At night under the lights

[ten_scoach]

Every year I hear about fishing at night under the lights. Going to give it a try. What sort of features should a person look for when setting up? What depths should be targeted? I'll be using minnows. Thanks.

[Dutch]

We used to do that along or at the end of bluffs. Normally set up in 25-30 fow.

[Terrierman]

I read about it a fair bit before buying a really bright LED unit that produces green light. I'm looking forward to doing it again. Went once with a friend years ago and we did pretty good.

[Nathan Shaw]

I use Coleman lanterns. I prefer the camp fuel lanterns. They put off a different light and are more quiet than the propane ones. The objective is to draw in bugs which draws in minnows which draws in fish. I usually set up close to or over top of a brush pile or pole timber (more often than not in deeper water, 20ish). It's a good relaxing time. I recommend it!

[ten_scoach]

I bought a 4 ft green florescent light. Will give it a go. Sounds like 20ish water. Transitions like bluff ends or structure like timber.

[jbooth24]

I use Coleman lanterns. I prefer the camp fuel lanterns. They put off a different light and are more quiet than the propane ones. The objective is to draw in bugs which draws in minnows which draws in fish. I usually set up close to or over top of a brush pile or pole timber (more often than not in deeper water, 20ish). It's a good relaxing time. I recommend it!

That's what I do in the summer but use a propane one. Nothing like crappie fishing at night

[Old plug]

I have 700 watts of low voltage bulbs on my dock. That can be pretty bright. I just spent $100 for a 1150 lumens submersible. We will see The other above water though seem to do the job. My son and his wife caught over 70 crappie one night last summer. All from one stall. The reason I changed Is i hate the bugs all over you with dock ceiling lights.

[jerry241]

Sounds like we need gps coordinates to your dock old plug

Ha just kidding

[Casey Jeaux]

The bug/minnow/fish/bigger fish thing is pure myth. I have been night fishing with floating lights then submersibles since the 70's. Keep the light on or below the water. Bug protein just isn't tasty. As far as location.................main lake points, points, points with one 15# anchor when it is calm and two when it is breezy. 25-35 FOW. Jigs are just as good and probably better than minnows. Go to the bottom and reel up one turn. Jig 5 or 6 times. Reel up a turn jig 5 or 6 times. Repeat until about half way to surface. Back to bottom and repeat. I won't take long to zero in on them. Keep in mind, that as the night goes on they will gradually move toward the surface. If you aren't getting bit, adjust depth. That goes for minnows or jigs. As far as I am concerned, there is no better way to teach someone to jig fish than to take them out at night. They will learn to live for the THUMP! This is as good as it gets where fishing is concerned.

[slab slinger]

The trick to Night fishing is to draw the plankton into your set up not bugs. Plankton is what bait fish feed on. You will see the plankton in the water around your lights and shortly after the bait fish will show and feed on the plankton. The schools of bait will then attract the game fish. I like submersible lights in green the best. I'll use one up front and one in back with a floating light in middle. This cuts bugs down to hardly any witch makes fishing more enjoyable. I use Florence blue line with black light to see to tie hooks and general lighting. Its important to set up where fish are pole timber, points, piles, bluff, ect or it may take several hours to go through the cycle of attracting plankton, bait fish, game fish. I usually stay in the 15-25 FOW range. I mainly use live minnows but have also had success with black jigs and small jigging spoons. Good luck!