Night time Bassin?

[HOIST-N-HAWGS]

I do more night fishing in July and August more then any other. Not that the rest of the year won't produce but avoiding the jet skiers and and the humidity that you can cut with a knife is the objective here. Yes i'm a bit biast against the JS's >

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Last year I tried the night fishing thing and I had no luck. Not even a bite. I threw everything at them. black buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, black and blue jigs, senkos, frogs, and anything else i could think of. I am going to continue to try but I must not be doing something right?

I fished deeper water most of the time so maybe I need to go shallower? The problem with that is I can't see the bank so I have a hard time throwing close to the cover.

Any suggestions?

Signed those night fishing pictures are killing me. LOL

We aren't much for throwing at ther bank in any light but during the night, we especially concentrate on flats.  15-20 ft water with a flats that comes up to 8-10 ft or so.

Bizz- I KNEW that was coming,lmao

[WRB]

Didn't take the time yet to read 6 pages of this long thread, so here is my thoughts on night fishing.

First prepare you tackle and boat for night fishing by having limited number of tackle choices and all the spare batteries, lighting, GPS, spot light, cell phone, extra cloths and someone who knows where you plan to fish. Water at night is unforgiving.

If you are not familar with night fishing, start by fishing the marina area and use a texas rigged Berkley Power worm. T-rigged black worms have caught more night bass than all the other lures combined.

I normally promote fishing outside structure areas during the day light period and move with the bass towards the shoreline at night. Target long sloping major points with cover, sandy beaches that are close to rocky areas, islands, dam rip rap and marinas.

Worms at night should have a ribbon or paddletail that produces vibration and rattles in the bullet weight are also a good sound attractor. Use black with either red or blue high flakes as highlights. This is the highest percentage color at night. The T-rigged worm is weedless, snagless and doesn't hang up even when you cast it onto the bank into trees or whatever.

Bass roam the shoreline and stop for short time periods at ambush sites like isolated brush, rocks, trees etc. Smallmouth will be out in deeper breaks, then the largemouths.

If the bass are active, try a deep running DD15 Norman blck/red crank bait or single spin 1/2 oz black spinner bait, Surface lures can be good around weed line breaks at time, but you will need a light to cast accurately. A steady pace is best at night with surface lures to allow the bass to time the strike.

If you are a good jig fisherman, a black 1/2 oz jig works well, however the plastic worm gives more time to get a hook set.

Try a underwater green light set just below the transom to luminate the water around the boat. The underwater light helps to see the bank well and to net hot fish. A clip on hat light is handy to see to tie knots and find stuff. Flash lights are a must.

Keep only one rod and reel outfit on the deck at one time, put everything else away. Keep the few lures you need in one area so you don't need to search for them. Use heavier line than in day light, 15 to 20 lb mono works well.

I did read the lead post and do not agree that deep structure bass are better at night. I'm a deep water structure fisherman and move towards the shallower breaks at night. If you stay outside then fish the major points and islands, that is where the vast majority of big night bass feed, near shore.

WRB

[Bob Kavanaugh]

I caught my biggest bass at night last year. I live up the hill from Pickwick, so I'll go down and fish from 10 to midnight just for kicks. Here's a pic.

[fourbizz]

Good read WRB, we night fish much the same way!

[Catt]

Night fishing areas: I normally fish the same areas fished during the day with one exception; night lighted areas. Lighted docks, lighted boat ramps, a row of camps with lights along the bank or a single camp with a light near the water. I know a killer spot on Toledo Bend where a road parallels the water's edge with several streetlights within 10 yards of the water. These lighted areas are also productive during a new moon and should be fished thoroughly.

Shallow verses deep water: I have not noticed a distinct advantage one way or the other. I will normally fish both areas thoroughly staying with the one that produces the best results. However shallow water does offer a greater opportunity to use different baits.