When to Fish

From March to May, bass return from their spawning grounds to Scottish shores. During this period, the water is cold, and the fish tend to be slow-moving. Serious lure fishing generally doesn’t begin until May, often marked by the blooming of bluebells and the smell of wild garlic. At this time, bass are focused on crab, so we often work soft plastic lures along the bottom or use fast, vibrating hard plastics to provoke a reaction bite. Numbers are generally low this time of year but the stamp is typically on the larger side.

From June to August, warming waters trigger a spike in bass activity. The fish begin chasing sandeels and small baitfish and can be effectively targeted with surface lures. Early summer often sees a push of larger fish that appear briefly before disappearing. With an abundance of bait around, bass can become finicky, and inshore numbers may fluctuate. However, larger schools of 2–4 lb fish start to appear more consistently during the summer. By August, fish numbers generally stabilize, making their movements and feeding patterns easier to predict.

From September to November, the sea begins to cool, and bass start preparing for winter. They are at their most active during the early autumn months of September and October, often considered the optimal time to target them. During this period, bass feed aggressively and can sometimes be found in large shoals gorging on sprats. Opportunities for very large specimens are at their peak, with 10 lb+ fish a real possibility. After the first hard frost, it becomes more challenging to entice bass to the surface, though they remain present. However, numbers begin to dwindle relatively quickly as winter approaches.

From December to February, bass begin moving into spawning mode and migrate offshore. There is still some potential to target them on lures in December, and they can occasionally be found shoaling, though such opportunities are rare. During this period, the sea and wind conditions often turn Solway waters muddy, making fishing productive only during particularly settled weather. Generally, we do not target bass in January and February.