Can I Catch Northern Snakeheads on Rod and Reel at Night?

[VaMushroomHunter]

Hi folks,

This was my first year snakehead fishing (matter of fact it's been thirty years since I did fishing of any sort), and I only got started in late July.  I use a baitcaster with soft-bodied topwater frogs.  The fishing was great at first, but slacked off seriously in August, and the last several times I've been out, it's been nothing, nada, nil; I'm guessing the snakeheads have called it quits until next year.

So with the tidal Potomac snakehead season apparently over, I've got lots of questions and no way to answer them until next year except to appeal to those of you with more experience.  One big question is this: Is it possible to catch snakeheads at night on a rod and reel?

(I know the big thing these days is to outfit a boat with a generator and some high-intensity lights, and to use this for night bowfishing.  But the logistics for that just wouldn't work for me: my favorite fishing location is a tidal creek located on my property, with masses of thick hydrilla, water less than a foot deep in places, numerous obstructions from beavers, and no path suitable for a vehicle to back a boat trailer to the water's edge.  Some of my best places aren't even accessible with a jon boat, but require something narrow like a canoe, and light enough that I can get out and pull them over fallen trees.)

Has anyone had substantial success going after snakehead at night, with nothing more than, say, a canoe, rod and reel, tackle box, artificial lures, and a headlamp or cap light so they can see what they're doing?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[JustJames]

Snake head seems to bite pretty good at night. In thailand, there are many anglers fish for snakehead at night with any kind of lure that make some noise. Snakehead also will come out in open water to hunt so you dont really have to find them in jungle. I would think something with slow retrieve like pop lure would be good.

I never fish for snakehead at night but I quote this info from fishing in thailand.

[VaMushroomHunter]

19 hours ago, JustJames said:

Snake head seems to bite pretty good at night. In thailand, there are many anglers fish for snakehead at night with any kind of lure that make some noise. Snakehead also will come out in open water to hunt so you dont really have to find them in jungle. I would think something with slow retrieve like pop lure would be good.

I never fish for snakehead at night but I quote this info from fishing in thailand.

Thanks, JustJames!  I'm thinking next year I'll go out at night and give it a try.  I'll stick with topwater frogs,  maybe the larger ones like the Stanley Bull Ribbit 3/4 ounce.  They really do make a lot of commotion on the water.

I also think I'll go snakehead fishing the next time I visit my relatives in ประเทศไทย, to see how it's done over there.  The main village is in Isan, the Northeastern region of the country, in  Nakhon Ratchasima province, but I also have relatives in the north near Chiang Mai, in the south near Chumphon, and an aunt-in-law who lives in Don Muang.  Is there a particular part of the country that's best for snakeheads, or are they located all over?  (I know I won't find them in the Bangkok canals, and probably wouldn't eat them if I did.)

[JustJames]

For regular snakehead you can find it anywhere in Thailand but if you are going for giant snakehead (images below) you have to go north-west of bangkok in kanchanaburi province. I watched Monster Fish today and they had a show about snakehead, from what I saw, I think there are pay-to-fish ponds for snakehead as well.

Giant snakehead = Pla Cha-do

 

 

[dave]

In my experience on the Potomac,  the snakehead bite dies at dark.

[everythingthatswims]

@VaMushroomHunter

[CaptMikeStarrett]

On 10/17/2016 at 0:34 PM, everythingthatswims said:

@VaMushroomHunter

A man with morals..

 

Capt Mike