Who Has Gone Night Fishing In Spring?

[ATA]

On 3/15/2013 at 7:41 AM, Texfisherman said:

I've always loved night fishing. I've had fantastic success in both ponds and lakes at night.

I stick with finesse fishing and very dark colors. 

 

One of my favorites is a Zoom Shakey Head Worm. Color - Junebug or Green Pumpkin.

Throw that worm on a Owner "Shaky" Type 1/4 oz. Hook.

Cast out and work it back slowly, popping it every now and then.

 

Texas-rigged ribbontail worms can be great, also!

 

If you're working ponds, see if there is any moving water, like a water fountain or pvc pipe pouring water into the pond.

That's where I focus most of my efforts. Otherwise, I just cast and walk, working as much shoreline as possible.

weightless Texas rig or use weight? if we use weight we need to peg it?

[Bankbeater]

I wait until summer.  Around here the spring nights can get pretty cold.

[clemsondds]

On 3/6/2020 at 12:39 AM, ATA said:

weightless Texas rig or use weight? if we use weight we need to peg it?

Tungsten. I usually put a glass bead on as well. 

[Paul Roberts]

On 3/14/2013 at 9:57 AM, A-Jay said:

I grew up fishing in New England.  You have described what I was faced with several seasons in a row.

 

I started going very Early season at night - often times the air temps were below freezing but the water remained open.  Clearly not a time when Anyone else is on the water.

Several conventional methods proved completely unsuccessful.  Desperate to get bit, I started fishing topwater very shallow in front of any inlet, small creek or run off I could find. 

 That was it.  I could not believe just how shallow the fish were at night and this early in the season.  I'm talking March here.  I didn't have a thermometer back then so I can't tell you what the water temps were.  A wake bait crawled very slowly right along the surface was the best producer.  Stop and go was not as good.  A Mann's 1 minus  was the top producer - color didn't seem to matter; just get it shallow, make long casts and hang on. 

I chose to share this with one close fishing buddy only who had turned me on to a few "secrets", but I've never posted this up before and you Never ever hear about early season topwater at night - sounds crazy - but if the season opened early enough here in MI, I would definitely be out there. 

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

SM's, LM's?

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

SM's, LM's?

Green Bass ~

This is now actual an option with C & R Bass open all year here.

Now we just need open water.

A-Jay

[Paul Roberts]

Thanks, A-Jay. Wishing you... a heat wave. It's coming... It's just taking its sweet time this year. Once it breaks things should play catch-up pretty quick. I finally got out for my first outings, and water temps are at seasonal norms, despite a late ice-out.

[DitchPanda]

So weird how the ice out varies so much region to region...our lakes are still locked up but some of our small ponds have been open for almost 2 weeks already..I got out on March 8th in  65 degree temps..earliest I've gone maybe ever..at least in memory

[Paul Roberts]

This is pretty much an average year, historically. But, it's been a little while since we've had a "normal" year. A string of years early thaws that had me fishing open water in February. Miss that!

[clemsondds]

Would yall mind sharing where you fish at night?  Do you focus on dock lights?  Or just go around fishing shallow?  Fish ledges/deep at all?  Just curious what your go to is. Especially in 1-2 vis water. Thanks

[RoLo]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

Would yall mind sharing where you fish at night?  Do you focus on dock lights?  Or just go around fishing shallow?  Fish ledges/deep at all?  Just curious what your go to is. Especially in 1-2 vis water. Thanks

 

When I was into night fishing, I mainly fished in July & August, but occasionally in spring.

But no matter which season it is, I fish the same spots at night, you see me fishing in daylight. 

Lights on docks, pilings and bulkheads are great baitfish attractors

but it seems they're not as popular down here. 

 

Roger

[clemsondds]

13 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

When I was into night fishing, I mainly fished in July & August, but occasionally in spring.

But no matter which season it is, I fish the same spots at night, you see me fishing in daylight. 

Lights on docks, pilings and bulkheads are great baitfish attractors

but it seems they're not as popular down here. 

 

Roger

Ok thanks! Any other tips?  thanks again! 

[clemsondds]

Do you use your graphs much to look for bass or mostly hit cover near the bank?

[RoLo]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

Ok thanks! Any other tips?  thanks again! 

 

In addition to fishing your daytime spots, you might also use your daytime lures (yup, they'll find them). 

Of course, you'll probably have to take a few casts with your black jitterbug  ?

 

Roger

[clemsondds]

Ha already got one tied on (jitterbug). Going fishing tonight. Just trying to decide how to utilize my humminbirds...other than maps and depth of course.   

[king fisher]

     I think a lot has to do with the activity of the prey in any particular body of water. If the prey are active, concentrated, or otherwise vulnerable at a certain time of day, the bass will be there to take advantage of that food source, no matter what time of year. Land animals such as voles, may venture in to the water more at night, or crawfish, may come out from under rocks. Some bait fish may spawn or come out of hiding at night, the possibilities are endless.  Like any other predator, a bass may or may not completely change  his hunting tactics when it gets dark.  Which in turn may or may not change the baits and tactics required for successful fishing.  Depends largely on how the prey responds to darkness, as well as changes in dangers to the bass. Less predation for above at night might make it safer for a bass to roam shallow water in the open, while at the same time darkness could make it easier to get close to prey.  Every ecosystem is different. So many factors to consider.  Add in the fact that Murphys law and darkness goes hand in hand, makes successful night fishing an elite skill.  Sounds like A-Jay through hard work and persistence has his night fishery dialed in.  I have to thank him for sharing the results of his hard labor and expertise.  I have had very little luck bass fishing at night, but not am inspired to give night fishing more effort.