Going Nocturnal

[WRB]

I really like to fish summer nights but our local SoCal public lakes closed an hour before sundown limiting night fishing from my boat to a few night tournaments. Northern and Central Cal have several lakes open to night fishing, traveling anywhere from 200 to 500 miles one way to night fish isn't an option unless staying over night.

My rule with night fishing from a boat is let someone know where you are going and if posible don't fish alone. At night other boats can't see you well even with running lights on. A kayak is a sitting target for a power boat to run over and I wouldn't go out on public water at night in a kayak alone.

Tom

[NHBull]

If I go at night, it is usually clear with a good moon. A couple years ago, I came close to running over a swimmer at 11:30 PM.  I knew the jerk and he was swimming at the entrance of a channel. We had words, and since then anything above headway speed makes me nervous 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

OK back to the original topic!

 

@A-Jay what y'all do when the air temperature & humidity is just right to form few on everything at night?

 

 

If you mean 'Dew' - It's the one aspect of night ops that I'm not a fan of Catt.

With the way the nights cool off here (often as much as 20 degrees plus) the Wetness is a part of life.

And EVERYTHING gets wet - including me.  I dress for it,(otherwise my butts wet all night) I keep as little out as possible, and it's one of the main reasons I don't take pics/video at night - They Always came out looking like something done by Jacques Cousteau - Wet & Wild.   (camera lenses are a mess)

 

 @Catt What do you do ? 

 

A-Jay

[soflabasser]

I have fished for bass at night for over 20 years now,especially in the summer time.

Good lures to use at night are the following;

buzzbaits

spooks

poppers

wakebaits

hollow belly frogs

spinnerbaits

swimbaits

various types of soft plastics.

[Catt]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

If you mean 'Dew' - It's the one aspect of night ops that I'm not a fan of Catt

 

Love autocorrect ?

 

I have a lite weight wind suit that's not 100% water proof but it's breathable.

 

I always pack a full size bath towel tucked under the front deck & 2 hand towels like golfers use.

 

Getting wet is a big part of night fishing & a deal breaker for many!

 

 

[BuzzHudson19c]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

A kayak is a sitting target for a power boat to run over and I wouldn't go out on public water at night in a kayak alone.

Most of the lakes I fish only have resident power boats. There are no launches. Basically toss the kayak over the guard rail. The big lakes around here I avoid like the plague. But I agree, if I were to go out on them I would not be alone.

[diversity210]

On 7/31/2018 at 4:02 AM, Catt said:

 

ROTFLMAO ?

 

There aint nothing in the dark that aint there in the light!

 

Being in the outdoors at night aint for everyone, I've seen some very experienced outdoorsmen freakout at night. 

 

Sorry @Sam I know to you it aint funny!

Being in the outdoors at night is definitely not for everyone.  I have watched grown men freak out at night.  I have a cousin that went night fishing with me once.  The gnats buzzing around him, bats flying around catching insects, and on the water where you cant see anything was just to much for him to handle.  I had to take him back in so he could go home.  I on the other hand spent the rest of that night bank fishing.  I wont fish off a boat at night by myself.  I love fishing at night in the quiet, the glow from my propane lantern, bull frogs croaking and the crickets chirping.  Dont get to night fish very often anymore though.

 

If you are going to take someone outdoors at night.  Ask them if they have ever been outdoors at night before hand.  If they haven't.  Your night fishing trip may end up being a very short one.

[Catt]

Although I wasn't referring to things that go bump in the night, that is part of night fishing.

 

What I'm referring to is guys with 50+ yrs navigating certain waterways got totally turned around at night.

[flyfisher]

Reading al this makes me thing i might go out night fishing tomorrow night now if the rain holds out I just wish there were more places around here that allowed it.  Most of the electric only lakes are one hour after sunset type of deals.  I am wanting to do a river float but that is hard to get someone to do with me.  

[GReb]

It’s all fun and games till you meet the Rougarou