Areas To Key On

[jr45]

I'm going to be doing some night fishing this weekend and next weekend. I have never night fished this late in the year. What are some areas to key on? I'm assuming the fish will be shallower at night and most likely back in the creeks/coves? Thoughts?? The lake I fish doesn't have any vegeation if that matters.

[roadwarrior]

The same places you would fish during the day!

[Highhawk1948]

Lighted boat docks and swimming beaches.

[papajoe222]

  On 9/19/2012 at 7:09 PM, roadwarrior said:

The same places you would fish during the day!

X2, but keep your tackle selections limited as this will force you to stay concentrated and will eliminate some clutter which is a big no no when fishing in the dark. Oh yea, keep your vest on. You never know where a stump will suddenly appear where you swear there wasn't one in the daylight.

[Loop_Dad]

  On 9/19/2012 at 11:47 PM, Highhawk1948 said:

Lighted boat docks and swimming beaches.

I had no idea they come to lights. And why swimming beaches?

[Highhawk1948]

Lights attract insects, insects attract small fish that eat them, small fish attract larger fish.

During the day with swimmers in the water there will not be a lot of fish traffic at beaches. But at night some fish will move in. Use to night fish a private lake years ago and the best place was the isolated beach areas. Bass would corral the bait fish there and we would throw topwater lures.

[buzzfrog]

  On 9/20/2012 at 9:21 AM, Highhawk1948 said:

Lights attract insects, insects attract small fish that eat them, small fish attract larger fish.

During the day with swimmers in the water there will not be a lot of fish traffic at beaches. But at night some fish will move in. Use to night fish a private lake years ago and the best place was the isolated beach areas. Bass would corral the bait fish there and we would throw topwater lures.

spot on, my aunt used to live on lake. during day it was paradise island, lol at night we attached a light about 3 feed above water on a pole, some panfish would literally jump at insects. At first we though them occasionaly hitting the light would kill em. didnt seem to stop em.. then we would stand on shore, throw any topwater we had to the end of dock and speed it up along side of it, boom everytime... buzzes, jitterbug, poppers, spooks, frogs, somtimes nice sized bass to. before I knew what shakey heads were called. we would rig ribbin tailed worms on jig heads, and pretty much pop them off bottem directly under light.. guess thats why i love shakies now, somtimes we would jig small grubs, for gills then catfish with them

sorry to go OT, the quoted just brought back memories... of a much less stressed teenaged summer

[merc1997]

perhaps i can help with your question, and seeing that you are fishing table rock so much the better. i am still night fishing myself, and the better bass are still deep. depending on the area of the lake you are fishing, the depth of the bass is from 25 to 35 feet deep. i have not found to much action in the back of creek arms yet. all the bait fish still seem to be on the main lake. a jig seems to be the best bait. hope this might help.

bo

[mikey5string]

Find baitfish and fish there. At my favorite lake, weed flats have been productive but I see fish schooling on bait and breaking the surface above the deepest part of the lake (50') which is where the old river was before it was dammed. I cant chase bait as you are only allowed electric motors so I focus on areas that I know will be productive at some point in the day. Flats & points are good. The best spots will be where 2 good spots meet. Submerged grass (good) on a flat (good) equals very good. Wind blown (good) points (good) equals very good.

In the summer, I was doing very well on the "ledge" side of the lake where it sits up against a ridge mountain. Heavy cover along the shore with access to deep water was the pattern then. Now, the fish just arent there, they are on the other side of the lake which is much flatter, with less dramatic depth changes. They are moving around, suspended, chasing bait. If you can find green weeds, a jig still works, but up here there are no more green weeds on the surface. I will tie a 3/4oz lipless crank on, let it sink to the bottom and pull it up. If there are greens on it, I fish there. If there are no weeds, or stringy slimy brown weeds, I keep moving.

Access to deep water is key and if you look at it the other way, access to shallow water like flats is good. The bass corral bait in shallows, against points and wait by weedlines/weed beds, timber, or deeper water like ledges and sharp drops to pick them off.

Swim jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, lipless & squarebill cranks are good baits. I usually go lower in the water column as the day progresses with t-rigs & shakey heads. Mornings and dusk are great topwater opportunities. Buzzbaits and spooks

good luck.

[WRB]

  On 9/19/2012 at 5:24 PM, jr45 said:

I'm going to be doing some night fishing this weekend and next weekend. I have never night fished this late in the year. What are some areas to key on? I'm assuming the fish will be shallower at night and most likely back in the creeks/coves? Thoughts?? The lake I fish doesn't have any vegeation if that matters.

PM alpha jig

Bo offered you first hand info what is currently going on the lake you plan to fish, it doesn't get any better.

I can tell you what may work in general terms, but only someone who regularly night fishes Table Rock can give you first hand info.

Tom