We can help you determine when the fish are biting and the best days to fish!
The Ultimate Fishing Times and Dates from the Old Farmer's Almanac
Many of us enjoy fishing whenever we have the opportunity, but there are certain days and times that are considered the best days for fishing, according to experienced anglers and fishing lore. To find out, you can refer to The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s fishing calendar, which also provides useful advice from seasoned fishermen.
When Is the Best Time to Go Fishing?
The best times to catch fish are when they are naturally more active. The Sun, Moon, tides, and weather all influence fish activity. For example, fish tend to feed more at sunrise and sunset and during a full moon (when tides are higher than average).
Best Fishing Times
- One hour before and one hour after high tides, and one hour before and one hour after low tides. Inland, the times for high tides correspond with when the Moon is due south. Low tides are halfway between high tides.
- During the “morning rise” (after sunup for a spell) and the “evening rise” (just before sundown and the hour or so after).
- During the rise and set of the Moon.
- Just before the arrival of a storm, although the falling barometric pressure will eventually slow down the rate at which fish feed. (But even during stormy periods, the fish aren’t going to give up feeding. The smart fisherman will find just the right bait!) Angling can also be good when the pressure is either steady or on the rise 1 to 2 days after a storm. High pressure accompanying clear weather can bring on sluggishness and reduced activity.
- When there is a hatch of flies—caddis flies or mayflies, commonly. (The fisherman will have to match his fly with the hatching flies or go fishless.)
- When the breeze is from a westerly quarter rather than from the north or east.
- When the water is still or slightly rippled, rather than during a wind.
Best Fishing Days for 2024
Fishing is said to be best during the time between a new Moon and a full Moon. This is what the Almanac’s Best Fishing Days are based on.
Read Next
| Month | Best Fishing Days |
|---|---|
| For the year 2024 | |
| January | 11-25 |
| February | 9-24 |
| March | 10-25 |
| April | 8-23 |
| May | 7-23 |
| June | 6-21 |
| July | 5-21 |
| August | 4-19 |
| September | 2-17 |
| October | 2-17 |
| November | 1-15 |
| December | 1-15, 30, 31 |
→ For customized Moon phase times, see our Moon Phase Calendar.
→ Read more about Fishing Folklore.
Tackle Box Checklist
Be prepared! See our list of what to put in your fishing tackle box.
How to Fish Without Fail (According to Almanac Readers)
It should come as no surprise that many Almanac readers love to fish. Here are some of the best tips from experts:
- “The best way to fish in South Texas with chicken liver is to let it sit a while in the good Texas sun, then sprinkle a little garlic powder and a little chili powder on it. This combination makes the liver pasty, and it will stay on your triple or single hook with little to no problem. I do offer a warning that pow you will feel on your line is going to be one big Texas-size catfish, so get ready and have some good Texas fishing fun.” –Ramiro Vela
- “A really good bait I have found is hot dogs with chicken meat. Cut them into desired pieces and set in the sun to ‘dry up.’ When they are ‘dried,’ they will stay on the hook better. You can put them in a bag in the freezer to keep. Brim and catfish will bite this bait.” –Jean Cannon
- “The best catfish bait are catalpa worms. You can put what you don’t use in the freezer with a few catalpa tree leaves. When you are ready to fish again, take them out and they come back to life. Start reeling in the big cats.” –Joey Brown
- “To find the big cats, it would help out if you knew the underwater structure of the pond, river or lake. Find DEEP holes with lots of cover as in overhangs. Gravel pits are a great place to fish for cats.” –Todd Heil
- “The best catfish bait that I have found fishing for catfish anywhere, bar none, is shrimp—yeah, it’s a little costly but let me tell ya somethin’ friend, it’s worth it.” –Chuck Hubbard, Jr.
- “I am Blackfoot American Native. We live to fish and hunt our meals. A true hint in catfishing is never to use any type of scents (cologne, powders, perfume, etc.) Don’t handle cigarettes or any type of tobacco products without washing your hands before applying baits, hooks, sinkers, new line, etc. The fish know these things.” –Tommy Bays
- “The absolute best way I know to keep your liver on your hook while fishing is: Buy 1 or 2 old plastic ice trays. Go ahead and bait your hook the best you can. I use a ‘threading’ action. Place the hook and liver into the ice tray and let it freeze throughout the night before you go fishing. When you are ready to go fishing, twist the old ice trays and take the liver cubes and pack them in a bag and put them in a container of ice.” –Chris Payne
- “In Kentucky, where I live, we use bait store crickets and mill worms floated with a bobber. Put three or four crickets and a couple of millworms on a hook, and hold on! You have to try different depths until you find the fish. Once you find them, you can have a lot of fun catching them in all sizes. I have caught them from squeakers to 62 pounds on this bait, so good luck!” –Kenny Conley
- “I’m 68 years old and fish every chance I get. My daddy always told me to watch the cows. If they are up and eating, go fishing. If they are down resting, you might as well stay home. So far, this has worked pretty well.” –Edna James
- “The best bait I have used here in Bradenton, Florida, is fresh mullet that has never been frozen. Catch them late afternoon or at night. Catch them as long as your leg. Good Luck!” –Bill Suggs
- “As the water in your minnow bucket warms, the minnows will slowly die. They need a very cool temperature to survive. Never put ice cubes in with live minnows. The chlorine in the water stays and will kill your bait. Freeze water bottles, and then gently place them in the bucket. Usually one will be enough.” –Alec Plummer
- “Try it all, love the outdoors, and keep a bait in the water. You won’t catch anything if you aren’t out there!” –Jody Wolf
Read some Unbelievable (but True) Bait Secrets and The Four Fundamentals of Successful Fishing too, and you’ll be all set.
Add your own suggestions in the comments below!
Do you have any fantastic fishing tales? We want to hear all about them—share them below, too!
Catherine Boeckmann
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i used to go here to find the best days and hours to fish. not anymore in here. nothing shows just month and days without any information
Yes, me too.
I'm now 50 and my granddad said I was born with a fishing pole in my hand best catfish bait I've used here in Tennessee is chicken livers let them sit out for about 3 days and a good hot sun let them farm up then cut them into chunks and place them in a 2 inch by 2 inch square pantyhose. The chicken livers will squeeze out of the pores of the hose and the hose will keep it on your triple hook or single hook.
Wind from the east, fish bite the least. Wind from the west, fish bite the best!
This may sound crazy but it works , a hook with a wad or ball of nightcrawlers on it then just a spray of WD40. I've seen this work time and time again for catfish.
I am 60 years old and have fished my whole life here in western Kentucky. Over time I have read many various methods for fishing with Liver. The very best method I have discovered to keep liver on your hook is to buy a cheap pair of pantie hose, cut you out a two and half inch square, put your liver in the center, and then pull the corners up until tight around the liver and tie them together. Makes a nice little liver package. The pantie hose will keep it on the hook and as the fish bite the liver will dispense through the hose openings.
I am from Yemen, I love fishing, can I benefit from your experiences?
I use nightcrawlers for my catfish bait. I grow some of the biggest nightcrawlers in my flower beds, so any time that I'm working in my flower beds or if I'm planning to go fishing soon, I use my little garden tool to rake the wood chips over to the side and use my little spade to dig down into the soil searching for fresh ones. I collect any and all that I find and store them in coffee cans. I wet down newspaper to layer over the top of the soil and keep it damp, then store them in the closet in our basement. (I used to store them in our garage until my curious cat discovered what I was keeping in the cans.) I'm from the old school, and I believe every child should get the chance to experience the simple joys of life that mother nature provides. I started my 3 grandsons from the very beginning, which was digging for nightcrawlers. That was quite a challenge, and it was a struggle not to laugh while the 3 boys were trying to decide who was going to pick up the first worm. Like I said, I grow big ones, so they do look a lot like a snake, and they move fast too! Ha! I had purchased each of the 3 of the boys a short rod and reel, (a Sponge Bob, a Superman, and a misc. one) and one tackle box to share. I took them to a private pond that had a dock to fish off of, and showed them how to bait their hooks with their worm. They weren't too fond of the wiggling creatures, but they got the job done. We were finally ready to cast out. Since they weren't able to cast out very far at first, the only fish they caught were small perch. You would've thought the youngest one had caught a big shark the first time he caught a fish. He forgot all about reeling it in until I reminded him. They were all quite excited when they caught their first big catfish, as they like to put up such a fight. These have been some of the best and most memorable times of both my life and theirs. They still talk about these times and how much fun they've had spending time with me, which warms this old gma's heart so much! We still go fishing together, but not as often since they are all teenagers now. I still use the Sponge Bob pole now and then, and I've caught some big catfish while using it. Lol! I still collect nightcrawlers, and on a good year I'll save them in 5 gallon plastic buckets. I do hate worm juice though, so I usually wear plastic gloves. Lol! I hope someone enjoyed my story. Thank you for allowing me to share it. ~Missouri GMA
I loved your fishing story/memory!! I'm taking my granddaughter fishing today!
I do remember those time fishing with my Father. Never will forget them! Fishing with my three sons too.
