Night Fishing Tips

[clemsondds]

Ok so I went fishing last night in a pond and caught 8 LMBs.  So I've got the bug a little ha...other than losing a few lures because I can't see anything lol.   I am going on a trip next week and will be staying at a lake all week and thought I might do a little night fishing.  I have been out a few other times at night on the lake and have struggled a little.  Can anyone give me tips on where to fish?  Do you treat it just like daytime, and either fish deep or run down the banks?  Do you mostly fish by graph?  One last question, when fishing a worm with a curly tail, do you just treat like any trig and slowly raise the rod and real as you lower it, or do  you just do a very slow and steady retrieve and let the tail create the vibrations?  Thanks again for the help! 

[Bluebasser86]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/176285-night-bassing-~-a-jays-version/

[clemsondds]

Thanks that's a great read!  So looks like most have said they bank fish if it's closer to new moon and fish deep if it's closer to full moon.  Anyone else any thoughts?  I love bank fishing but when trying to use no lights, sometimes it's hard to see cover/structure and get the line wrapped around limbs or something too much.   tips? 

 

Also, didn't see anything about how they work a worm at night. (fishing worm that is...) Do you continue to sweep the rod and then let it drop, or just a slow retrieve and let the tail do the work?  

 

[scaleface]

I have never caught any bass deep at night but other people do. I fish shallow but like you said its hard to fish cover . My favorite places are shallow on main lake flats . Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits work well and one can just randomly cast and catch fish . Shallow on main lake points are real good . I like to add crankbaits and plastic worms to my arsenal there . Riprap banks are easy to  fish , once again spinnerbaits , buzzbaits and crankbaits are my choices .

 

If its bright enough and I already know where the cover is , I will attempt it.

[WRB]

Catt is the resident night bass fishing guru and says bass don't morph into a different fish at night so fish the same way you do during day time.

Me, I morph into a nearly blind bass angler at night and have learned to rely less on vision and more on all my other senses. A LED hat light comes in handy to find things and tie hooks. When the boat is on the water you must have navigation lighting and moving you should be able to see where you are going, use a good spot light.

Some anglers use black lights, others use flood lights or no lights. Light attracts bugs and doesn't seem to bother bass, it's your choice. 

My suggestion is start out using a Texas rigged soft plastic worm with sliding bullet weight and glass bead, you will improve your strike detection skills at night. Berkley Power worms are popular choice. 

Good luck,

Tom

[clemsondds]

Thank you!!

[Rodney Smith]

I don’t ever really “night fish”, just the hour or so before daylight. I have caught them on jigs, worms, crankbaits, etc. This year, I have had the best luck with a Black Neon Chartreuse Biffle Bug on a 11/16 hardhead. I out a rattle in and use some scent. They hit it hard and the hookup ratio has been almost 100%. A lot of fun. 

[Catt]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

bass don't morph into a different fish at night so fish the same way you do during day time.

 

Their food source doesn't morph into a new creature either!

 

I fish the same structure, with the same techniques as I do during the daytime.

 

If I'm on a productive pattern that includes a Redbug worm you can bet your sweet bippy that I'll be throwing that worm after the sun sets!

I let the bass tell me, hey dummy I don't like that color no mo! 

 

Deep vs shallow or bright vs dark.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/176722-night-fishing-bright-vs-dark-nights/#comment-1995505

[Bird]

I fish all day several times a week, it's actually exhausting so continuing into the night is not likely for me.

BUT when I was younger I quickly learned that bass do indeed hit at night as we would consistently catch smallmouth and largemouth all night while cat fishing. 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Bird said:

I fish all day several times a week, it's actually exhausting so continuing into the night is not likely for me.

 

When I night fish I don't day fish at all.

 

My mornings start at 6:00 pm, I'll eat supper, fix a to go box for later, & be on the water around 7:30 pm. 

[clemsondds]

Ok thanks! 

[Hammer 4]

For lighting, try a red light if you want to be stealthy..

[shootermcbob]

my all-time favorite night time fishing lure is a 5/8 ounce black jointed jitterbug. I have caught so many fish on it ...wait...never mind! ?

[Bird]

20 minutes ago, shootermcbob said:

my all-time favorite night time fishing lure is a 5/8 ounce black jointed jitterbug. I have caught so many fish on it ...wait...never mind! ?

Lol, I brought this subject up at work today and this fanatical fisherman said the exact same......black jointed jitterbug. 

Ok I'm fanatical also but old and drink maybe a little to much for night fishing. 

[Angry John]

I like single hook baits at night.  Jigs are great baits and easy to get out of bushes and trees.  Swim jigs and single hook Texas rugged swim baits are all winners.  Fighting your gear sucks when you cant see.  I run my favorite most familure setups at night.  Copolly line make life easy as a small backlash is not a show stopper.  Braid at night is not my bag of worms but others may feel differently.

[bazzelite19]

It seems like bass really like to put thier nose on the bank and root around at night especially in stained water. I will literally parallel the bank right next to the water line along hardbottom spots, hitting any wood or spots that stick out a little. Usually stained water night bassin is a handful of fish mission and maybe a big one. But in clear water or stained water thats more clear( 18" vis or so) you can catch way more then you can during the day if you can fish decently well. Generally i start off with a black rage craw since it has scent and good vibration, i can fish it nice and slow. Rattles cant hurt. A slow rolled chatterbait is also a good option. Squarebills are overlooked ( and maybe a bit harder to fish) but will darn sure snag a inaccurate striking bass. Dont underestimate using lunker sauce or some bang garlic on your slow moving baits. Ive caught a 7 pounder in lake Hamilton Arkansas at night on a piece of cut bluegill, it was actually in 10 foot or so under a dock. But it had to pick up the scent because i was catfishing and not moving the bait. I also had a experience at night where i caught a 2 on a piece of hot dog. Scents can be a positive player. Most people are two lazy or grossed out to use them . but i could see huge advantages using it at night

[Harold Scoggins]

Big, black frogs.

[clemsondds]

Do you find bass are a lot less active at night during winter months?  I would think the night bite would be a lot less during colder months, but maybe I’m wrong. What do y’all think? 

[Catt]

4 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Do you find bass are a lot less active at night during winter months?  I would think the night bite would be a lot less during colder months, but maybe I’m wrong. What do y’all think? 

 

False  ?

 

Bass in cold water still feed just not as often because of slow metabolism. They are still predators & will strike out of reflex.

[clemsondds]

Well I have fished the same ponds I do in summer the last couple weeks at night and have not even got a bite in the last three trips. Temps range from 34-55 degrees. Usually in summer, I’ll catch around 4 or 5 at night. Not sure what I’m doing wrong 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I caught fish in Ma at night on topwater thanksgiving week. Water temps were In the 40s. We had a few warm days so I knew I had a chance. Super shallow pond. It’s one of my go to night spots. 

[Choporoz]

I fish the same.  With two big exceptions.   I check my lights before I go: hat light, and kayak light, especially.   Make sure you can see, and more importantly,  that you can be seen. 

And, I put treble hook lures away when lights come on....even the jitterbugs get stowed after it gets really dark.

[clemsondds]

Yeh I’ve discovered that night fishing is a lot more fun when I don’t get hung up...so I only fish weedless.  And it’s safer too ha 

[WRB]

Let me think about night fishing when it's cold and windy verses warm and mild weather.

Cold and windy no bugs, warm and mild could be bugs....I will put with a few bugs in lieu of freezing my butt off and so stiff I might fall out the boat.

Tom

[OCdockskipper]

On 9/14/2019 at 10:37 PM, Hammer 4 said:

For lighting, try a red light if you want to be stealthy..

Although in some parts of the country, a red light may attract a few amorous johns...