the free-rig. i think i understand.

[LrgmouthShad]

51 minutes ago, RRocket said:

skeptical. If bass fishing was as good at night here as during the day, many anglers would be doing it.  And nobody does

Dude I really don’t like to night fish because it messes with my sleep schedule so much and I am dead the next day. Super hard to make a habit of it, and a little unhealthy if we are working daytime hours during the week. I really only like to do it when I get a long weekend.

 

Many anglers don’t do it because it is hard, in more ways than one

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, RRocket said:

Should be an easy comparo. I must admit...I am skeptical. If bass fishing was as good at night here as during the day, many anglers would be doing it.  And nobody does.

You can't know everyone, so you really can't say nobody. Almost every big bass I've caught came at night or on the edge of night. Nearly every big bass my close friends have caught and even friends through our extended network have caught came at night. My best numbers session by a huge margin came at night.

 

3 hours ago, RRocket said:

Am wondering if it's one of those odd regional things that works well in X but not in Y.

Perhaps, but we have very diverse lakes here. My local spots are all super shallow and are more ponds than lakes, so it makes sense that bass are less willing to expose themselves and chase during the day. Go farther out east and the lakes get far deeper, but the results are the same. Night fishing rules around here.

 

Like @AlabamaSpothunter said, it's a way different vibe. I admit I'm addicted to it because I'm peaked in every way imaginable at night. Tuned in a completely different way. I simply don't get the same rush fishing and catching during the day. It's not even close. It's almost boring to me in comparison.

 

Don't imagine that fish will be jumping into your boat and dismiss the exercise if they don't right off the bat. You'll need to figure out how the lake works at night. Don't be surprised if you break your PB if you do.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

5 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

You can't know everyone, so you really can't say nobody. Almost every big bass I've caught came at night or on the edge of night. Nearly every big bass my close friends have caught and even friends through our extended network have caught came at night. My best numbers session by a huge margin came at night.

 

Perhaps, but we have very diverse lakes here. My local spots are all super shallow and are more ponds than lakes, so it makes sense that bass are less willing to expose themselves and chase during the day. Go farther out east and the lakes get far deeper, but the results are the same. Night fishing rules around here.

 

Like @AlabamaSpothunter said, it's a way different vibe. I admit I'm addicted to it because I'm peaked in every way imaginable at night. Tuned in a completely different way. I simply don't get the same rush fishing and catching during the day. It's not even close. It's almost boring to me in comparison.

 

Don't imagine that fish will be jumping into your boat and dismiss the exercise if they don't right off the bat. You'll need to figure out how the lake works at night. Don't be surprised if you break your PB at night if do.

PhishLi proves it's not regional that's for sure, night bassin on Long Island is hardcore, and he doesn't have to do it to avoid the heat like us in the deep south.  

 

Agree though about night bassin being really special.   Ever since I started doing it in high school, it's been the closest I've gotten to the feeling of being in Space, or 10,000ft under the sea.......it's absolutely a foreign environment, a place where humans aren't naturally supposed to feel comfortable at/in.    It's a hostile environment with all the bugs, dew point which makes everything wet, not being able to see more than a foot in front of you half the nights of the month.   

 

We have no wind down here at nights as well, the level of quietness is unmatched in my universe.   

[RRocket]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

PhishLi proves it's not regional that's for sure, night bassin on Long Island is hardcore, and he doesn't have to do it to avoid the heat like us in the deep south.  

 

Agree though about night bassin being really special.   Ever since I started doing it in high school, it's been the closest I've gotten to the feeling of being in Space, or 10,000ft under the sea.......it's absolutely a foreign environment, a place where humans aren't naturally supposed to feel comfortable at/in.    It's a hostile environment with all the bugs, dew point which makes everything wet, not being able to see more than a foot in front of you half the nights of the month.   

 

We have no wind down here at nights as well, the level of quietness is unmatched in my universe.   

Went night fishing! 

 

Sunset tonight was 8:07pm, so I endeavored to go out 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours after.

 

It's a place I fish often only minutes from my house.  I use it to test new gear, baits, etc I also fish here if I need to be close to home or if I'm just too lazy to travel far. It would be accurate to say I fish here hundreds of times per season.

 

I fished a free rig, which I've been fishing for a couple years now at least. Texas rigged a DoLive Beaver as I thought the water displacement by the claws to be beneficial after dark. Plus I like the Senko-like stall after the weight hits the bottom. It's been a good bait for me.

 

From 6:07 to 8:07 I caught 6 fish. Nothing giant of course, but still very fun on 4lb test. I have included a picture of the first fish of the evening.

 

From 8:07 until 10:07 I didn't have a bite. At all. Nothing. It's as if a light switch was thrown. But all was not lost! I did get to see a small weasel swimming and foraging along the water's edge! That was a treat! 

 

Since I was out already, I decided to go to a marina/harbour. I have fun here dock skipping, throwing around the boats and the walls. Zero bites. Zip. Now both places are quite weedy (Texas/weedless rig a must) so I don't know if that plays a role? I'm obviously no expert here! 

 

Needless to say, I'm really disappointed. I just don't think it's a "thing" here. Surely I should have had ONE bite. One touch. But as noted, it's as if a light switch was flipped. Now I have caught fish after dark at both of these locations on topwater. But this was more like dusk-until-you-can't-see topwater fishing and not something well into the night as I did today. You are indeed correct to point out that I don't know everyone. But I do know guys who would not only know about it if it was a thing here, but would be doing it too. I just don't think it is...which is really disappointing as this would have opened up more fishing opportunities for me. I'm jealous of you guys! 

 

I'm not giving up after one night mind you. I'll be out at night for the next 3 days using the same scenario. Will try other water displacement baits. Might throw a Jika with a Boar HogZ. Will think on it. Would love to throw my new poop baits as they have been stellar in the day! 

 

At any rate, just thought I'd update.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

12 minutes ago, RRocket said:

Went night fishing! 

 

Sunset tonight was 8:07pm, so I endeavored to go out 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours after.

 

It's a place I fish often only minutes from my house.  I use it to test new gear, baits, etc I also fish here if I need to be close to home or if I'm just too lazy to travel far. It would be accurate to say I fish here hundreds of times per season.

 

I fished a free rig, which I've been fishing for a couple years now at least. Texas rigged a DoLive Beaver as I thought the water displacement by the claws to be beneficial after dark. Plus I like the Senko-like stall after the weight hits the bottom. It's been a good bait for me.

 

From 6:07 to 8:07 I caught 6 fish. Nothing giant of course, but still very fun on 4lb test. I have included a picture of the first fish of the evening.

 

From 8:07 until 10:07 I didn't have a bite. At all. Nothing. It's as if a light switch was thrown. But all was not lost! I did get to see a small weasel swimming and foraging along the water's edge! That was a treat! 

 

Since I was out already, I decided to go to a marina/harbour. I have fun here dock skipping, throwing around the boats and the walls. Zero bites. Zip. Now both places are quite weedy (Texas/weedless rig a must) so I don't know if that plays a role? I'm obviously no expert here! 

 

Needless to say, I'm really disappointed. I just don't think it's a "thing" here. Surely I should have had ONE bite. One touch. But as noted, it's as if a light switch was flipped. Now I have caught fish after dark at both of these locations on topwater. But this was more like dusk-until-you-can't-see topwater fishing and not something well into the night as I did today. You are indeed correct to point out that I don't know everyone. But I do know guys who would not only know about it if it was a thing here, but would be doing it too. I just don't think it is...which is really disappointing as this would have opened up more fishing opportunities for me.

 

I'm not giving up after one night mind you. I'll be out at night for the next 3 days using the same scenario. Will try other water displacement baits. Might throw a Jika with a Boar HogZ. Will think on it. Would love to throw my new poop baits as they have been stellar in the day! 

 

At any rate, just thought I'd update.

It's a species thing ultimately, if you're fishing for Largemouth Bass especially, they'll bite exceptionally well during typical "good nights", "feeding windows", etc. the same they will during the day.

 

Some nights the first two hours after dark are the best, and the bite slowly dies to nothing after the 4th or 5th hour and I'll leave.  7-10 days ago this was happening quite often.

 

Other nights, I can't buy a bite from 8-10pm, and then BOOOOOM......I'll blast three 5lb+ fish in less than an hour like on the 30th., and the bite continues to stay on until I get too tired to fish.  

 

Then even more some nights you'll be out there not catching a thing, next thing you know you're caught in a thunder storm getting rained on and catch two 5lb+ fish in 10mins.   That happened the 28th.     So it was most likely an environmental window.   

 

My point is the way fish bite or not bite is no different than during the day.....some times it's like shooting fish in a barrel, other days you wonder if somebody poisoned your lake.    

 

You keep fishing at night, I'll 100% promise you'll catch fish.   Time on water friend, applies to night the same as day.  

[RRocket]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

 

My point is the way fish bite or not bite is no different than during the day....

 

 

I can reliably catch fish in the same windows everyday. I certainly haven't been skunked any day at this location.

 

 It's precisely why I chose this particular location for my night fishing. I know the fish are reliably there during the day.

 

I guess the only way to know for sure is to pull an all nighter fish session.

 

I'm still not sold on what works in Region A works in Region B. Have seen too many peculiar things in my fishing life. Heck, some fish won't eat a certain color bait, so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they won't eat as readily at night here.

 

 

[Pat Brown]

There's almost always a lul usually from around sunset til moonrise for most people.

 

True night fisherman go out at 11pm and stay til 6 am.  The biggest feeding windows seem to be around sunset and sunrise but there's a special time from around 2 am to 5 am where some really big fish seem to feed at most lakes I've fished.

 

You'd be surprised.

 

Fish smaller profiles and less action at night plenty and catch giants doing it.  I fish the season/conditions and body of water the exact same at night as I would in the daytime and mostly ignore the darkness.

 

It they normally wouldn't go for a free rigged big flappy thing, I'd skip it this time of year at night.

 

It's my experience that Bass usually bite the same stuff they bite in the daytime, just a little bit more aggressively at night. And it helps to move a little slower sometimes so they have some time to find it.  But they find it.

 

Try a buzz toad over those gnarly weeds.

 

A lot of time when the lil fish stop biting (quiet in the kiddie pool) you gotta figure they're afraid of being potentially eaten/it may be a signal the big girls are around.

[RRocket]

28 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

There's almost always a lul usually from around sunset til moonrise for most people.

 

True night fisherman go out at 11pm and stay til 6 am.  The biggest feeding windows seem to be around sunset and sunrise but there's a special time from around 2 am to 5 am where some really big fish seem to feed at most lakes I've fished.

 

You'd be surprised.

 

Fish smaller profiles and less action at night plenty and catch giants doing it.  I fish the season/conditions and body of water the exact same at night as I would in the daytime and mostly ignore the darkness.

 

It they normally wouldn't go for a free rigged big flappy thing, I'd skip it this time of year at night.

 

It's my experience that Bass usually bite the same stuff they bite in the daytime, just a little bit more aggressively at night. And it helps to move a little slower sometimes so they have some time to find it.  But they find it.

 

Try a buzz toad over those gnarly weeds.

 

A lot of time when the lil fish stop biting (quiet in the kiddie pool) you gotta figure they're afraid of being potentially eaten/it may be a signal the big girls are around.

I do use a buzz toad (Z-man Billy Goat) and I'm well aware you can catch fish on topwater after dark. Have done so.

 

I'm interested in sub-surface...And as of yet have never caught a Largemouth this way after dark.

 

Am having great success with Cover Scat during the day. So I'll give it a go and do a full night session.

 

Sadly, there are no giants here...or they are extremely rare. For example, the totals put up by AlabamaSpothunter would have won the last local BassMaster tourney by about 8lbs. And the record largest bass ever caught here is a smallmouth.  I truly am jealous of the quantity and quality of fish people catch on this forum. With it was like that here! 

 

Pulled in this 3 pounder moments ago though! 

[LrgmouthShad]

I enjoyed going out July 4th weekend this year to night fish 8pm-4am. I feel that was a good window of time to be fishing. Most catches were 8-9pm, and then 1-3am. Biggest fish at 12:15AM. 
 

I still don’t think catch rates or fish quality varies, for me, between day or nighttime

[Pat Brown]

@RRocket that's my favorite way to night fish!  Perfect.  You'll definitely find bigger fish on the bottom at night.

 

Are you familiar with the old night basser wisdom: Some nights they want the jig.  Some nights they want 'the worm' (which I have learned basically just means a soft plastic/free rig/t rig/c rig/drop shot.  If you can't buy a bite on the free rig after 20 minutes or the bite on that shuts down, switch to a jig and craw.

 

I don't know why but there are nights I can't buy a bite on a worm and then start crushing with a jig and vice versa.  Keep it at the back of your mind when fishing bottom contact at night.

[RRocket]

5 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 

I still don’t think catch rates or fish quality varies, for me, between day or nighttime

You can't believe how badly I want this to be true here! I work afternoons/nights exclusively. So on those days when I'm done just after midnight it would be a dream come true to go and have productive fishing immediately after work.

[RRocket]

Ok! 

 

I've roped the wife to come with me as my "support staff" for the all nighter tonight!  A couple weekends ago I had her fighting and catching Channel Catfish almost as big as her! 

 

Bless her heart for putting up with and participating in my fishing silliness! LOL ?

 

She's definitely my best catch ever! 

[Darth-Baiter]

For the record. Free-rig failed  me today. 
 

too much wind, waves.  I should have tied on a heavier weight. 
 

went heavy TRig and saved myself the skunk. Buzzer beater!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

For the record. Free-rig failed  me today. 
 

too much wind, waves.  I should have tied on a heavier weight. 
 

went heavy TRig and saved myself the skunk. Buzzer beater!

Yeah with my current boat setup, bottom contact slow retrieve fishing is quite a chore in even 5mph winds.

 

I think that's another reason I love summer night bassin so much, one of the few times of the year I don't have to deal with the wind.   Every night is slick calm for the most part.  

 

I need to buy some 5/16th, 3/8th and even some 1/2oz free rig weights so I can fish them in the wind during the day over the upcoming months.  

[LrgmouthShad]

One time I went out, it was 15mph winds at night. That was a little freaky

[RRocket]

Sun is down! Cooler and portable firepit packed! 

 

Bowfin are irritating with blow ups! 

 

Time to catch some bass (hopefully).

 

[RRocket]

Not. A. Single. Bite.

 

Again.

[LrgmouthShad]

7 minutes ago, RRocket said:

Not. A. Single. Bite.

 

Again.

Yo what. I’m actually shocked 

[Darth-Baiter]

Not even a mosquito “bite”?

 

Sorry. Too soon?

[RRocket]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Yo what. I’m actually shocked 

Just got some take out and I'm going to try again! 

 

BTW, have you ever Texas rigged a Sweet and Sour Chicken ball or wacky rigged Chop Suey...because it might come to that! LOL ?

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Not even a mosquito “bite”?

 

Sorry. Too soon?

Mosquitos aren't terribly bothersome. Are they bad out your way? 

 

What I did notice was spiders!! So many spiders everywhere after dark!! 

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

Not. A. Single. Bite.

 

Again.

It can go like that. We spent 3 bite-less and windless hours last night under a bright moon, but clouds came in with a dash of wind and it was game on for 45 minutes until the clouds passed and the wind stopped. After that you'd think the fish had been transported to a different dimension. Not even a peck.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Night fishing cured my arachnophobia, than again they are the larger water type spiders.....not exactly black widows or brown recluses.

 

You'll get murdered down here without 40% deet lol.   

 

Way to hang with it, I've never heard of place where they wouldn't bite at night.

[LrgmouthShad]

21 minutes ago, RRocket said:

Just got some take out and I'm going to try again! 

 

BTW, have you ever Texas rigged a Sweet and Sour Chicken ball or wacky rigged Chop Suey...because it might come to that! LOL ?

you got any single colorado thumper spinnerbaits?

[RRocket]

42 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

you got any single colorado thumper spinnerbaits?

I'm an ultralight/finesse specialist, so no.

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

 

You'll get murdered down here without 40% deet lol.   

 

 

No kidding, eh? Sounds miserable.

 

And the spiders here were of the web type.

[RRocket]

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

 

Once again.

 

I do have an anecdote, though I have no idea of the significance. Maybe someone will have insight..or not.

 

Before heading home I stopped by the harbour. Was going to try some skipping. Several of the boats have what I would call "mood lights" shining into the water from the swim platform. One had a blue light and I could see a HUGE bass lazily cruising in/out of the light.

 

I threw everything under the moon. The bass investigated every single thing. Very slowly, very lazily, very deliberate. Just checking things out. No sign of urgency, no aggression..Nothing. Just a lazy stroll. No idea what any of this means, if anything. I do wonder what, if anything, would have triggered a strike.

 

I must admit....I got REALLY excited the first time the fish approached my bait....but no, it was just trolling me! LOL ?