Best Time of Day to Catch Bullheads (All Seasons Evaluated)

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Bullheads are surprisingly strong fighting fish that many anglers ignore. Determining the best time of day to fish for them can make the difference between a boat full of healthy bullheads and a boring day on the water with no bites. We need to take an in-depth look at this topic to dispel myths and reveal the truths of bullhead fishing for better success.

What is the best time of day to catch bullheads? The best time of day to catch bullheads is the first 3 and last 2 hours of the night followed by the early morning and late afternoon. Bullheads really become voracious after the sun goes down and while they’ll feed all night long, their activity seems to spike at the start and end of the night. The middle of the day tends to be the slowest time for bullhead fishing but fish can still be caught.

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Best Time for Bullhead Catfish

Best Time of Day

The best time of day to catch bullhead catfish is at the start and end of nighttime darkness. Bullheads rely heavily on their senses of smell and touch to locate food.

This means they don’t need any sunlight at all to find food, which is a skill very few fish can claim. Most fish are limited at night and can only feed if bait swims right to them or it is a full moon night and the upper column of water is partially lit up by the moon allowing them to see better.

Since bullheads don’t need their vision, the night is not only not limiting to them but also gives them an advantage over any other type of fish. The late afternoon from 2 hours before sunset until dusk as well as the early morning from dawn until 3 hours after sunrise can be very good as well.

Worst Time of Day

The worst time of day to catch bullheads is probably the middle of the day from late morning until mid-afternoon. Bullhead will feed all day and all night long as long as food is available and bullheads can find it.

That said, there are absolute periods in the day when many species of fish including bullheads slow their feeding behavior way down. It is a time of day when conditions simply are not ideal for feeding and roaming.

During the middle of the day, it is usually very warm and the direct sunlight keeps most fish close to cover hovering in the shade. I have caught a lot of bullheads during the middle of the day but I preferred night and early morning and late afternoons a lot more.

Seasonal Focus

Spring
In early spring, the best time of day to catch bullheads is mid-to-late morning and late afternoon from 2 hours before sunset until dusk.

During this time, water temperatures are still cold but warming each week. Bullheads will be hungry from the winter when food was more limited. In the later part of spring, shift your fishing efforts to more dawn and dusk fishing for the best results.

Bullheads will start becoming more active at night feeding as water temperatures near summertime temps. The middle of the day is usually pretty lousy in the spring but can still have decent fishing especially if it is overcast or cloudy.

Summer
During the summer, the best time of day to catch bullheads is during the night along with the late afternoon between sunset and dusk and in the early morning between dawn and sunrise.

Daytime temperatures are usually pretty hot so that tends to slow down bullhead behavior and the prey they feed on.

But at night, cooler water temperatures and the bullheads’ reliance on their other senses than vision make them perfect for nighttime feeding. The middle of the day can still be quite good especially when it is raining or cloudy out.

Fall
During the early fall, late afternoon and early morning is the best time of day for bullheads. As fall drags on and winter nears, the mid-to-late morning and late afternoon is now the best time for fishing.

During the fall, the nighttime bite really slows way down but the daytime middle of the day bite can actually be quite good especially if it is pretty chilly out.

Winter
During the winter, I have found the best time frame for bullhead fishing to be in the mid-morning and in the late afternoon.

I think the late afternoon is especially good because water temperatures have been warming up all day long and the reduced light now gives them a bit of an advantage over prey that rely heavily on eyesight to see danger coming.

The middle of the day is usually pretty good for winter bullheads too. The nighttime which is awesome during the summer is usually pretty lousy in winter because of the brutally chilly air temps.

Night vs. Day

I have certainly caught plenty of bullheads, especially small ones, during the day but I think the nighttime is better for hungrier, sometimes bigger bullheads overall.

During the day, bullheads will be down deep in cooler water where they will feed on dead stuff and slow-moving fish and invertebrates on the bottom.

At night, some bullhead will come right up close to the surface and feed on insects and small baitfish. If you want to catch the most fish possible, I would recommend fishing for bullheads after dark though sunrise and sunset can be great too.

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Can You Catch Bullheads through the Ice?

Yes, believe it or not, you can catch bullheads while ice fishing. Many people believe that bullheads hibernate during the winter and bury themselves in the soft mud until spring.

It is true that on cold days, bullheads will seek out the warmest water they can find which is almost always in the deepest wintering holes in a lake or river.

During these frigid days, bullheads will want to get as far away from the cold air at the surface as they can which often means partially burying themselves in mud on the bottom.

Often times, these fish will stack up alongside each other but they will eat all winter long. They are a lot like flathead catfish during the winter in that they are pretty sluggish but will emerge to feed when food passes and especially anytime there is sudden warming in the air temperature.

Like flathead catfish, one of the best times to catch bullheads through the ice is during a snowstorm since air temperatures will rise some.

Does Weather Affect the Best Time of Day?

Weather conditions can have a big impact on bullhead fishing. Fishing for most species really turns on the with the approaching of a rain event. As rain approaches, air pressure drops which seems to stir up water activity of plankton, baitfish, and gamefish.

During this time, you can find some of the best bullhead fishing even if the rain approaches during the middle of the day when it should be slow fishing.

Bullhead will aggressively seek food before rain and even after rain starts falling, bullheads will continue hunting the duration of the rain event.

After the rain, bullheads will slow way down and become more docile. On cloudy or overcast days, bullhead fishing can be really good all day long because the oppressive sunlight is reduced and daytime temperatures are usually cooler.

Even during the winter, sudden rain and even snowstorm can raise water temperatures and make bullheads emerge from their deep holes to feed in the warmer water above.