So I was informed yesterday that there is getting up early and then there is Getting up RRR Early.

[RumRiverRat]

So I fished with Juan Grande yesterday, we originally planned on meeting at 4:30am at a centrally located gas station and then riding to the lake together.

Well it ended up with me being on the water just before 5am and Juan Grande meeting me at the lake at 6:30am.

He told me there is getting up early to fish and then there is getting up RumRiverRat early to fish.

I cannot help it, I work nights and am used to being awake all night, so getting to bed about 11pm and getting up at 4am on the weekends to fish is not a big deal for me.

I like to be on the water early to see the sunrise and take advantage of usually slick calm conditions and fish topwaters.

How early do you like to get on the water?

[bassfshin24]

I am the same way RRR. I definitey have a hard time getting people to tag along that early.

[bassinator]

I left my house at 2:30 Saturday morning to be on the water early on opener in Grand Rapids!

[smalliehunter]

Is there any thing better than bass fishing with the sun rise? Earlier the better

[nate larson]

I can get myself up early for duck hunting no problem. But getting up early to go fishing is tough for me. I should start doing it though, it would be nice to be off the lake by the time the power boats are hitting the lakes on the weekends.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I can probably count on one hand the amount of times Ive been on the water before 6am. Im not an early riser at all and to make matters worse I wake up for work at 4:15am every weekday. The only good part about that is I can "sleep in" until 5 or 5:30 and still be on the water at a decent time.

[Juan Grande]

Yeah, it has to be easier to get up at 3 AM to fish when you work nights. I can do it, but will be yawning the whole day. I'm not a napper and I never go to bed before 10:30. It is nice being out on the lake at first light, but with these long days you have to be there at 4:45.

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

Same here! I got up at 4:30am this past opener. Didnt get on the lake till 5:30am and I was late already.

[Craigums]

I love being out on the lake when the sun is rising, however I never do it unless I have to. For example got a 6am launch for a small club tourney this saturday. The lake is 1-1/2 hours away. I figure I'll have to be up at 3:30am on the road at 4am

[RK]

Hiya -

Most days if there are other rigs at the access when I get there, it's more likely to be night fishermen who are still out than it is anyone beating me to the ramp. I honestly can't believe how few people get up early to fish. I love it. Get to see all kinds of critters on the way to the lake, and usually have the lake to myself when I get there.

Kind of funny, but I usually have a pretty good idea of how the fishing's going to be by the time I get to the ramp most days. If I'm white knuckled from dodging deer, raccoons and other beasties and I'm seeing all kinds of wildlife on the drive there, I'm pretty pumped to get fishing. If I don't see much, I expect it to be slower going. It's rarely off the mark.

The other nice thing about getting there early is yours is the first bait fish see. Fish are rarely exactly where you put them to bed the night before, and from years of early morning muskie fishing I'm 100% convinced that fish that have repositioned on their own are easier to catch, even on heavily-pressured water. It's like they hit the reset button on their brains when they move. Be the first thing they see in the morning, and they're a lot easier to make bite, even if conditions are otherwise tough.

Besides all that, I really don't have much choice. My dog likes being out in the boat, and she wakes me up before dawn whether I want to get up or not. I don't even set an alarm anymore. Don't need it when I have a black lab batting me in the head with her paw.

RK

[serpent]

I'm on the lake 1/2 hr before sunrise. I love being the first boat on the lake.

[Juan Grande]

Dang it RK, now I want to get up at dawn's crack!

[TruthWalleyes]

Alarm was set for 4am on monday to get to the lake early...unfortunately i didn't want to get out of bed until 6am.

I have pulled at least 1 all nighter either on the river or lake every weekend the since opener.

[Hawg]

Hey juan, is that ok with Dawn.

Sorry, somebody had to say it.

[thatoneguy]

I'm on the lake 1/2 hr before sunrise. I love being the first boat on the lake.

Same here. In the summer, I'll often hit the lake at 4:30 or 5, get a few hours of fishing in, then come back home and nap

Topwater fishing on those flat-calm summer morning...that never gets old for me.

[Gordie]

I always liked to be the early bird and I worked those night shifts also but for once I'm gonna say when I get to the lake for fishing I get to the lake but if were talking duck hunting "AS LONG AS I BEAT RRR TO THE LANDING I"M OK WITH THAT"

[Cecil]

You have to get up pretty early in the afternoon to beat me out to the lake

[Stick in Mud]

Night fisherman here....I know you early guys get fish, but I'm just too lazy, I guess.

[mainbutter]

Lately, most days I'm not on the water until a bit before noon. Lack of sleep makes me depressed, so early days tend to not happen.

[bobbers_down]

There are not a whole lot of things in life that I would rather do than watch the fog rise as the sun comes up while hooking into a few fish.

It's nice to be on a quiet lake, even if it is only for a few hours before the masses show up. And I can still make it back to shore for a late morning breakfast and if it's a good day, a bloody mary.