what time for night fishing?

[wheezo]

I want to try night fishing til morning fishing...

what time would you guys suggest be good for fishing?

doesn't the bass sleep?

[KenDammit28]

night time?

A serious answer..any time can be good..there is no "best" time.  Fish don't sleep..they can't sleep...they are constantly alert, although not always moving around.  Fish are designed to be "on" 24/7.

[Gatorbassman]

Many seasoned night fishermen. Several of which guide strictly at night, will tell you that from 3am till the sun comes up is the best. This is an average over many years of night fishing.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

That being said ...............

I have read a couple of articles and my experience has supported what I have read.  Bass can see MUCH better than we can in the dark, but it takes their eyes quite a bit longer to adjust.  When a bass feels insecure about its surroundings it will hug tight to cover.  So around sunset the bite will tend to die off.  I have found that around 1 am to 3 am to be PRIME TIME and 3 to sunrise to be good.  

This theory also might explain the mid-day bite.  Their eyes might take that long to fully adjust to the light. :-/

[flipin4bass]

Totally agree with Fluke & KU.  Water temperatures around here at sunset during the dog days are around 84 degrees and you can see the fish suspended in and just above the thermocline on the graph. (25-30 feet) After 1-2 a.m. you'll see those fish start moving up into 10-12 feet and from 3 to sunrise the action will really pick up. I use to launch the boat at sunset and stay out all night, but now I'll get in a few more hours of sleep and wait until at least 1 A.M. to hit the water.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Same here, we hit it usually between 3-3:30a in the summer months. Time changes with sunrise time as season goes on.

That's why I've been up since 4 even though I'm not fishing till noon,  body clock still wants to be out there for 3:30.  

[flechero]

I'll go any night the wife gives me a pass!  But this year, more so than any other, has been moon aided or moon hindered it seems.  We have constant action on any baits while the moon is high and the bites are like pulling teeth to get after is goes down.  

I have been night fishing the same lake all year so I do not know if it's a "this year" or "this lake" kind of thing.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

THE BEST TIME TO FISH AT NIGHT IS IN THE EVENING

[cart7t]

As stated. I find the best bite right up until just a little past dusk and then you might as well pack it in and catch some zzzzz's until around 2:30 to 3am.

[Zebco202]

I have fished a lot at night this year and I'm still trying to figure out what time is best.

I have caught fish early, right at dusk and then not caught anything else until 10 or 11.

I have notiched that the activity of the fish seems to increase around 3am or so.  

Rather than "night fish", I'm thinking about trying to get out on the water maybe around 3am or so and fish until noon.

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

On dark nights like the past week I rarely spend the whole night, launching around 3am for decent action on topwaters. On moonlit nights, the brighter the moonlight the longer I stay. At full moon I'll start at moonrise and stop when the moon sets. During a full moon the fishing phases are similar to sunrise, high noon, and sunset by day.

The only rest a bass gets is suspending to digest a meal. They exist to eat and reproduce. Animals that do actually sleep live longer lives. Fish are not in that group.

Jim

[Bassassasin12]

Have not done much night fishing not because I can't go out at night or anything but... I hate the bats that infest my lake at night. I can't stand these things they will fly right next to me, swoop around my face, and are not scared of any light near me on my boat. I will usually fish from 5 am up until I see my first siting of a bat, then I am in the dock. I know it sounds girly but they really do affect my fishing I can't cast out without one of these things flying around in my face. Anybody else have this problem...???

[Lip Ripper 87]

Almost went out lastnight too. Night fishing is a blast !

I catch the most from 3-8.

and for some reason, my picture wont resize

- Casey

[Guest bigtex]

That being said ...............

I have read a couple of articles and my experience has supported what I have read. Bass can see MUCH better than we can in the dark, but it takes their eyes quite a bit longer to adjust. When a bass feels insecure about its surroundings it will hug tight to cover. So around sunset the bite will tend to die off. I have found that around 1 am to 3 am to be PRIME TIME and 3 to sunrise to be good.

This theory also might explain the mid-day bite. Their eyes might take that long to fully adjust to the light. :-/

I have to agree with this quote.  Those have been the best times for me as well.

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

I've had bats catch a lure in flight, and owls scoop them up off the water if allowed. The farther out into open water I go the less interference I find from bats and owls that prefer hunting around trees and brush.

Jim

[Craw]

Have not done much night fishing not because I can't go out at night or anything but... I hate the bats that infest my lake at night. I can't stand these things they will fly right next to me, swoop around my face, and are not scared of any light near me on my boat. I will usually fish from 5 am up until I see my first siting of a bat, then I am in the dock. I know it sounds girly but they really do affect my fishing I can't cast out without one of these things flying around in my face. Anybody else have this problem...???

Yes. They get on my nerves also. I took a friend fishing after dark once and he went to cast out a jitterbug and a bat smacked right into it as he drew back. It was nasty! Nearly every hook was stuck in the critter. I read somewhere that a single bat will eat up to 10,000 insects during a night of feeding so I'm glad they are controling the insect population. Like you though, I don't care for them getting in my face.

[JiggaMan512]

check yer moon phase tables

[Captain Cali]

I've has similar results as KU_Bassmaster. Midnight-2am seems like prime time and 3am-sunrise is good also. Some nights they bite a little earlier...some nights it's later.

[Hale]

I just read a survival story in Field & Stream about a guy who got bit by a rattle snake here in Florida. The story went on to say it wasnt his first time as he was bite on the hand by cottonmouth while night fishing. he brought in his lure thinking he had a fish and when he realized it wasnt...too late.

So with stories like that and the drastic increase in population of  the gators down here, night fishing is becoming a distant idea.

[basswagoner]

Same here, we hit it usually between 3-3:30a in the summer months. Time changes with sunrise time as season goes on.

That's why I've been up since 4 even though I'm not fishing till noon, body clock still wants to be out there for 3:30.

same here.  I usually start fishing at 3:00 and leave around 10:00 am during summer during the week (not the weekends)  The lakes are usually too busy and bass do not bite as well.   Trying to catch a big bass since spring has been a hassle (6 pounder plus ky).  I hate summer.  Come quickly fall.  I like oct. and november fishing too.  No skiers and no other recreational people on the water.  Die hards only apply.

[wheezo]

thanks for the tip.  I plan to go this weekend and fish from 3-9 or 10am...

i'm wondering if the park will let us in at that time though.

now any idea of what bait is a must for night fishing?  i know of dark worms and probably a zara puppy.  anything else?