Why I night fish!

[Catt]

I'm often asked if I night fish because I believe the bass bite better at night.

 

Or I'm asked if the bass feed at night during the summer.

 

Here's the real answer!

 

Yesterday around 2° clock!!!!!

 

[T-Billy]

I do it for several reasons, but none better than that. Jeepers, I hibernate in the A/C when it gets over 80F.

[Woody B]

Heat doesn't bother me that much.  (but it's not 110 here).   I fish at night and early in the morning because of wake boats and general heavy recreational use of the lake I fish most.   When the waves get bad I position my boat so the bow it pointed into them.  I've had waves break over my bow.   

 

[LrgmouthShad]

I like to use my eyeballs so I fish when BOB is still hanging around

[gim]

It generally does not get that hot here but it can get dang humid. I don’t do much night fishing but a couple years ago I went several times in the heat of July and absolutely smoked them. I would start around 8pm and fish until 11 or 12. A black spinnerbait was my go to presentation. I may have to try it again this season. I’m convinced it’s effective, it’s just a matter if I need to do it. Anything over about 85 is too much for me, especially if it’s muggy and hot sun, so I’m with @T-Billy and I shelter in my basement with the AC blasting.

[Captain Phil]

I started night fishing years ago in the summer.   I don't believe I have ever fished in 110 degree weather, but the summers in Florida are plenty hot and humid.  Lots of advantages to night bass fishing.   You have the water to yourself, big fish are shallower and the weather is much more comfortable.  Some disadvantages too, like mosquitos and limited vision. Night fishing is not a time to be fishing alone.  I did it, but I was young and stupid.  Little things become major issues fast.  Two friends of mine nearly sunk their boat when they hit an object out in the lake at night. They were lucky to make it back.

 

The Harris Chain had a night tournament every Wednesday night for years.  It took some serious weight to win it consistently.  I fished Okeechobee at night a few times.  It was very scary being on that huge lake in the dark.  Catching a nine pound bass on a spinnerbait made it worthwhile.

[ironbjorn]

As long as I have a gallon of water with me I'm good up til about 100*F. I tolerate heat very well. Cold not so much.

[LrgmouthShad]

7 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

As long as I have a gallon of water with me I'm good up til about 100*F. I tolerate heat very well. Cold not so much.

All about acclimation 

9 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

gallon of water

By the way, I bring two gallons with me nowadays and I drank 1.5 in a day about two weeks ago 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I had a bad experience awhile back running duct work in the summer. Since thence me and hot don’t get along. I enjoy night fishing for that reason and also it’s quieter. 

[Bird]

I'm early to bed, early to rise so not much night fishing other than occasional cat fishing.

MUCH prefer the heat over cold.

[Koz]

Since most the time I' fishing on my kayak, heat can become a factor, but not in the way you might think. It's when I get back to shore after a day of pedaling that all of a sudden it hits me. Then I have to pull 160 pounds of kayak and gear up a steep, twist concrete path to stow my kayak back in my hotel. That part sends me into heat stroke or close to it.

 

Between the heat and the pontoon boats and jet skis on our narrow lake I prefer night and early morning fishing this time of year.

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

It generally does not get that hot here but it can get dang humid. I don’t do much night fishing but a couple years ago I went several times in the heat of July and absolutely smoked them. I would start around 8pm and fish until 11 or 12. A black spinnerbait was my go to presentation. I may have to try it again this season. I’m convinced it’s effective, it’s just a matter if I need to do it. Anything over about 85 is too much for me, especially if it’s muggy and hot sun, so I’m with @T-Billy and I shelter in my basement with the AC blasting.

I thought of you last night when I botched netting a 6# ish saugeye and watched it swim off, leaving my chatterbait tangled in my net. It was the only floater I snagged. I ended up with eleven 10-17" LM in about 4hrs of fishing. We had a cool front with heavy rains come through a couple nights ago. Water temp is down 4 degrees. Everything's changed since last week. Getting ready to head out on a marathon all nighter tonight. 

[gim]

20 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Getting ready to head out on a marathon all nighter tonight.

I look forward to seeing floater pictures tomorrow!

[Catt]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

All about acclimation 

 

No it ain't! ?

[Susky River Rat]

I have not night fished much. I am not a night owl for one.  I don’t know how people navigate the river at night. You are also never alone because the catfish guys flood the waterways at night. I hate being ate alive.  Oh also the bow fisherman that look like a space ship come out.

[Swamp Girl]

I've never exactly night fished, but I typically launch in the dark for morning fishingand most evenings, I fish a half hour or so into the dark. It's a great time to fish. I agree with Captain Phil, that it's safer to go with someone, but I don't. Most people don't want to rise and shine so early.

 

It gives me the heeby-jeebies to fish the tail ends of night, but it's worth it. Here's a nice bass two nights back. I saw my rod tip go back and stay back and I heard her jump. I could tell from her landing that she was sweet. I didn't really see her until she was in the net. Netting her was hard because I couldn't see in her the dark water. I don't take a flashlight with me because it's one more thing to carry, but in a pinch, I could use my cell phone.

 

 

 

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

No it ain't! ?

So are you saying that heat acclimation doesn’t exist?

[GreenPig]

I night fish alot. Even my dumb old cows seek shade when it's hot. My boat gets too hot.

My deck after 15 minutes in the garage. Yes it will burn you .

[scaleface]

12 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

All about acclimation 

I was a firefighter for almost thirty years. I could handle heat well . Slowly it took a toll on me. I cannot tolerate it anymore.  Dr told me I've been overheated too many times 

[Catt]

6 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

So are you saying that heat acclimation doesn’t exist?

 

9 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I was a firefighter for almost thirty years. I could handle heat well . Slowly it took a toll on me. I cannot tolerate it anymore.  Dr told me I've been overheated too many times 

 

Spend enough time in the heat & yes acclimation no longer exists. 

 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

In more ways than one!

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TnRiver46]

Since we camp in a hot swamp every year and can’t fish midday, one trip we decided to night fish and frog gig. That lasted about 3 minutes before the misquotes took two pints out of us. They will respect bug spray in daytime but after dark they can drink it 

[Pat Brown]

I really like night fishing for bass.  Does wonders for your bite detection and you're gauranteed to get a few extra trophy class bass each year you commit some nights to it!

 

Bring bug spray, a headlamp, a scale with fresh batteries (you'll probably need it)

 

I haven't gotten out at night yet with Jake but summer is just getting started and it was a ritual last year during the dog days where it was miserable and still during the daytime.

 

During the late winter and early spring, my favorite time to fish is the hour or so before sunrise and the hour following sunrise.  Seems like the really big fish are the first ones to really activate in the shallows and they're most catchable and actively feeding in those pre dawn low light windows.

[Catt]

Mosquitoes aren't a issue on Toledo Bend, there is however some little gray bugs. Don't know what they're actually called but they will swarm you by the thousands. When you running at night with a q-beam...don't smile!

[Bankc]

17 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

All about acclimation 

Exactly.  100° heat in June, and I'm struggling to breath.  100° heat in August, and I'm doing just fine.  Same with the cold.  32° in October, and I'm a shivering mess.  32° in February, and it's just brisk.  

 

I like the idea of night fishing.  But I couldn't ever do it.  I did it a few times as a young man, but I work 8-5 and my body is used to getting up and going to bed at specific times.  I can push and pull those times a little bit, but there's no way I could stay up all night without getting dangerously tired while fishing and messing up my whole next week at work.  And I work on heavy machinery sometimes, so coming into work tired is a good start to losing a finger or worse.