Night Fishing Rookie

[BassinBoy]

I'm looking to fish a large pond this evening after dark but I have very limited night fishing experience. I wanted to hear from you guys what lures are best for you at night.

Pond has some vegetation but that is all the cover it has. 15+ feet deep.

Thanks guys!

[Jar11591]

All black everything! Black jitterbugs, black 10" worms, brush hogs, black jigs and trailers, lizards.

You can have any color you like...as long as it's black . Other colors work, but black is definitely the best for night fishing.

[Jar11591]

Oh yeah...the big'ns come out at night!

[Catt]

Does what the bass eat in this pond change colors at night?

Same lures, same colors, in the same places you would during the day!

[Raul]

Does what the bass eat in this pond change colors at night?

Same lures, same colors, in the same places you would during the day!

 

Pretty much what Catt says. I´m not a big fan of bottom hopping baits during the night, I like the surface action of the Jitterbug even though I admit that it´s one of the least productive lures ( hard to resist the temptation of hearing the gurgling sound of the bait and the rush of listening the bait being hit.)  I catch most of my night fish with two lures: spinnerbait & lipless cranks.

[Jar11591]

Does what the bass eat in this pond change colors at night?

Nope...but believe it or not it does get dark at night. Dark means not much light.

[Catt]

Nope...but believe it or not it does get dark at night. Dark means not much light.

And your point is

[Jar11591]

And your point is

Black will silhouette the best against a night sky. It's not about food color, it's about contrast. I did say other colors work, just black has been by far the most productive.

[dday07]

a black buzzbait near the full the full moon with a chrome blade..the light from the moon reflects off the blade...def. prefer over black blade on these nites

[F14A-B]

Stitch a 6 " worm along ledges/ drops/ slopes

I mean sloooow if you have bigger fish in there it can and often gets bit.. It's a tough way to fish, but when you get bit, you will become a believer. I used to have really good patience, not so much now, try a thumping a big ole spinnerbait. Thing is with ponds A few cast with a SB and it's over, a plastic worm allows you to quietly and thoroughly fish the pond.

[tntitans21399]

Yes I agree go dark like black, dark purples, dark blues. Dark colors show a contrast better. Like if you go into a room and turn all the lights off and let yours eyes adjust. Then see what you can make out. You will notice the darker objects more then the litter ones.

[Catt]

Black will silhouette the best against a night sky. It's not about food color, it's about contrast. I did say other colors work, just black has been by far the most productive.

My most productive is a color called Starry Night, the top is a translucent smoke, the bottom is clear, with tons of glitter.

Is black so productive because ya don't throw anything else 1/2 as much?

[Jar11591]

My most productive is a color called Starry Night, the top is a translucent smoke, the bottom is clear, with tons of glitter.

Is black so productive because ya don't throw anything else 1/2 as much?

I always used to night fish with the same colors as I would during the day (watermelons, pumpkins etc). Sure I caught fish, but when I started using black and junebug I caught a lot more. I did compare them on more than 1 outing. I found that I got a lot more hits and because of that more fish on black. I don't always think color is of huge importance but in my night fishing experiences black has out produced everything.

[Catt]

Started night fishing in 1973, night fish from April-September. Just like in day light color doesn't matter, does matter, & ya gotta chage color often.

[timsford]

I use black, black and blue, and black and red spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, and 8+ inch worms and lizards most of the time at night. The only time i use other colors is when i use white and bone minnow and wakebaits on bright moonlit nights. i reel them slowly and make them wake. Jitterbugs catch a lot of big ones too from what i hear but i always catch more on the baits i mentioned above. Invest in a headlamp as well. It makes it much easier to tie lures and unhook fish. I have a friend that uses black hudds and other big swimbaits at nite. Sometimes we go and i catch 10 and he gets skunked but there have been nights where he caught 3-4 bass over 6 lbs and all i got was a few dinks so experiment and if u know there are big ones try a swimbait too

[Bluebasser86]

Does what the bass eat in this pond change colors at night?

Same lures, same colors, in the same places you would during the day!

Come on! You know you have to use black baits to catch fish at night! 

 

[Raul]

Everybody knows that for night fishing your baits have to be black or you won´t catch a thing !.

[Jar11591]

Everybody knows that for night fishing your baits have to be black or you won´t catch a thing !.

I've caught plenty at night with baits that aren't black.

[Raul]

I've caught plenty at night with baits that aren't black.

 

You are the first one to say ALL BLACK, not only all black but ALL BLACK EVERYTHING, then you argue with Catt when he says thta it doesn´t matter, and now you come say you have caught plenty of fish at night with baits that aren´t black.

 

C´mon man, make up your mind.

[primetime]

The best advice I have received on this site was from a night fishing question I posted for some new ideas to try.....

 

It was suggested by one of the veterans on this site that I use a bladed swim jig also known by most as a chatterbait, and even though I had never tried one at night, the concept made sense..... Flash, Vibration, Skirt with contrasting trailers for more action or bulk, and I decided to try it as a wake bait with a bulky trailer (Havoc Devil spear in black of course)..I now have a dedicated swim Jig Rod that is always ready to go and that means night, daytime, saltwater, heavy cover or weeds, deep or shallow, and you can fish it so many ways to make it effective and after hours of trial and error, I love to burn one at night right on the surface, kill it, and if it is not crushed, rip it up and repeat....I also fish it like a flutter spoon, slow roll it on top or bottom, or simply fish it like a squarebill or spinnerbait.....

 

one piece of advice and I hope this is not banned, but I would suggest spending some extra money and purchasing a high quality lure, as the 3.99-$5.99 versions do not hold up well IMO. I have been using these jigs for a good 6 months now, and after purchasing some custom jigs from a company called D&M jigs, I can say the extra few $$ is actually a big savings, and the value is not even comparable.

 

You will catch more fish, the designs are awesome with a bend in the blade for more thump, awesome color patterns, weedless versions, and what I have found the best part....Top Quality Hooks, components, and durability....I used to go through the regular chatterbaits like a Senko on some trips as the blades and line tie would just get destroyed, but since going to these higher quality jigs, I can use the same jig for multiple fish until casting into a tree or having a fish wrap me around cover.....I recently noticed these jigs available on Tackle warehouse when I searched for "best Selling Items" and the Pirahna Jig was #3, and I was glad to see that as the dozen lures I received are flat out awesome......

 

I have not tried the new Rage blade or Zman versions which are marketed to be more stout and stronger and I am sure they are, but these Jigs are flat out Nasty and you can truly fish them your style, and just chuck it a mile and start reeling.....If fishing with braid, or even mono, you will feel the strike coming early similiar to a spinnerbait as the lure will start vibrating differently, so wait until the rod loads before setting the hook.

 

These are fantastic lures and you can catch fish by simply casting and reeling, but like any other lure, it is a tool to get the job done, and if you have the right gear to fit your style, and take the time to become a believer, you will soon have confidence and end up purchasing a rod for swim Jigs to replace or compliment your spinnerbait/crankin rod, or sometimes a Flipping stick is Ok if you are fishing it traditional jig style.....Hope that helps, but this is a lure everyone should have in their arsenal, similar to having a Rattle trap, spinnerbait, squarebill, or senko....When it works, it works......

[Jar11591]

You are the first one to say ALL BLACK, not only all black but ALL BLACK EVERYTHING, then you argue with Catt when he says thta it doesn´t matter, and now you come say you have caught plenty of fish at night with baits that aren´t black.

C´mon man, make up your mind.

Just having fun. I said a couple times other colors will work. You Must've missed it. Just said black has worked better for me. Just gotta read all of what I write dude.