Night fishing

[Greg]

I tried my hand at night fishing for the first time last night. It went OK. I was up by the dam from around 6 PM to 11 PM. It's pretty challenging to throw a fly when it is that dark. When it started getting dark I switched to a mohair leach. The fishing was fair. But the biggest fish of the day/night came at about 10 PM. She hit a purple leech. (thanks Michael). One of the bigger trout I've ever caught. Approx 22" by the markings on my rod. Only one problem though - no way to take a decent photo at night. My adventure does bring up a few night fishing questions to ask of those of you that night fish regularly:

I had a headlamp (I felt pretty silly)- do you leave it on all the time or do you turn it on only when landing a fish or tying on flies? That seemed to work best for me. It seemed like I could actually "see" better when it was off. But the lamp worked well for tying on flies and releasing fish.

Does the retrieve speed make a big difference at night? In the daytime a really slow retrieve works best for me when I'm stripping streamers. But last night a faster retrieve worked better.

How do you take photos at night? I know it can be done - I've seen the pics.

Any other tips?

Thanks,

Greg

[Rolan Duffield]

Greg:

If you want to take pictures at night, your camera must be equipped with a flash unit. Flash pictures from small cameras are most effective in a range of 4 to 6 feet. You will need to read your manual to learn the effective range of the flash unit.

[Greg]

The camera I had with me had a flash but I've not had good luck taking photos when it is pitch black out - even with a flash.

Greg

[Leonard]

Greg...

In my opinion ( from a guy who does alot of night fishing)...

Yes There is a big different in retrieves... I have seen them want it so slow .. that it was darn near sitting still but they wanted it moving..

then in the fall the browns like them fast..

But remember your retrieve that you used this time.. and start with that the next.. then start changing speeds... if that dont work within the first 30 minutes or so.. change colors...

As far as the light goes.. I really only use mine to walk with or tye on a fly... Beleive it or not.. when it is that dark you can still see your fly (depending on its size) in the fishes mouth... But there has been a few time in the fall where I had to have a flash light to run a fish down on the bank.

as far as the camera goes, I seen some really nice ones that does a crisp clear night photo .. I beleive Michael has one... may ask him on what type he uses..

[Danoinark]

If you are using a digital camera most have a nighttime setting which automatically sets the correct exposure and allows flash. You may check that on your particular camera.

I use the red beam on my halogen headlamp when tying on flies.

The high beam white for walking in and out.

Dano

[Aeronikl]

I've been fishing at night this week, but down below Bull Shoals. The techniques - strips, etc. that I use at Taney are all working here. I started with very short, quick strips, and was catching fish, but on one cast was distracted by biting insects, and let the fly drift for a few seconds, always under tension so I could feel a strike, and started getting more fish. Most of the time, just casting at a 45 angle and stripping immediately gets me more fish at Taney, since during no flow periods you can almost cast and strip in any direction. With the water movement here, even hours after generation stops, the casts have to be more "classic" river fishing style, by the book. After the fish started taking my woolies on the drift, I started to slow my retrieve, to steady, with pauses, and it worked, too. I guess what I am saying is, I agree, start with what worked last time, but don't be afraid to experiment. Assume when one fish does something different, that it may be worth a try to change, even if you are catching some at the time.

About lights, I use one with 3 settings - red, diffused white leds and a bright white. The red is very good for finding stuff in the vest and getting ready to add tippet or tie on a streamer, etc. I use the first white level at the last moment to help release the fish, especially important to keep an eye on the fly and tippet at that time to avoid getting hooked up myself in the excitement, and it makes it faster to get the line back in the water for the next fish. The bright light is for getting in/out or for moving, if not trying to move just by feel, inches at a time. I will also use it if I'm having trouble with seeing to tie. I used to worry about turning away from the water when the light was on, but I almost always see large trout at my feet when I point it down, and they never move away, so I figure it isn't a problem. I'm sure you thought of it, but for anyone who is thinking of trying this type of fishing, never manuever at night, in or out of the water, without backup lighting. I always carry a second headlight, if I have room, but always extra batteries, and a small maglite flashlight that uses the same battery size. It will do everything the headlamp will in a pinch, and can be held in the mouth to tie on or in the hand to move. I always take a coleman propane lantern, the battery fluorescent type works, also, and place it exactly at the water level, usually next to me or at a 45 downstream, on low setting, just enough to see the water level. After a bad incident at Beaver, several years ago, I wouldn't go anywhere without it. It is invaluable here below Bull Shoals, and at Taney, where I know by the water level where I start, where I'll be able to wade in other areas, helpful as well.

Regarding cameras. My wife and I have been professional sports and outdoor photographers for many years. Although we normally use the camera bodies, digital now, with many interchangeable lenses, we always own a point and shoot camera for fishing photos. We just got a new digital one, and made sure it had several important features. Just to name a few - decent flash strength, out to 9-11 ft., with a 400 ASA setting, a viewfinder, not just a screen, because with the red light on your headlamp, you can see enough for a fishing picture at night, even if the camera has touble focussing. "Red eye" removal feature can also be good. The red light can also be enough to let you see on the screen. Buy a close-out or used one of better value that can afford to be dunked and lost, if you can afford one, because accidents happen. I know there are some waterproof ones, we've had them, but they are pricey. A heavy duty ziploc works well for storage in the vest. Practice before you use it in the river, just like casting! (I tell people to practice casting at home, as it's gets dark, or with eyes closed to prepare themselves, but you really can see pretty good on the river, when your eyes get acclimated. Fog is more of a problem than lack of light.)

One last thing, after mentioning ziploc bags, and I'll shut up. As much as I hate it, carrying a cell phone on the river down here is absolutely essential. Since most fishing is well down river from the dam, and you can't hear the horn, changing water conditions and potential bad suprises are the norm. I call the real time generation phone number at least every hour, starting at 5 minutes after (they seem to always start or make changes on the hour or 1 minute before!)and that gives much needed warning for changing conditions where you are. I have found the charts and info on the websites to be very good for determing when the water will be going up or down where I'm fishing.

As I said, this is my first trip here, and I asked about it on the Forum before I came, and I can't thank enough, the folks who responded, especially Mr. Berry.

Good luck and fish safe.

[Micheal Kyle]

Greg,

I'm glad the leech worked, as you all know I would rather night fish at Taney than any other time. I think that the presentation of the fly at night is the most important thing, it can make or break you at night. One thing that I love to do is change the presenation about every five min. until you start catching fish. I will sometimes strip slow and long slow and short fast and short fast and long or just let the fly drift down strem. There are nights when I will let the fly just sit on the bottom and wait for line to move down strem. Sometimes that will not work then I will start changing flies. I will cast a fly 10-15 times nothing I will change But at Night it seems that any shade of purple will work the best. The only times that I will cast the light colored flies is when the moon is 3/4 to full and is up. On the head lamp I use one that clips on to my hat that is very light weight and is blue in color. I try and avoid bright white lights at night because you will spook the fish. The only time that I turn my light on is to retie a fly and to retie tippet. I have been down there numerous times and get boxed in by people because I do not use a light very much. When I here them Comming I will turn it on for breif second then turn it off I do that a couple times. On the camara I have a water proof pentax the OPTIO 6.7 mp great camara for night you point and shoot. I pretty sure you have seen the pics form the camara. I will post more latter read the second post that I have made

michael

[Micheal Kyle]

more to the post from befor

I am a frim beliver you must remain mobile when fishing at night and what I mean by that is don't be afraid of moving ether upstream or down. One would like to think that once you have fished a hole that would be it. But you might be surprised by what would happen if you went back to same hole that you already fished earlier. I have seen it down there when the fishing sucks and you have been moving around go back to some holes that you have already hit and it turns out to be a good night. A person can cover a lot of ground down there at night because sometimes you will be the only down there. every couple cast move down a couple of steps.

More on the retrives do not be afraid of trying off the wall flies you do not always have to be on the bottom to catch fish at night especailly in the summer. Big rodents tend to fall in the water and so do big bugs at night. In the summer I will fish a big mouse and big cicada pats. Great fly to skip along the top of the water. Those leechs will work somtimes at night with out any weight on them just stripping them through the top 6" of water. But you want to be sure that you are getting the fly in front of the fish. And what I mean by that is be sure to keep your line tight so that when the fish hits what ever you are casting to them your not ripping it out of thier mouth because if you do have slack in your line you must first tighten your line to set the hook. So mend your line just as would during the day. I know that this sounds complicated but belive me a little practice at night it will be second nature. If I could give you one peice of advice is that do not be afraid of throwing big flies nothing is to big a night especially in the fall. When you have that fly in the your vice it might look huge but big fly=big fish. Big fish did not big by eating scuds all of there life.

That Pentax camara that I use I bought from Jerry form Lawrence Photo for around 300 great piece of equipment. I hope that helps out I know that some of this post repeats the first post but I got busy and lost my train of thought. Having loged abot 100 nights a year for over 10 years some years more some years less. I would have to say that is good avg. Any way what I'm saying is if there is any body out ther that wants to learn how to fish Taney at night I will teach you. And try and give to you the knowledge that I stuffed in my little pea sized brain. One thing that I have thought about doing is night fishing forum if there there would be any intrest. because then I could have a hands on with euipment and flies. Let me know if any of you would be intrested on doing that some night. I know there are few in Springfield and a few in Branson. So maybe we could come up with a location that would be in the middle. Or maybe we would do it down on Taney who knows just let me know if you are interested.

Michael

[Greg]

Thanks to everyone. I got some very good info. I don't think I'll ever do all or most of my Taney fishing at night but it was definitely a nice change of pace and something I want to do more of and get better at.

One thing I learned that very night is that I need to take my cell phone. I didn't let my wife or sons know I was going to stay that late (I wasn't sure I was going to night fish). They were very worried and on the verge of driving down to make sure I hadn't drowned. I actually got a "lecture" from my 18 year old son! Now that's role reversal.

I think a night fishing forum would be a nice idea.

Michael - I'm definitely interested in going with you sometime. Maybe we can talk about it the next time I'm in your store.

Thanks again everyone,

Greg

[Micheal Kyle]

Just let me know