a little night fishing last night here in Maryland

[Turtle135]

Once a month on my local reservoir we are allowed to stay on the lake till midnight (normally we are given the boot one hour past sunset). So I always try to take advantage of this opportunity as "night fishing" appears to be largely frowned upon in Maryland. 

 

Last night it was cool and raining (had to break out the dry suit for the first time this year). With the cloud cover obscuring the moon it was dark out there but still there was enough ambient light for me to make out the shoreline and the trees.

 

I tried some surface presentations but outside of one suicidal green sunfish no deal on top. So I go back to the one technique that always seems to work at night. The trusty black & blue jig. I was finessing it through the deep weed edge about 15' down and felt that little "tick".

 

[A-Jay]

Nice Night Time Fatty ~ !

Don't cha just Love it . . . . .

Congrats

A-Jay

[fishwizzard]

You really have a knack for catching fat fish.  

 

Do you use a light much when night fishing?  I tend to pack it in as soon as I can't see to cast, but there is one more night fishing day at Centennial this year and I kinda want to give it a go from my yak, but I am a bit intimidated about paddling around in the dark.  

[Turtle135]

1 hour ago, Bunnielab said:

You really have a knack for catching fat fish.  

 

Do you use a light much when night fishing?  I tend to pack it in as soon as I can't see to cast, but there is one more night fishing day at Centennial this year and I kinda want to give it a go from my yak, but I am a bit intimidated about paddling around in the dark.  

Thanks! I have a DIY light that I made from PVC and a combo flashlight/lamp. The nice thing is I can slide the lamp up or down to increase or decrease the amount of 360 degree light I show. On an electric only lake like I was on last night I try to keep the light down as I prefer to have as much night vision as possible (and fewer bugs).

[Bluebasser86]

Nice fish! I had planned to night fish last week but changed my mind when the wind didn't lay down like it was supposed to. Night fishing in 20mph winds is not a good time. 

[mattkenzer]

Great fish .... another lifted skyward by a jig.

[fishwizzard]

11 hours ago, Turtle135 said:

Thanks! I have a DIY light that I made from PVC and a combo flashlight/lamp. The nice thing is I can slide the lamp up or down to increase or decrease the amount of 360 degree light I show. On an electric only lake like I was on last night I try to keep the light down as I prefer to have as much night vision as possible (and fewer bugs).

 

That sounds vastly more practical than the "camping lantern lashed to an old tomato stake" light pole I had rigged up for my last attempt at night fishing. 

[Turtle135]

1 hour ago, Bunnielab said:

 

That sounds vastly more practical than the "camping lantern lashed to an old tomato stake" light pole I had rigged up for my last attempt at night fishing. 

 

The flashlight/lamp is the "UCO Clarus 118 Lumen LED Mini Lantern and Flashlight" which goes for about $ 15.00 on Amazon. Runs on three AAA rechargeable batteries for quite a while. The PVC arm just goes into a rod holder. I can pull the lamp out and use it as a flashlight.

 

[Bassin' Brad]

Awesome catch! Out of curiosity did you get a weight on the big girl? My night fishing 22" bass I caught last week weighed 7 lbs 4oz so I was wondering how the 2 would match up with them being over 1,700 miles apart. The coloration is for sure different. 

[Turtle135]

2 hours ago, Bassin' Brad said:

Awesome catch! Out of curiosity did you get a weight on the big girl? My night fishing 22" bass I caught last week weighed 7 lbs 4oz so I was wondering how the 2 would match up with them being over 1,700 miles apart. The coloration is for sure different. 

I saw your new PB, congrats! I did not weigh that 22" (she gave me no trouble getting the picture so I did not pull the scale out on her). I think your bass was bigger around the middle than mine was.