night fishing tips?

[jettech]

I'm thinking of doing some night fishing this year.  I was wondering what id need and what you guys take and do different.  I need some tips if you dont mind...

[Mattlures]

Process of elimination. Start on top and big. Then go on top small. Middle and big then middle and small. Bottom and bid and then bottom and small. If all elese fails split shot a night crawler.

Big top=wake bait /swimbait

Small top=buzzbait/popper

Big middle=swimbait

Small middle= spinnerbait/slow crank

Big bottom=Big worm

small bottom= small creature.

If you find one of these that is working you can substitue the bait for something similar if the fish get wise to you.

Also in general the hotter it is, the better your chances are at a topwater.

The colder it is usualy means very slow on the bottom.

[Catt]

I fish the same lures, the same techniques, in the same place I do during the day

[backpain...]

I fish the same lures, the same techniques, in the same place I do during the day

X2 I love night fishing, just hate the insects that the lights attract! 

[RoLo]

I'm not a nocturnal aficionado because my night fishing is limited to the dog days of summer.

(though it's never too hot for bass...it may be a little too hot for the old man).

I'll work all the same holding sites that I hit by day, but the depth range of coverage

will extend further up on shallow flats. I'll use the same noisy lures that I use in murky water,

for instance, I'd switch from tandem willow-leaf blades to a single Colorado blade

and break out the jitterbug, which I no longer chuck by day. Where there is no light,

there is no color, so all my night lures are dark in color to produce the most contrast

against the dimly lit sky (black, brown, purple & red which becomes black at night).

Finally, the retrieve on average will be a tad slower to allow some zero-in time,

but will hinge on the intensity of moonlight, if any.

Roger

[D4u2s0t]

I fish the same lures, the same techniques, in the same place I do during the day

beat me to it.  Who says you have to do anything different at all?   8-)

[J Francho]

My only advice, be careful, take it easy, and don't get frustrated.  Oh, yeah, same for day light fishing

[BluegrassBoy]

I night fish in the summer when the heat of teh day gets too much for me.  I prefer clear nights with a full moon, but can make do on any night.  When the moon IS full, I like Black Buzzbaits, Black Spinnerbaits, and I paint wiggle wart crank baits black.  If those dont work, I like firetail powerworms Texas Rigged.

[santacruz]

I put a post up about what i learned from nite fishing.Jigs spinners and big worms are my favs.Like some others said fish same way i do during the day.You will be surprised how much your feel of touch will be enhanced.

[florida strain]

use black lures

[BluegrassBoy]

who here uses black lights and flourescent line?

[BassThumb]

I burn a Citronella candle on the boat to combat the bugs at night. It works pretty well and they come in sizes that you can fit snugly in a drink holder. Just don't let them overflow on your carpet if you go that route.

I spend a lot of time tossing a 1/2 - 3/4 oz. black and red spinnerbait with an oversized deep cupped Colorado blade on it. Sometimes I also shrink-tube a jig rattle to the hook shank and I always use a trailer hook at night. I'm probably a little too reliant on this bait, but it always seems to work and it's fun bumping this thing at night.

When I'm not tossing the spinnerbait, I'll use black Jitterbugs, large T Rigs, and buzzbaits. I typically cover a lot of water at night, running and gunning weedlines where the flats meet deep water. I know some people anchor on their favorite holes and silently soak T Rigs in them, but I've good luck with R 'n G. They say that anchoring and fishing slowly and silently is the way to go for size, but if you cover water you can rack up serious numbers and have a blast.

Another thing, take care to protect your eyes at night, especially with treble hooked lures. I wear Native sunglasses with the clear lenses in, or else shop glasses.

[Bankbeater]

Try and visit the area you'll be fishing during daylight hours to get an idea of the terrain. The last thing you want to do is crack your head on a low hanging limb that you didn't know was there.

[burleytog]

Buy a blacklight.

[Bass_Akwards]

Use baits with more sound and action and especially vibration. 

Also, if you have to fish a worm or a creature bait or a jig when it's dark because top water bites are off,  be aware that at night, you won't be able to watch your line like you can during the day so you have to have an awesome feel for what's going on at the end of your line.  If you feel a "tap" when fishig a big worm on the bottom at night, how do you know when to set the hook?  It can be tough and it takes practice and feel.

[eyedabassman]

Use baits with more sound and action and especially vibration.

Also, if you have to fish a worm or a creature bait or a jig when it's dark because top water bites are off, be aware that at night, you won't be able to watch your line like you can during the day so you have to have an awesome feel for what's going on at the end of your line. If you feel a "tap" when fishig a big worm on the bottom at night, how do you know when to set the hook? It can be tough and it takes practice and feel.

Use a black lite if you want to watch your line!

[fishn hard]

You dont need a black light just a good rod

[K_Mac]

Night fishing is a great way to sharpen your skills. It will force you to focus on what your bait is doing. It really is not all that much different than fishing during the day. Roadwarrior in a post several years ago said something like, "just like fishing during the day, only darker."

I do tend toward bigger: worms, jigs with rattles, and single colorado blade spinnerbaits, all in a darker color, usually black. Sometimes working a spinnerbait like a jig, popping it a foot or two off the bottom and letting it fall can work well.

If you are not naturally organized, you must force yourself to be when it comes to night fishing IMHO. Too many rods, too much tackle, or anything else out of place is a bad idea.

A full moon on a clear night is as good as it gets. A new moon is good too, but for the night fishing novice a full moon is better. I can't wait for the water to warm up a few more degrees. I'll leave the light on. Stop by and say hi. 8-)

[A-Jay]

I love the night watch. Everything seems so different at night. The best thing is, you will routinely have the water all to yourself all night. As usual you have gotten some great responses from anglers who have burned more than their share of midnight oil while on the water. I'll add this ~ Having a very intimate knowledge of the area your fishing will really help when fishing at night, especially the first few times out. Knowing where the logs, rocks, shallow bars and all other hazards to navigation are is a must to ensure your safety besides being the areas that usually attract a few fish. GPS and waypoints help quite a bit but once you get on a spot, knowing which way the point extends and how far or where the weedlines starts and ends will help put the odds in your favor. Also when traveling from spot to spot - go slow - even if you know the lake like the back of your hand you might not see that partially submerged log ahead of you. Only go as fast as you are willing to crash into something. Besides, what's the rush, you've got all night ! Good Luck.

A-Jay

[Tirador]

After you get "hooked" on night fishing, you'll find yourself loading the boat in the daylight more and more. It's just too hard to leave the PRIME time on the lake. Watch out for fog in early morning just before sunup, not so bad now w/GPS, but years ago it was easy to fish around an island more than once before you relized it. It don"t get any better than hearing the Plop Plop Plop of a JitterBug coming at ja and then the lake exploding or just sudden slience and your arm jerked off! When you are all alone its easy to focus on everything thats right with the world. Live like a mushroom, keep it in the DARK!

[jettech]

Thanks for the info guys...Im looking forward to giving this a shot.