Night Fishing

[jeb]

I've lived by Beaver Lake for 4 years now. I fished it a little bit now and again with my old boat that I'd brought down from MN with me. Caught a few fish here and there, but didn't really get motivated to fish seriously until this year when we got a new Skeeter. I fished a lot up north for bass years ago, but that's an entirely different game on the mostly much shallower and much more stained water. My big bait up north was spinnerbaits, mostly chartreuse ones, fishing visible structure in shallow water. Pounding the banks, as it were.

So new skills down here were a must, which I've been learning. The spinnerbait is something I pretty much never tie on anymore! I'm much more confident with jig (rubber skirted and finesse type) and Carolina rigs.

Anyway, I see a lot of guys fishing at night, just launching at like around sunset. Lots of tournys start then, too. I figured it was mostly a "dog days" thing, or to avoid pleasure boat traffic. But they're still doing it. There was a tourny just ending last Saturday about an hour before sunrise when we were putting the boat in, for example. Very little pleasure boat traffic this time of year, and water temps are about 60. No dog days this time of year.

So the question is, is night fishing done at this time of year because the bite is better, or more of that's just when they like to run tournys? Is there a certain water temp you look for to give up on night fishing, or starting up again in the spring? Also, do you use the same baits you do in the day, like jigs and carolina rigs? I'd think night would be more of a topwater, buzzbait, crankbaits, noisy bait kind of thing rather than bottom bumping? I'm an early to bed, early to rise type, so fishing at night does not excite me much. But I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing out!

Thanks

[Dutch]

I night fish a bunch but not this late in the year. My night baits are spinnerbaits, jigs, and plastics. I have friends who use cranks at night but I don't want all those treble hooks running around after dark.

[eric1978]

Don't give up on that spinnerbait yet! It's a very productive bait, just not year round.

I'm with Dutch. My night fishing pretty much ends when fall kicks into high gear. That's not to say people don't do it or they don't catch fish, I just don't know how and I imagine it will be a tough bite.

But during the warmer months, especially summer on more heavily pressured water, night fishing can be dynamite and often is much better than daytime. Like Dutch said, a spinnerbait, big, black with a good-sized colorado blade. I'd use rattles with my jigs and plastics, and ALWAYS (in summer) at least try a black buzzbait. You could be in for a hell of a night if they're on the buzz bite. But in general, when I think night fishing, I think summer and big, dark baits that make a lot of noise and vibration.

Oh, and all those folks you see on the lake at night aren't necessarily bass fishing, they could be out after cats or crappie.

[wily]

I'm with you -- I don't care much for fishing at night, but my bass club starts night fishing the third week of april typically. we fish night tournaments until the end of september.

My favorite bait at night in table rock, stockton and grand has to be without a doubt...a 3/8 or 1/2 oz black war eagle spinnerbait with a big #7 chartreuse colorado blade -- use a saphire blue zoom super chunk trailer.

there's just something about that combination -- fish it like you were back home, and you should do great.

[jeb]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. I'll have to pick up some black spinnerbaits, it seems.

I did notice when I was fishing two evenings ago that the fish really did get much more active about the time the sun hit the tree tops. You could see the increased activity on the 'bird and the sudden start in surface activity. There was zero surface stuff up to that point. And I did boat two decent bass in fairly short order at that point. Struck me as a little odd with water temps cooling off so much.