How the Sun Affects Smallmouth Bass Fishing

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The sun can play a big role in where and how you are going to catch smallmouth bass on any given day.  During the spring, the sun can actually help make the bite better.  The sun helps warm the water during the day, which usually provides a better afternoon and evening bite for smallmouth bass.  Once the spawn is over, the sun can actually make fishing a lot harder.  On clear waters, smallmouth bass will move closer to cover such as weeds and docks for shade or they will move into deeper water.  Smallmouth bass that may be feeding in 8 to 12 feet of water during the early morning could be in 20 to 50 feet of water during mid-day.  In murky water, the sun will still push most fish into deeper water during the summer, but usually not as deep as in clear water.  Once the late fall rolls around, the bite may be better from afternoon through evening as the water warms up several degrees.  Depending on the year, the sun does play a role in where smallmouth bass can be found, but it’s not the only factor.  Wind, boat traffic, cold fronts and the time of year you are fishing will all help play a role in where the fish will be located.


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