Night Bass Fishing

[Dorado]

 I fish for largemouth bass at night a majority of my outings at local urban ponds. What works for you night owls?

 

For me, it's been roadrunners with finesse swimbaits and chatterbaits with fluke trailers (fall - spring) and black jitterbugs (summer)

 

I'm anxious to hear the responses because I can tell you all what hasn't worked haha. Nothing like fishing nights for saugers and cats back in CO. 

[Catt]

I throw the same lures at night that I throw during the day!

[MassYak85]

I've had good luck with a big black colorado blade spinnerbait

 

[Dorado]

10 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I've had good luck with a big black colorado blade spinnerbait

 

Mass, are you slow rolling these? Weird incorporating a trailer with that rattle chamber  I think I have a Midnight Express either from Booyah or SK in my box somewhere. 

[scaleface]

Buzzbaits , worms , spinnerbaits , jigs , spooks and crankbaits have worked for me . 

[A-Jay]

This bait has been a mainstay for my night ops.

and here some info previously posted

A-Jay

 

[Dorado]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This bait has been a mainstay for my night ops.

and here some info previously posted

A-Jay

 

A-Jay - huge 'Thank you' for digging this up from the vault. Looking forward to the read. Love this site!

[WRB]

Catt is the man for night bassin, he fishes black-blue night or day!

Tom

[Dorado]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

I throw the same lures at night that I throw during the day!

I can't get there yet. For example, I have so much confidence in the day with a black and blue jig, but have been so discouraged using that same lure at night. Guess I need to trust the process and not let the night mode affect my technique and concentration. 

[Jar11591]

I throw a lot of top-waters, usually a big jointed Jitterbug, and also jigs with big trailers, 7" Senkos and T-rigged plastics. 

[Bluebasser86]

Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, jigs, and big worms are my mainstays for night trips. Keep it simple, keep the deck clear of clutter. I don't like topwater or treble hooks at night, but sometimes I have to deal with it because that's what's working.

 

I prefer darker colors normally, but when the moon is bright, I've had good success with white spinnerbaits and bladed jigs. 

[Catt]

4 hours ago, Dorado said:

I can't get there yet. For example, I have so much confidence in the day with a black and blue jig, but have been so discouraged using that same lure at night. Guess I need to trust the process and not let the night mode affect my technique and concentration. 

 

Bass do not morph into a new creature because the sunset!

[Bluebasser86]

42 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Bass do not morph into a new creature because the sunset!

Just as prey items don't take new form/color after dark

 

[NHBull]

At night I keep it simple

Jigs and top waters.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Bass do not morph into a new creature because the sunset!

 

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Just as prey items don't take new form/color after dark

 

There ya are

[crypt]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

I throw the same lures at night that I throw during the day!

this........................and nothing else.

[MassYak85]

16 hours ago, Dorado said:

Mass, are you slow rolling these? Weird incorporating a trailer with that rattle chamber  I think I have a Midnight Express either from Booyah or SK in my box somewhere. 

I've caught them both slow rolling but also waking them up top. If you can get them really high and just making the water "boil" it looks a lot like when bluegills school up near the surface. 

 

 

[clh121787]

Mr ribbit Buzz frogs, and big jigs,   that about it for me. Don't shine your light on your cast. And I truly believe the real beasts of every pressured Lake feed at night.

[Dorado]

Desperately need advice. Went out last night and hooked into 4 nice bass who all threw the hooks. It was frustrating. Was using a small roadrunner underspin with a 3" white grub. 

 

Medium light power, fast action Fenwick HMG rod with 8 lb PowerPro braid and 6 lb P-Line Fluroclear leader 

 

Any recommendations to greater success on landing these fish? Better jig type perhaps?

[scaleface]

Use heavier gear and a lure with a bigger hook gap .. I dont like to use light action rods for this very reason .

[Dorado]

57 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Use heavier gear and a lure with a bigger hook gap .. I dont like to use light action rods for this very reason .

I hear you man. These light action rods help me cast these light lures but my tradeoff is lack of solid hooking power. I do need a larger hook gap. See below. This little lure has been so consistent though! 

 

 

 

[Clinton john]

Like Catt said throw the same thing you do during the day.

 

I fish at night when the warmer part of the year gets here, I find my best and most bites come from midnight to daylight.

 

If I had to chose one lure for night fishing it would be a 10 inch black and red flake zoom lizard.

[Raul]

Spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and above all, Jitterbug, why Jitterbug ? Not because it's the most productive, it's because I love the sound and the suspense ..... gurgle, gurgle, wham !, I could catch 3 or 4 more times with spinnerbats and lipless crank but those don't gurgle.

[scaleface]

42 minutes ago, Dorado said:

I hear you man. These light action rods help me cast these light lures but my tradeoff is lack of solid hooking power. I do need a larger hook gap. See below. This little lure has been so consistent though! 

 

 

 

Yeah , theres your problem , not enough hook for that body . The Bass Pro Stump Jumper might have a larger hook .

[RoLo]

According to scientific studies, bass appear to lose their color perception at night,

because their color-sensitive cone cells recede while their light-sensitive rod cells predominate.

Although this undercuts the importance of color, it amplifies the importance of “contrast”.

 

'Black' is the preferred lure color at night because black absorbs the most light, and therefore

contrasts best against a slightly lighter background. Inversely, some anglers prefer ‘white’ lures at night

because white reflects the most light and it contrasts best against a slightly darker background.

On a low note though, 'contrast' can be a moving target.

During the course of an outing, the night angler may be fishing in pitch darkness,

under bright-lighted docks, under a moonless sky and a moonlit sky.

 

Roger