Night Light Fishing

[Feathers and Fins]

I think it really helps if you find the baitfish and predator fish before dark and then set up in that area. I like a lot of main lake points. I usually cruise 5-10 of them in the area I want to fish, see which one has the most activity and then set up there. It can be a little difficult to get solidly anchored at Stockton so I usually wait until the forecast is for light wind. I also dont like doing it with a bright moon. either new moon, late rising moon, or cloud cover seems to be the best for me.

Double anchor method works to stop that issue. It is the go-to approach for catching the monster Largemouths in Cali. Process I like to use is set the bow facing the way the wind is coming from. First thing to do is drop a marker where you want the boat to be. Now set the bow anchor 100 feet in front of the boat using twice the normal weight you would then back the boat down 100 feet past the Marker and drop another anchor and position the boat back to the marker. It will lock you in place.

[Bird Watcher]

Double anchor method works to stop that issue. It is the go-to approach for catching the monster Largemouths in Cali. Process I like to use is set the bow facing the way the wind is coming from. First thing to do is drop a marker where you want the boat to be. Now set the bow anchor 100 feet in front of the boat using twice the normal weight you would then back the boat down 100 feet past the Marker and drop another anchor and position the boat back to the marker. It will lock you in place.

Stockton is a different animal when it comes to anchoring a boat. I don't think you fish it much so you might not have experience with what I'm talking about. I'm talking about using double anchors. I've been using double anchors as long as I've been splashing a boat in the water. I keep 2 16#ers in my boat. Stockton is higher in elevation than the surrounding countryside. Especially Cali or Beaver. If the weatherman predicts 10mph, it will be 25 mph on Stockton. Trying to anchor a boat on a main lake gravel point or a steep drop is next to impossible in those conditions without throwing 50# of anchors in the water on 300' of line. When it's windy like that, I just find one of the bridge piers on a channel drop and run a line around the pier with bumpers between the boat and the pier.

[Feathers and Fins]

Sounds like fishing during Santa Anna Winds 40 to 60 mph. Grapnel anchors were mandatory, lost more than my share of them but they did hold in high winds. People often think Cali lakes are low and flat and the truth is many of them are just like the Ozark Lakes as they are in the mountains for the most part and much of the same structure minus bridges and boat docks.

[Haulin Bass]

HEY YOU TWO VI-QUEEN FANS! I'm from Wisconsin der hey. A tru blu cheese head yah no! LOL,,, (And a Packer Finatic!)

LOL,,, Nice to see yooz two. I have been here for 13 years via Miami (FLA). Grew up in Sturgeon Bay (that's up yours,,,, peninsula I mean.) "The County Of Door!"

And when my wife and I got married in KC, we honeymooned in Branson, and settled down here in the Ozarks.

But my experience with dat der night fishin' has just been a GREAT EXCUSE TO GO OUT DRINKIN!

I use 2 lanterns one in front, one in back, and I usually park in a cove, or under a bridge,, (CC Access is great for this). And you just fish like normal. (* But get a headlamp with a blue or red light, or you will be chewing your beers!)

Bugs so dam thick you'll need a respirator!

[waterpossum]

The first thing I check when going fishing under the lights is wind direction. You can save yourself a lot of heartache by positioning the boat on the backside of a cove or bay protected from a head on wind. Ideally I prefer 35'-45' of water close to the channel. Its hard not to graph bait fish in the channel, especially this time of year. Always use two heavy anchors. I don't drop the lights off the side of the boat. Instead I use about a 9' pole that I can tie the light to and extend it away from the boat. If you use live bait it is much easier to see the tip of your pole and eliminates lights inside the boat that only serve as bug attractors. I never go looking for brush, this is strictly open water fishing with the goal to attract bait fish.