Spinnerbaits at night...

[OkobojiEagle]

When throwing spinnerbaits after dark (>1/2 oz), do you use baitcasting equipment or switch to spinning rod/reel?

 

 

oe

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Baitcasting, I don’t throw big spinnerbaits on spinning gear. 

[Russ E]

Definitely a Baitcaster. 

the only time I use a spinning reel , is when I am fishing the micro Spinnerbaits.

When I am throwing a large Spinnerbait it is usually around cover. Using heavier line than my spinning setups will handle.  plus I have a lot more control with the Baitcaster.

 

 

[Dens228]

Just out of curiosity why would you think you'd change the rod/reel based on time of day?

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, Dens228 said:

Just out of curiosity why would you think you'd change the rod/reel based on time of day?

Reduce the chance of backlashes would be my guess.

 

I use baitcasters almost exclusively at night. 

[OkobojiEagle]

25 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Reduce the chance of backlashes.

 

 

As I age my night vision is getting pretty poor!  I'm beginning to think I should be throwing all night lures with a spinning rig.

 

oe

[Dens228]

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Reduce the chance of backlashes would be my guess.

 

I use baitcasters almost exclusively at night. 

Got it.....

[soflabasser]

On 11/17/2018 at 10:51 AM, OkobojiEagle said:

When throwing spinnerbaits after dark (>1/2 oz), do you use baitcasting equipment or switch to spinning rod/reel?

 

 

oe

I prefer size 4000 Shimano reels with a 6'6''-7'0'' medium heavy rod for spinnerbait fishing (day or night) but most people prefer using baitcasting gear. Have caught plenty of big bass this way and I use the same gear for inshore snook and tarpon fishing so my gear is more than enough for bass. In the end you have to choose what works best for you since you will be fishing it.

[WRB]

You still need to tie direct to a spinnerbait day or night. I use the San Deigo jam knot for spinnerbaits, easy knot in the dark using the lure as a weight to hold the double line.

I also use heavier line at night because most strikes are on shorter cast and big bass strike spinnerbaits. For me line over .011 dia on a spinning reel is a problem with line twist and tieing braid direct is asking for trouble if you hang anything up and never use a leader with 2 knots to deal with in the dark

Bait casting at night.

Tom

[Catt]

15 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

As I age my night vision is getting pretty poor!  I'm beginning to think I should be throwing all night lures with a spinning rig.

 

oe

 

Is your problem not being able to see you lures land?

[Mobasser]

I use baitcasting. Heavier mono line also.

[OkobojiEagle]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Is your problem not being able to see you lures land?

exactly

 

oe

[Derek1]

Since your probably casting a little shorter anyway can’t you tighten up the spool tension. Seems like that would help allot. 

[WRB]

I had night blindness for most of my life until cataract surgery corrected the problem. No more halos around lights at night and normal recovery from light at night. You can't judge distance very good in darkness because nearly zero depth perception so casting to targets at night becomes a practiced art or add light. When casting towards shore I try to keep a known distance away so my standard casting motion can be repeated and always feather the spool with my thumb to prevent any over runs. I can't cast a spinning outfit accurately as a baitcaster.

Catt will give you good advice he spends more time night fishing then anyone I know of.

Tom

[Dens228]

I think I judge the thumbing my the sound or feel of the spool.  To be honest I'm not even sure! LOL  I know that often times at my favorite fishing hole I am often heading into the sun at dawn and can't see the lure as I cast. Now I need to make sure that I don't think about it next spring because it'll probably screw me up!

[J.Vincent]

I prefer BaitCasting gear for Spinnerbaits morning noon or night....I want the control and the ability to feather a cast while reducing the impact all that metal can have when contacting the water. If it's super dark outside I just wear a head lamp set to low , it can produce enough light and reflection to make casting accuracy better at night.

[Boomstick]

On 11/17/2018 at 2:00 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Reduce the chance of backlashes would be my guess.

 

I use baitcasters almost exclusively at night. 

Same. The presentations I'll be fishing at night are more often than not more suited towards casting gear.

[Catt]

14 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

exactly

 

oe

 

If it helps with comfort & confidence then by all means use spinning tackle.

 

The crazy sport of ours is very mental ?

[WRB]

We all have different experiences using light at night fishing. The majority of my experiences night fishing from boat is during tournaments and you see all types of lighting from flood lights to black lights no lights. My suggestion is use a 25 watt 12VDC shop clamp on flood light when target casting to the shoreline. Light doesn't seem to affect bass negatively and definately helps anglers to see where they are casting at night. I settled on a high power underwater squid light transum mounted that luminates water around my boat making netting bass at nigh easier and indirectly lights the shoreline enough for accurate casting.  

Agree that confidence is extremely important so do whatever you are comfortable with.

Tom

[Catt]

I'm not a huge advocate for using lights of any kind. I think they're nothing more than a distraction. 

 

The reason oe loses track of where his lure will land is because he can't track it in flight... lights will not help.

[Bluebasser86]

Lights aren't an option here unless you like being covered head to toe in bugs of every kind. It's really bad if you're sweating and they hit you and stick. Had a lot of hot nights bowfishing with the flood lights we'd be covered in bugs by the end of the night. I wear a strong clip on hat light for retying and unhooking fish and carry a spotlight for navigation with the outboard, otherwise it's lights out.