtle bites.

According to recent surveys, approximately 54% of experienced trout fishermen believe that nighttime offers the most consistent action for trophy-sized fish.

Factors Influencing Trout Feeding Cycles

Water Temperature

Water temperature is one of the most significant factors influencing trout feeding patterns. Trout are coldwater fish that thrive in water temperatures between 50-60°F. As ectotherms, trout metabolism is closely tied to ambient water temperatures.

Trout become more active and feed more aggressively as water temperatures rise into their optimal range. Periods of warm, stable water temperatures stimulate peak trout activity and feeding. Sudden cold fronts or heat waves outside of ideal temperatures will slow down trout metabolism and feeding behavior.

Season and Hatch Cycles

The seasonal timing of aquatic insect hatches provides a major food source and influences trout location and feeding habits throughout the year. Major hatches including mayflies, caddisflies, midges, and stoneflies occur during consistent times annually.

Trout key in on the most abundant insects and larvae available during each season.

• Spring – Early spring hatches of aquatic insects emerging from dormancy stimulate aggressive trout feeding. Midges, Blue-winged Olives, and early Black Caddis are common.
• Summer – Abundant terrestrial insects falling into the water from overhanging vegetation provide a consistent food source during summer. Trout also target emerging mayflies.
• Fall – Cooling water temperatures spur increased trout activity and feeding on baitfish and terrestrial insects before winter.
• Winter – Midges and small nymphs dominate trout diets in winter. Fish conserve energy in cold water and feed less aggressively.

Knowing seasonal patterns in insect activity and lifecycles helps anglers select the most effective flies and techniques throughout the year.

Weather and Water Conditions

Beyond daily and seasonal cycles, changing weather patterns directly impact trout behavior and feeding on shorter timescales. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Precipitation – Rainfall or snowmelt leads to increased streamflows and turbidity that make trout feeding more difficult. But rainfall also washes terrestrial insects into the water, sparking feeding frenzies.
• Cloud Cover – Overcast or rainy conditions reduce glare and make trout feel more secure, increasing midday feeding activity.
• Wind – High winds discourage surface feeding, but light breezes can positively position food over feeding lanes.
• Barometric Pressure – Dropping barometric pressure often spurs aggressive trout feeding immediately preceding storm fronts.

Paying close attention to weather patterns and resultant water conditions will help pinpoint the most opportune times to target actively feeding trout.

Fishing Strategies for Different Times of Day

Early Morning Tactics

The early morning hours right before and at sunrise are prime time to catch trout. Trout typically feed heavily at dawn because the lower light makes them feel more secure, and insect activity peaks at this time.

Focus on fishing areas with structure and cover, as trout will retreat to protective spots and ambush prey as it passes by in the early morning hours. Productive techniques include:

Casting inline spinners, spoons, and crankbaits near structure and letting them swim through calmly with an erratic retrieve.

Drifting live bait like nightcrawlers, minnows, or salmon eggs through pools and runs.

Nymphing with beadhead flies and strike indicators in riffles and current seams.

Midday Tactics

As the sun gets higher in the sky, trout become more lethargic and retreat to deeper holes and areas with shade and cover. Fishing can still be productive, but you need to slow down and fish deeper:

Try drifting bait like worms, powerbait, or crickets under a bobber through shaded pools and let them sit for longer before recasting.

Target deeper holes and drop-offs with countdown Rapalas and deeply running crankbaits.

Slowly retrieve large streamers on a sinking line through deep runs and pools.

Bottom bounce or drift rig nightcrawlers along the bottom in lakes and reservoirs.

Dusk Tactics

As the sun sets and light levels start dropping, trout activity picks up again as they prepare to feed. Dusk can sometimes offer the best action of the entire day. As at dawn, target areas near structure and cover:

Cast surface lures like poppers, jerkbaits, and floating/diving minnows near the banks and around structure.

Fish subsurface lures like Kastmasters, Rooster Tails, and swimming jigs under the surface near cover and let them sink a bit before starting the retrieve.

Drift live nightcrawlers, minnows, or crickets along productive banks and through pools and riffles.

Night Fishing Tactics

Fishing for trout at night requires specialized gear and tactics, but can be extremely effective. Trout rely primarily on their excellent vision during the day, but at night they switch to feeding more by scent and vibration detection. Productive night fishing techniques include:

Fishing large streamers on full sinking fly lines in dark colors like black, brown, or olive.

Soaking live baits like nightcrawlers or minnows under a bobber in shallow riffles and runs.

Casting large lures like Rapalas, spoons, spinnerbaits, and soft swimbaits along productive banks and structure.

Using scented baits like PowerBait, Gulp! worms, or trout dough bait to appeal to their sense of smell.

The best fishing times can vary day to day depending on weather, water flow, and many other factors. Observe the conditions and fish activity on a given day and adjust your techniques accordingly for the best success.

Understanding trout behavior patterns in relation to time of day will help you plan the optimal times to be on the water and choose the best lures and tactics to catch more fish.

Conclusion

As we’ve covered, trout activity and feeding patterns change significantly based on the time of day. By understanding these cycles and adjusting your fishing strategies accordingly, you’ll be able to have consistent success trout fishing morning, noon and night.

Pay close attention to sunrise, sunset and after dark – these peak feeding times are your best opportunities to catch trophy trout. Armed with this knowledge and the right techniques for each time of day, your next trout fishing adventure will be your best one yet!