newbie night fishing help

[kllrbee]

Hey all,

Going out tomorrow night to kayak fish with buddy of mine. The problem is that neither of us has ever fished at night so we have no idea if we should do somethings different or what.

It is a small lake (100 acres or so) and there are no motorized boats allowed. So, in regards to safety, not being seen by other boaters is not an issue. We each got one of those headlamp LED lights, but they dont seem to shine out very far.

Dont exactly know what to ask here, would just like any advice that you can give me before we head out tomorrow night.

Thanks.

BTW, I figure Ill be using mostly topwaters, like a black jitterbug.  Also, jigs and spinnerbaits, like a black/blue bitsy bug with black/blue 4" worm and a dark spinner that Ill rip along the surface.  Does this sound like a good start?

[BASSclary]

Try a black buzz-bait. And fishing at night I always like to make sure I have a good light 

[burleytog]

Don't understand why everyone thinks you have to throw black at night.

[Bassn Blvd]

Don't understand why everyone thinks you have to throw black at night.

X2

Use whatever you use in the day time, just fish it a bit slower.  I've been doing very good with Senkos lately.

[Catt]

Contrast is more important by far than color at night. If you fish water where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try white skirts with a white trailer. The usual night time favorite black is the second choice in shad populated lakes. Black or dark hued lures give maximum contrast at night when run on or near the surface.

[kllrbee]

Interesting.  I just assumed to use black cuz everything Ive read says thats the best to use.

But the whole contrast thing makes more sense to me than color.

Thanks guys.   

[Scorcher214]

I've heard that big worms like a 10in Thumper or a Zoom ol' monster worm. I've fished at night only couple times, and it was it was only a few minutes into dark. Bugs were really bad.

[NorcalBassin]

Recently fished a night tournament... had all the blacks and blues ready to go with the buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters as well as 10" worms. Thought for sure we'd kill them with all the "night" gear everyone typically recommends. After a couple hours of nada, we went back to what we'd use during day light and the bite magically picked up. Wish I'd known that before I bought all the "night" colors.

[evrgladesbasser]

Contrast is more important by far than color at night. If you fish water where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try white skirts with a white trailer. The usual night time favorite black is the second choice in shad populated lakes. Black or dark hued lures give maximum contrast at night when run on or near the surface.

Can someone please explain "contrast" to me. I would think bright or more visible colors would be more "contrast" at night than black. Why would black be good at night as opposed to white? Are you saying black is more visible in the dark than white? I hear this said all the time it doesn't make sense to me. Thanks

[Catt]

Contrast: degree of difference between the lightest and darkest colors.

Against the night sky your theory makes sense but against the surface of the water it does not.

[evrgladesbasser]

Contrast: degree of difference between the lightest and darkest colors.

Against the night sky your theory makes sense but against the surface of the water it does not.

I'll just have to take your word on this one... Thanks

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Hold a white bait up in the moonlight and a black one.  Which one do you see better?

Darker colors tend to absorb light, where lighter colors tend to reflect them.  If there is very little ambient light there would be very little reflected light.  With a darker color, it tends to trap available light.  You won't necessarily see any details, but you'll have a very good outline of the lure.

[evrgladesbasser]

Hold a white bait up in the moonlight and a black one. Which one do you see better?

Darker colors tend to absorb light, where lighter colors tend to reflect them. If there is very little ambient light there would be very little reflected light. With a darker color, it tends to trap available light. You won't necessarily see any details, but you'll have a very good outline of the lure.

Now that makes more sense to me thanks

[MikeFl.]

Don't overlook your senkos! Weightless or Carolina rigged.