Smallmouth fishing at night?

[blbmogul89]

Yep, this is coming from one of those grungy Catfisherman! In mid summer, i was able to hook 3-4 smallmouth at night over probably a 4 month period. The other times i have mainly been catfishing, so i didn't focus too much on smallmouth behavior, or lures, as i mainly used cut bait for Channel Catfish, and live bait for Flathead Catfish. But I've started going bass fishing at night for the past 3-4 weeks, including tonight, and haven't had any luck now. The stretch of river is below a dam, and extend about 2 miles before a set of falls, and the depth is anywhere between 3.5 foot to 19 foot. for you folks that fish for smallmouth at night and during this time of the year, what's your advice? 

[Bluebasser86]

I've never had much luck night fishing for smallmouth, I suspect because they are very visual feeders for the most part. They can certainly be caught though. Most of my smallies I've caught at night have been on jigs or single Colorado bladed spinnerbaits. 

[blbmogul89]

that's a good theory. I keep having his recurring thought in my head from a conversation i had with a Conservation Officer(Game Warden) a month ago, he said(I'm paraphrasing): "once people actually understand how Smallmouth behave at night, you can catch a lot. They're apex predators in rivers(in addition to Catfish) and their predatory behavior peaks at night because that's when they tend to feed the most because they hate sunlight." 

[A-Jay]

I've have had some success catching smallies at night using spinnerbaits like this one 

 

I've also caught a few decent smallies during the day.

 I Always hope for Brilliant Sunshine as this is when I have my best results. 

So I'm not in the 'smallies hate sunlight' group.

A-Jay

[blbmogul89]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I have had some success catch smallies at night using spinnerbaits like this one 

 

I've also caught a few decent smallies during the day.

 I Always hope for Brilliant Sunshine as this is when I have my best results. 

So I'm not in the 'smallies hate sunlight' group.

A-Jay

yeah, that doesn't really make sense to me either. I have been using a jig with a crawfish lure, and a black whopper plopper(Loon), and sometimes a jitterbug or torpedo

[Turkey sandwich]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 I Always hope for Brilliant Sunshine as this is when I have my best results. 

So I'm not in the 'smallies hate sunlight' group.

A-Jay

 

Bingo.  

I have found that smallmouth, much, much prefer sunlight and clear water conditions in comparison to their green cousins.  Also, if you follow tournaments, it's very common that successful anglers choose which species to target based on water clarity and sunlight in lakes that have strong populations of both fish. 

 

I'm by no means the most gifted smallmouth fisherman on here (see @A-Jay's recent monstrosity), but I have spent thousands of hours targeting them and have struggled most evenings in comparison to my day time fishing.   That said, I have a lot of success at or nearing dusk, but I attribute that more to drops in water temp (summer/fall) making feeding less physically stressful than in high heat, lower light creating better ambush opportunities, and evenings (and mornings at times) creating more forage activity (hatches, baitfish willing to leave dense cover, etc) rather than smallmouth getting late night munchies.  Smallmouth simply aren't built to be nocturnal hunters the way species with more dominant senses of smell and more established lateral lines are.  

[OkobojiEagle]

Some lakes with heavy recreational use will condition the bass (and other species) to feed more at night... my home lakes are like this.  As the sun sets you can find them transitioning along points from daytime holding areas over deep water at thermocline depth to shallow weed flats with plenty of docks.

 

oe

[blbmogul89]

6 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Some lakes with heavy recreational use will condition the bass (and other species) to feed more at night... my home lakes are like this.  As the sun sets you can find them transitioning along points from daytime holding areas over deep water at thermocline depth to shallow weed flats with plenty of docks.

 

oe

i think that is exactly what he meant, now that you say that. He did mention that less people were obviously out at night and that could have been what he was eluding to.

12 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

 

Bingo.  

I have found that smallmouth, much, much prefer sunlight and clear water conditions in comparison to their green cousins.  Also, if you follow tournaments, it's very common that successful anglers choose which species to target based on water clarity and sunlight in lakes that have strong populations of both fish. 

 

I'm by no means the most gifted smallmouth fisherman on here (see @A-Jay's recent monstrosity), but I have spent thousands of hours targeting them and have struggled most evenings in comparison to my day time fishing.   That said, I have a lot of success at or nearing dusk, but I attribute that more to drops in water temp (summer/fall) making feeding less physically stressful than in high heat, lower light creating better ambush opportunities, and evenings (and mornings at times) creating more forage activity (hatches, baitfish willing to leave dense cover, etc) rather than smallmouth getting late night munchies.  Smallmouth simply aren't built to be nocturnal hunters the way species with more dominant senses of smell and more established lateral lines are.  

Hmmm, well for me, because of my schedule, the only time i can consistently go fishing is at night. So are there any tips or ideas on how to fish for smallmouth at night? I know you can just about catch any fish day or night, but your method has to change. Like with Catfish. They can be caught at night or during the day. But they are the most predatory at night and are usually in shallower water, behind water obstructions that creates a break in the water, or areas of the river or lake where there's a shallow part that drops off into a deeper area. Whereas during the day they aren't all that mobile so you have to just about put on a scuba tank, swim down to where they're chilling, and cram your chicken liver/shrimp/cut bait down their throat

[NHBull]

I try to be out at dusk around full moon nights.

I only throw jigs and top waters and have great luck, but too have my best SM on sunny or rainny days.  My best LM was at 10:00 AM with blue bird skies 

[salmotrutta]

Grab a swimbait rod and throw a Spro Rat 50.Bigger is better.

[Turtle135]

I am about to give the "smallmouth after dark" on rivers an honest try for the next couple of months. I too have had very limited success at night as the bite does seem to disappear right after dusk but what I have read is that the bite does start up again (and that might not be until after midnight). Will post back and let you know how it goes. Tonight is the start.

[J Francho]

Smallmouth and largemouth are both primarily, and most active crepuscular feeders - dawn and dusk. That you can catch them in the daytime means you can catch them at night too.  Like anything else, you have to find the active ones.

[blbmogul89]

On ‎9‎/‎19‎/‎2017 at 4:02 PM, Turtle135 said:

I am about to give the "smallmouth after dark" on rivers an honest try for the next couple of months. I too have had very limited success at night as the bite does seem to disappear right after dusk but what I have read is that the bite does start up again (and that might not be until after midnight). Will post back and let you know how it goes. Tonight is the start.

How did everything go? I'm heading out to the New River tonight after work to do some fishing

[Mumbly]

I find this thread interesting. I have nothing to add to it as we can only fish until 2 hours after sunset, so no night fishing is allowed here. Unsure of the reason.

[Turtle135]

On 9/20/2017 at 6:55 PM, blbmogul89 said:

How did everything go? I'm heading out to the New River tonight after work to do some fishing

Well, I would call it a draw. I did not get skunked but I did not really wack them either.

 

As has usually been the case I was catching them pretty well when I first got to the river (around sunset into dusk). After it got really dark I could not buy a bite and there was little activity I could see or hear. About two hours after it got dark I started to hear a surface slash here and there (some type of predator fish chasing bait). I was fishing a pool that is about 150 yards long, deepest part is 12 feet. I moved up to the leading edge of the pool where the water is only 3-4 feet deep. Caught three bass, all around 14" on a small 1/4 ounce black jig with a black chunk trailer. I think they were as attracted to the splash of the jig as anything. The jig would barely make it to the bottom before they were on it.

 

I fished around the pool for another couple of hours, the deep water, the taper up at the end of the pool but no more luck.

 

The mosquitoes were the big winners for the night.

 

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, Turtle135 said:

 

The mosquitoes were the big winners for the night.

This is all I can think of when people talk about night fishing.  I once, because I am dumb, camped next to the Potomac in a hammock w/o a bugnet.  The next morning I looked like I had smallpox.  

[blbmogul89]

6 hours ago, Turtle135 said:

Well, I would call it a draw. I did not get skunked but I did not really wack them either.

 

As has usually been the case I was catching them pretty well when I first got to the river (around sunset into dusk). After it got really dark I could not buy a bite and there was little activity I could see or hear. About two hours after it got dark I started to hear a surface slash hear and there (some type of predator fish chasing bait). I was fishing a pool that is about 150 yards long, deepest part is 12 feet. I moved up to the leading edge of the pool where the water is only 3-4 feet deep. Caught three bass, all around 14" on a small 1/4 ounce black jig with a black chunk trailer. I think they were as attracted to the splash of the jig as anything. The jig would barely make it to the bottom before they were on it.

 

I fished around the pool for another couple of hours, the deep water, the taper up at the end of the pool but no more luck.

 

The mosquitoes were the big winners for the night.

 

heck yeah, man. I know in my area when i'm catfishing, i can hear a lot of fish breaking the surface and making that slapping sound. Supposedly theyre carp, but I'm not 100% sure i agree with that, predator fish make more sense. The first smallmouth i caught was while catfishing, believe it or not. I thought something was strange about the way the fish took the bait and how the fish was fighting, haha. Obviously i let him back into the water but the circle hook went right through the roof of his mouth towards the center and was a little difficult getting out, it was an 8/0 size circle hook. Made me feel bad for the little guy

[Turtle135]

40 minutes ago, blbmogul89 said:

heck yeah, man. I know in my area when i'm catfishing, i can hear a lot of fish breaking the surface and making that slapping sound. Supposedly theyre carp, but I'm not 100% sure i agree with that, predator fish make more sense. The first smallmouth i caught was while catfishing, believe it or not. I thought something was strange about the way the fish took the bait and how the fish was fighting, haha. Obviously i let him back into the water but the circle hook went right through the roof of his mouth towards the center and was a little difficult getting out, it was an 8/0 size circle hook. Made me feel bad for the little guy

I was on the Potomac River (near Edwards Ferry). There are carp and catfish there. The surface "slashes" I was seeing and hearing could have been smallmouth or channel cats chasing baitfish. Carp usually "breach" and then crash back into the water.

 

I think for my next attempt I will use what daylight I have to drop waypoints on a few spots to make it easier to find them after dark.

[Idahoguy]

On 9/19/2017 at 1:02 PM, Turtle135 said:

I am about to give the "smallmouth after dark" on rivers an honest try for the next couple of months. I too have had very limited success at night as the bite does seem to disappear right after dusk but what I have read is that the bite does start up again (and that might not be until after midnight). Will post back and let you know how it goes. Tonight is the start.

I'm new at bass fishing, but have read of people reffering to the "midnight bite" like everyone knew about it. 

[fishing_gd]

100% a Black Spinnerbait with a single Colorado Blade is the best thing to use. I have had 30-40 fish nights easily on. it. Other topwater baits such as a Jackall Pompadour or a black buzz bait would work too 

[HeddonFrog]

Just wanted to share some experience on this topic. I bass fished at night at least 20 times this year. Most of the water we fish here in northern Illinois have both smallmouth and largemouth in them. Between myself, my son and my night fishing buddy we’ve caught over 500 bass and all but 1 was a smallmouth. Biggest smallie of the year, it was a 4 1/4 but yeah just that one. I caught her 1hr before sunrise. Probably more of a factor than anything. From everything I’ve ever experienced, read and have seen following shows and tournaments...it all points to smallies being sight feeders. Clear water and sunshine brings out the aggressive feeding in them. One thing I’m certain of is that they do feed on crayfish at night. I’ve caught a ton of very early morning smallies that were full of crayfish that they had to be feeding on prior to sun up. I don’t think they do well chasing baitfish at night, unlike largemouth who will and do so very effectively. So if you’re going to try and target smallmouths at night, use crayfish imitation presentations, aka Jigs with rattles and some kind of water displacing trailer like a rage tail or Christie craw. 

 

For all the old schoolers who only throw black Colorado spinnerbaits, Black buzzbaits, black jigs, Black jitterbugs or like my dad, Black hula poopers...put them away! Rig 2 rods. One with a 1/2 black/blue bladed jig and the other rod the same color combination 3/4oz. Our preference are Picasso Shock blades that come naked without skirts and we add black/blue living rubber skirts for a much bulkier presentation. Our other choice is the Chatterbait project Z and Jack Hammer. We always use large bulky trailers and when needed trailer hooks. Slow rolled as slow as possible, popped out of weeds, frequent bottom contact, hopped off the bottom all work.

 

The last night we night fished prior to temps plunging into the 30’s we caught 59 between two of us. 13 were over 3lbs, two over 4, anchored by a 5 1/4. Keep in mind we’re in northern Illinois, we don’t have a Rayburn, lol

 

I’ve scoured the internet looking for articles discussing just how effective bladed jigs are at night for Bass and other than a mention or two saying to add them to your night arsenal, no ones written a comprehensive article on using them. So I’m doing just that and will be presenting an article to In-fisherman to use in their summer 2018 issue. It’s a tactic that is that impressive and needs to be tried.

 

all the fish in the photos are either over 4 or 5lbs

[CroakHunter]

12 minutes ago, HeddonFrog said:

Just wanted to share some experience on this topic. I bass fished at night at least 20 times this year. Most of the water we fish here in northern Illinois have both smallmouth and largemouth in them. Between myself, my son and my night fishing buddy we’ve caught over 500 bass and all but 1 was a smallmouth. Biggest smallie of the year, it was a 4 1/4 but yeah just that one. I caught her 1hr before sunrise. Probably more of a factor than anything. From everything I’ve ever experienced, read and have seen following shows and tournaments...it all points to smallies being sight feeders. Clear water and sunshine brings out the aggressive feeding in them. One thing I’m certain of is that they do feed on crayfish at night. I’ve caught a ton of very early morning smallies that were full of crayfish that they had to be feeding on prior to sun up. I don’t think they do well chasing baitfish at night, unlike largemouth who will and do so very effectively. So if you’re going to try and target smallmouths at night, use crayfish imitation presentations, aka Jigs with rattles and some kind of water displacing trailer like a rage tail or Christie craw. 

 

For all the old schoolers who only throw black Colorado spinnerbaits, Black buzzbaits, Black jitterbugs or my dad, Black hula poopers...put them away! Rig 2 rods. One with a 1/2 black/blue bladed jig and the other rod the same color combination 3/4oz. Our preference are Picasso Shock blades that come naked without skirts and we add black/blue living rubber skirts for a much bulkier presentation. Our other choice is the Chatterbait project Z and Jack Hammer. We always use large bulky trailers and when needed trailer hooks. 

 

The last night we night fished prior to temps plunging into the 30’s we caught 59 between two of us. 13 were over 3lbs, two over 4, anchored by a 5 1/4. Keep in mind we’re in northern Illinois, we don’t have a Rayburn, lol

 

I’ve scoured the internet looking for articles discussing just how effective bladed jigs are at night for Bass and other than a mention or two saying to add them to your night arsenal, no ones written a comprehensive article on using them. So I’m doing just that and will be presenting an article to In-fisherman to use in their summer 2018 issue. It’s a tactic that is that impressive and needs to be tried.

 

all the fish in the photos are either over 4 or 5lbs

Nice fish, I as well fish black bladed jigs at night with success. And btw, go cubs!

[Mr. Aquarium]

ive caught a handful of smallies at night! one spot its more largmouth then smallies but smallies are big here. they feed heavy on craws, biggest night smallie i caught was on a deps buzz jet.  caught them on texas rig craws, rage lobster.  brush hogs, missle destroyer.  havent really figured out how to target them at this place its more of by chance, largemouth, largemouth, smallie and more largemouth.

another place, small pond all smallies! my buddie has done very well here with senkos at night! i use topwaters , jigs and swimbaits! havent really fished here at night much, these smallies tend on the small side but action is fast and furious! 

i caught this smallie on a blade bait in january just after sundown!  water temps at 40

[Ron Butlin]

On 9/21/2017 at 6:06 AM, Turtle135 said:

Well, I would call it a draw. I did not get skunked but I did not really wack them either.

 

As has usually been the case I was catching them pretty well when I first got to the river (around sunset into dusk). After it got really dark I could not buy a bite and there was little activity I could see or hear. About two hours after it got dark I started to hear a surface slash here and there (some type of predator fish chasing bait). I was fishing a pool that is about 150 yards long, deepest part is 12 feet. I moved up to the leading edge of the pool where the water is only 3-4 feet deep. Caught three bass, all around 14" on a small 1/4 ounce black jig with a black chunk trailer. I think they were as attracted to the splash of the jig as anything. The jig would barely make it to the bottom before they were on it.

 

I fished around the pool for another couple of hours, the deep water, the taper up at the end of the pool but no more luck.

 

The mosquitoes were the big winners for the night.

 

Sorry for the late reply, but this post is very accurate about night smallmouth..

Main assumptions about what color and bait (spinnerbait) etc are fairly good suggestions at best. Many anglers are just uneducated at night and start to shy away from it or go 1 time where the bite was bad and blaim nighttime instead of wrong tatics and don't want to try again. I do tend to not catch numbers of smallmouth at night, but the ones I get are constantly big. They swim up shallower to ambush points they prefer by themselves to get a quick big bite they scare away from during the day. There are just so many wrong assumptions about the topic which is too bad. The whole experience of night fishing in general is just kinda mystical and if you have a positive attitude while enjoying the other mysterious angles over day time trips. Add a good buddy into the picture and the benefit of no pressure from other anglers and it turns into a memorable time.

Using random lures where bass are congregating and I've had 60+ catch trips multiple times. They are 90% largemouth and 1 to 3 pounds but is really fun.

Open up to possible poor fishing which is easy for most anglers anytime of sunlight! 

[Kyle Bishop]

I live in South Carolina and we only have smallies on one river I'm lucky enough to live on that river and I fish everyday rain are shine night time are daylight when I'm off and whooper ploppers and black spinner baits work very well smallies seem to be just as active at night as large mouth they come up really close to the bank