Night Fishing

[BrianSnat]

For most of my bass fishing life I've adhered to the noisy surface lures (poppers, Heddon Torpedoes, Jitterbugs, etc) after sunset rule. I've largely done so because it seemed to produce, but there are some nights when nothing hits.

How do other people fish at night? Do bass hit well on plastic worms, spinnerbaints, crankbaits, spinnners, spoons, jigs and other underwater lures at night? If so does the presence of a rattle in the lure make a difference?

[Bass_123]

I did a lot of night fishing this past season with a lot of success. I have caught a lot of my biggest fish at night. I mainly use a 3/4 once black spinnerbait with a big colorado blade on it. Crankbaits work well also, but night fishing is all about vibration. I would recommend fishing slower.  

[Kenny418]

I like fishing jigs, worms, crankbaits, buzzbaits, and spinnerbaits at night. I use spinnerbaits with a good size colorado blade for vibration, crainkbaits with rattles or wide wobble, jigs with rattles and big trailors for bulk and vibration. This is just what I like to throw and I have done well with them. Throw what you are confident with and you will catch fish.

[Catt]

Worms & jigs are just as deadly at night as they are during the day

[cantcatchfish4somereason]

ok i got a question about night fishing how the heck do u not get hung in the bank or brush or whatever? do u use a light?

[Sil240sxrwd]

Worms & jigs are just as deadly at night as they are during the day

+1.. I have caught some of my biggest fish at night throwing a 7 or 10 inch Black powerworm or rage tail anaconda. I always stuff em with a rattle though. Gives me a little more confidence.

[Catt]

ok i got a question about night fishing how the heck do u not get hung in the bank or brush or whatever? do u use a light?

By staying away from the bank  

Personally I think using a black light at night is putting yourself at a huge disadvantage, if the light is shinning forward you tend to only cast forward, if the light is shinning to one side or the other you tend to cast only that direction.

[BrianSnat]

ok i got a question about night fishing how the heck do u not get hung in the bank or brush or whatever? do u use a light?

No light.  You can usually see the shoreline easily, particularly if the moon is out so it's really no different than casting during the day.

[Big Bait Fishing]

jig fishing with crawdad imitators are a excellent choice for as bass eat craws at night for that's when they come out (crawdads) , also big topwater baits like the lunker punker in 6'' size .

[Steve_in_Maine]

I also read to use black lures when night fishing, something about the black will blend in with the darkness and not allow the fish to see that it's a fake food source.

Vibration and rattles help at night as well.

I have a black spinnerbait and a black jitterbug that I use exclusively at night.

Steve

[Lund Explorer]

The way it was explained to me, you use black or other dark colored lures because they actually stand out from the background.

Almost anywhere you fish, there is some amount of light.  Moonlight, or even shoreline cottages or dock lights allow for some light on the surface of the water.

Having said that, I'm not really sure if that is the biggest factor.  I think that vibration, noise, or simple water displacement are more important to attract the bass.

[c0brajet351Sr]

Almost all my fishing is at night. No light. The old classic Manns blackberry firetail was my fave but can't get them now. Bass, warmouth, specks and bluegill would all hit on them. Caught a 5" large mouth that got hooked on a 6" worm 3.0 hook. The black red glitter has been doing great all year long. Most of out water is clear/tinted.

[BassinSoldier]

a black spinnerbait with a single LARGE colorado blade is my favorite night time lure.

[Chris]

I fish the same way I would during the day for the most part. If you have a hard time picking up the vibration differences between your lures and fish I would suggest changing to lures that you can hear or feel better. Not being able to see does effect the fishermen more than the fish and it would odds in your favor.

[ring fry]

Worms & jigs are just as deadly at night as they are during the day

Especially after the initial topwater bite leaves.  I've found that there is usually a 1 - 3 hour period after darkness sets in that topwater doesn't work as well.  I like dark swim senkos and black n blue jigs during this time period.  Then I'll go back to the buzzbaits, jitterbugs, tiny torpedo and spinner baits.  

[32251]

I fished last night till about 2:30 AM.  Caught a nice batch.  I am starting to enjoy night fishing more than daytime fishing.  I just drifted along with the wind being very quite and staying off the bank just far enough for a very modest cast with a plastic worm, 5/0 hook.  Just cast toward the bank and lift the rod tip to move the worm and wait for the tug or the "tap, tap"..drop the rod and make your move to either strike then or lightly hold the line and feel what the fish is doing.

I was fishing a lake that I know very well so even in the dark, I know where I am. If I was fishing a lake I did not know, I would only go on a moonlight night for some visuals on where the shoreline is.  I have only used worms.  Might try some of the spinner bait action mentioned above.