Night fishing

[whitwolf]

Night fishing is a different animal and there has been countless posts discussing techniques, times, and baits. 

 

I'm more interested in stories. Whatever you want to share I suppose.

 

I'm usually one of maybe 10 boats and usually the last one out there. It can get a little spooky at times but it's usually uneventful. There have been a few times though that I had the fire scared out of me. 

 

I was hung up and went in to get it. About the time I was reeling down to the bait a snake dropped from a tree right beside me. I about crapped my pants.

 

I was fishing a night tournament and was coming out of the mouth of a creek to get on plane into the main  channel. It was foggy. I always idle, looked around, and out of nowhere a Black boat come flying in and missed me by a few feet. I was so rattled I fished for another half hour and loaded up and went home.

 

I was out in late May on a nice night and had done quite well. As dawn was approaching I decided to fish ? one more spot and then head home. I was in the middle of the channel and barely saw a group of kyackers paddling towards the main channel with no lights, helmet or otherwise, not a care in the world. I was furious and they were clueless.

 

What do y'all have?

[Catt]

Pat & I were back in a little cove one cloudy overcast night in his 15' Alweld; he was up front with me in the back.

 

From where I was in the back of the boat the bank was maybe 15 yards away; suddenly we hear this loud high pitched scream that raised the hair on the back of our necks, then the sound of something crashing through the buck bush along the bank followed by something splashing through the water straight behind me.

 

Before Pat could pull up the trolling motor I had the Suzuki fired up and was ricocheting off of stump not stopping until we were a good ¼ mile off shore.

 

Didn't know what it was but I knew where it aint!

[A-Jay]

While out on the local waters before & after daylight, in 10 years plus, I've never seen another rig, ever.  I do everything slower at night and I assume nothing.  Had my share of 'scares' but they have been mostly harmless deals that involved local wildlife; beavers, owls, muskrats, and large wading birds.  

 

Much of my own more serious night ops 'stories' are all work related.

 

Without going into too much detail, on at least two occasions (one off Boston Harbor and the other off Portsmouth, VA I think), we prosecuted night time cases where a large cabin cruiser attempted to pass BETWEEN a large ocean going tug boat and the line of barges it was towing. These tow cables are often very long setting the barges quite a ways back behind the tug.  On radar it can actually look like two separate surface contacts.

However, the massive tow cable between the two says otherwise.  Both pleasure boats were traveling at speed on plane.  That did not help either, not that anything would in this case.

 

 Lost count of the number of commercial & recreational vessels that collide while on plane at night with stationary hard targets.  This list includes but may not be limited to, Docks, Moored Vessels, Rock Jetties, as well as an assortment of US Coast Guard Aids to Navigation (buoys and day beacons, both lighted & unlighted).  

Rarely is that a good time for anyone or anything on either end of these deals. 

 

Becoming disoriented in any low visibility scenario is the single most common detrimental  contributing factor in each of the above. Complacency comes in at a close second IMO.

No one is immune as Commercial, Professional & recreational captains alike have all fallen victim to this.   Committed Attentiveness is The Only Defense.   

Otherwise it's only a matter of time.  

Stay Safe

A-Jay

[DitchPanda]

I don't night fish bass as much as I should...never really have. Therefore all my night fishing stories revolve around catfish and 30 racks of miller high life!

 

[Catt]

Catt & Pat are sitting on a little ridge just south of Indian Mounds; full moon is barely on the horizon, slight southerly breeze.

 

I make a long cast towards deep water and start the count down to the bottom. The Texas rigged worm settles down when there's that classic "Thump", drops the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook. Nothing gives, then in a microsecond on my knees, rod half under water.

 

 

Catt: Yells get the net!

Pat: For what!

Catt: I think he's heading for the Louisiana side

Pat: You gonna land em or what

Catt: Aint you suppose to play em first?

 

Finally back to my feet, line singing again, drag slipping, rod all bowed up.

Catt: He's headed for Six Mile, if you start the big motor we can head em off.

Pat now standing behind me: Want me to pour some water on your reel?

Catt: No! just get the gun!

 

Look a swirl just under the surface, a sudden dive for freedom, you're mine sucker.

Pat with quick move and it's in the net: Took you long enough.

Catt falls back into the seat drops his rods on the deck: Dude let's see it.

Pat turn on the interior lights:

 

Shoot it's only a stripper!

Catt sits up, lips it and grabs the tail, gotta be at least 36"

Pat digs around in the console for the scales 16 LB 5 OZ.

 

Catt: Slipping it back in, that's a hawg right there.

Pat: Don't count it's a stripper!

Catt: Still a hawg

Pat: You're still down 7 to 4, shut up & fish.

[jimmyjoe]

   I'm a shorecaster.

   Some years ago, I was walking at night on a perfectly flat, smooth surface alongside the river. The next thing I knew, I was headfirst in the Mississippi. Hit my head on some rocks. Still have the scar.

   I don't fish at night, lantern or no lantern, companions or no companions. You can have it, I don't want it.    ?                        jj

[gim]

3 hours ago, whitwolf said:

I was hung up and went in to get it. About the time I was reeling down to the bait a snake dropped from a tree right beside me. I about crapped my pants.

 

LOL now that's a good one.

 

Fishing at night is something I used to do regularly for walleyes and muskie many years ago.  We especially hammered the walleyes with lighted bobbers.  I never really got into bass fishing at night...until last season.  The extraordinary amount of boating traffic last season on several of the lakes I fish required a new tactic - either pray for more rainy/cloudy days or go when they aren't out in full force.  Well the several trips I went at night really did pay off because they were some of the most successful outings I had all season and I caught the biggest largemouth of the season fishing at night too, a 20.5 incher.  Its something I intend to do more of this upcoming season too.

 

I didn't fish any really big popular lakes at night last year but years ago when I was out at night on Lake Minnetonka or Mille Lacs I was always worried about getting t-boned at night even though we had our lights on.

[Mobasser]

When I was young, in my late 20s, I had a wife and four kids at home. On Friday night, I would wait until around ten or so, and go walk the banks at a small lake near my house, for a couple two or three hours.                                               I had read about a Florida angler who caught many ten pound plus bass on a black muskie jitterbug. I bought one and never caught a single fish on it.                                                                 The best spot was an old, half sunken dock with a light above. Bats would circle the light, and the bugs were thick.                            I caught many bass on a black 5/8 oz jitterbug, a dark spinnerbait, and big 10" plastic worms. Smaller bass would smash the jitterbug right at the bank, making it seem like you had a much bigger fish. Overall, the spinnerbait with a pork chunk trailer proved to be the best lure here.                                                             One night I cast too close to the moss edge and realized I had fouled my lure. I reeled in, flipped on my headlamp and thought I saw something move. When I looked up, there was a deer standing not ten ft away. We looked at each other for a few seconds, then with one leap she was gone into the darkness.                       Now I'm 63, and I hope to relive these memories with my grandson this summer. Night fishing can be fun. And, it's a great way to develop a feel, for strikes on soft plastic baits also.

[ATA]

Most of you guys have night fishing with boat experience, I do fish at night a lot, not only summer but all the year.

For me night fishing horror is mosquitos, Man you cant do anything about them, slightest light and they will eat you up. and imagine you need to tie a knot in that situation, thats horror.

But if you have little wind they will be gone.

My story of loosing that two digit is with me forever. 

I went to some spot in SoCal, where the kern river going in lake isabel, thats one of my spot for night fishing.

I was using 65lb straight braid with 1oz jig with strike king trailer, a big bulky black and blue jig for heavy cover.

ive hear the bass jumping to the surface but she missed my frog cou[ple times, so I tied the jig and cast it to her, I swear I hear the splash that she got my jig once it touches the water ad bam I have it set the hook of my life time and I am about to horse her BUT she just gave a good first dance/jump and cut the 65lb Power Pro like a cream puff and poof she gone.

Oh I forgot to mention after she cut the line, She didn't realize that and she was tail dancing for about 5 second till she realized that there is no line, only the jig in mouth

That was my most interesting story, that fish could have change my life but she gone with my jig.

I am sure that jig would not stant in her mouth so I wasn't worry about her health.

[TnRiver46]

One day I will go night fishing. I’ve tried many time and always fell asleep. We have a good shad spawn bite at night in spring time . It’s not exactly safe where I live but I know a few places without boat traffic. A good many bass fisherman have crashed and drowned at night in East TN 

[lo n slo]

back in the day....night fishing with my cousin always included at least one “box” of beer, sometimes more. aside from an occasional beer, neither one of us drink anymore. short stories to follow.

 

flying down the lake through a gaggle of geese will sober a man up real quick. i can still recall the sound of those large birds whizzing by my head in the pitch black darkness.

 

or the time we were fishing an old abandoned intake structure when this sailboat came easing by us, no lights of course. but the love sounds emanating from inside the vessel would make a sailor blush.

 

and lastly, flying down the lake to our favorite row of lit up docks only to find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a midnight sailboat regatta. not cool.

 

please be careful y’all 

[river-rat]

I was fishing alone on a Mississippi River oxbow one night many years ago during a full moon. Around 4:00 AM had decided to fish an area near the landing and then call it a night. As I neared the landing I heard a series of long, slow howls that I was sure came from the landing area. I don't know if it was a dog, coyote, or a rougaroo (Cajun werewolf) but I sure wasn't going to find out. 

 

Needless to say I got the hell out of the area and waited until after daylight to come home. I'm not one that spooks easily, but Mama didn't raise no fool.

 

 

[roadwarrior]

 

The legend says when a person comes into contact with the Rougarou and sheds the blood of the beast, the Rougarou will then be changed back to its human form. The victim then becomes the Rougarou for 101 days.Oct 20, 2016

 

[MIbassyaker]

OK, I did not know there was a Cajun Werewolf. Learned something new.

 

All we got up here is Bigfoot.

[scaleface]

My cousin and I watched a huge fire ball go clear across the sky . Next days newspaper said it was space junk re-entering the atmosphere .

[GreenPig]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

Pat & I were back in a little cove one cloudy overcast night in his 15' Alweld; he was up front with me in the back.

 

From where I was in the back of the boat the bank was maybe 15 yards away; suddenly we hear this loud high pitched scream that raised the hair on the back of our necks, then the sound of something crashing through the buck bush along the bank followed by something splashing through the water straight behind me.

 

Before Pat could pull up the trolling motor I had the Suzuki fired up and was ricocheting off of stump not stopping until we were a good ¼ mile off shore.

 

Didn't know what it was but I knew where it aint!

That scream was me with my rabbit in distress predator call. Rolling the log down the bank was the icing on top. Got you off my spot didn't it. ?

[lo n slo]

40 minutes ago, scaleface said:

My cousin and I watched a huge fire ball go clear across the sky . Next days newspaper said it was space junk re-entering the atmosphere .

i bet that was awesome 

[Catt]

51 minutes ago, scaleface said:

My cousin and I watched a huge fire ball go clear across the sky . Next days newspaper said it was space junk re-entering the atmosphere .

 

I've seen that many times & twice watched it hit Toledo Bend.

 

[Bankbeater]

One night about 15 or so years ago we were letting the breeze push the boat.  We were maybe 20 feet from the bank.  We just stopped moving.  It didn't feel like we rode up on top of anything, or hit anything.  Started the trolling motor on low to back up or turn the boat, but we didn't move.  Finally we started to reach under the boat with paddles to see what was going on.  After about 2 minutes we started drifting again. 

[Koz]

I have never fished at night but now that I'm out of gator country I want to give it a try. Last night when I ran out to the store I saw a couple of guys bank fishing on Oconee. They had a generator and massive lights to light up a huge area in one of the coves.

[Whatever]

On New Years Eve, the Puget Sound Ferry boats shut down. So my partner wanted to go diving on the local ferry dock, for Ling Cod and Dungeness crab. It was the only night of the year when this was safe, due to ferry traffic. We hit the water at midnight, and dropped down to 60' depth, and started through the submerged pilings. We had picked up a few dungies, when I saw another light coming towards us. My first thought was an alien being stalking us underwater! It turned to be a man and his wife, doing the exact same thing we were. We all met on the beach afterward, and had a good laugh!

[GreenPig]

9 hours ago, Koz said:

I have never fished at night but now that I'm out of gator country I want to give it a try. Last night when I ran out to the store I saw a couple of guys bank fishing on Oconee. They had a generator and massive lights to light up a huge area in one of the coves.

Probably bowfishing. You can shoot a ton of carp in the winter at night.

[K1500]

On 2/5/2021 at 10:41 AM, Catt said:

Catt & Pat are sitting on a little ridge just south of Indian Mounds; full moon is barely on the horizon, slight southerly breeze.

 

I make a long cast towards deep water and start the count down to the bottom. The Texas rigged worm settles down when there's that classic "Thump", drops the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook. Nothing gives, then in a microsecond on my knees, rod half under water.

 

 

Catt: Yells get the net!

Pat: For what!

Catt: I think he's heading for the Louisiana side

Pat: You gonna land em or what

Catt: Aint you suppose to play em first?

 

Finally back to my feet, line singing again, drag slipping, rod all bowed up.

Catt: He's headed for Six Mile, if you start the big motor we can head em off.

Pat now standing behind me: Want me to pour some water on your reel?

Catt: No! just get the gun!

 

Look a swirl just under the surface, a sudden dive for freedom, you're mine sucker.

Pat with quick move and it's in the net: Took you long enough.

Catt falls back into the seat drops his rods on the deck: Dude let's see it.

Pat turn on the interior lights:

 

Shoot it's only a stripper!

Catt sits up, lips it and grabs the tail, gotta be at least 36"

Pat digs around in the console for the scales 16 LB 5 OZ.

 

Catt: Slipping it back in, that's a hawg right there.

Pat: Don't count it's a stripper!

Catt: Still a hawg

Pat: You're still down 7 to 4, shut up & fish.

Most strippers are at least 100 pounds....

[Catt]

52 minutes ago, K1500 said:

Most strippers are at least 100 pounds....

 

Not freshwater Strippers ?

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

In my young and foolish days I learned that strippers were found around structure ... mostly small stages with vertical poles.  Been a long time though so this info could be out of date.