This time of the year do the fish hit early in the morning or late morning almost afternoon. I want to get started early and a buddy wants to go at brunch time. Thoughts?

dumb argument... go early, bring lunch, stay all day if that's an option.
I've been on 7 12s since the last week of January.. tonight is my last night shift finally! Got the boat hooked up this morning when I got home, leaving work early so I can get on the water at day break, staying out there as long as my eyes allow me to tomorrow. ..

They eat all day. You just gotta follow them. They move with water temps changes and bait movement.

I don't care what time of year or what the temperature is....when I can go fishing I am there before the sun comes up. Sometimes it pays off in a big way.

I don’t sweat it if I don’t put in at daybreak early spring due to the water temp. It’s kinda nice if I have an errand to run or a honey do to take care of. Once topwater kicks in its a different story.

Are you taking your wife on vacation or a buddy fishing? If it's really a fishing buddy, then get him some Little Debbie's and tell him to suck it up an fish. Otherwise, you might need a new fishing partner.

Fish for sure bite better this time of year as the lake warms up through the day. I’d take a late afternoon vs early morning until the water temp is consistently above 55 degrees. I believe that’s the temp when top water starts to turn on so that’s what I have confidence in. Most North Texas lakes should be there this week.

If it’s your boat, truck & fuel, makes it your choice on what to do. Your buddy should just appreciate he gets to go.

Go before early, stay until brunch. 4am to whenever you have to leave.

For years fishing Monticello, we would intentionally head out about 10:30 on weekends because most of the crowds would leave around 2:00 or 3:00 or even earlier if there was a small club tourney out there. We also tended to find the best bite was from 4:00 to Sundown when we had the lake nearly to ourselves. Once the power plant was shuttered, that changed some but not a lot.

This time of year I like the sun to get up and warm the water. I never rush out at the crack of dawn. Just me though.

Lake I go to has a better morning bite.

The final feed before the spawn; they’ll eat plenty at night also.

I always like to be out there early but I feel like they do bite a little better once things warm up for the day

Late morning for me.