Night Fishing Questions 2025
rondef reply :
I am going bass fishing at night for the first time. Is there anything I need to know when fishing for bass at night? I figure that I will use plastics (rigged and not rigged), swimbaits, and cranklbaits. Will bass bite top water in the evening (late night)? If they will bite topwater lures I can use my spinners and my Rapalas. Thanks for your help in advance.
Ron
Catt reply :
Fish the same baits, same locations, and same techniques you would during the day. 
Daniel My Brother reply :
Yes, bass will hit topwater at night. Jitterbugs are my personal favorite for night bass.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteFish the same baits, same locations, and same techniques you would during the day.
Simple and straight forward.
Sometimes I think we think too much. It's not that complicated.
Tokyo Tony reply :
My three favorite baits are chatterbaits (aka boogie baits), spinnerbaits (black/red or black/blue with single colorado blade - strike king makes a great spinnerbait for nightfishing), and topwaters (i like walk-the-dog types - zaras or lucky craft sammys).
Unless you have a good spot where you KNOW there are a bunch of fish, I'd stay away from the plastics.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteUnless you have a good spot where you KNOW there are a bunch of fish, I'd stay away from the plastics.
Why?
Tokyo Tony reply :
And I forgot to mention - the reason for these baits is that they make a lot of noise and are easy for the bass to locate. And they work.
Tokyo Tony reply :
RW - because I've found that they just don't work as well as the noisier baits in most circumstances, and I'm talking mostly about finding fish. If you have a good spot where you know there are fish, by all means drop some plastics in there like your Fat Ika's. I just feel like the fish can really key in on a chatterbait at night.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteUnless you have a good spot where you KNOW there are a bunch of fish, I'd stay away from the plastics.
Huh?
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteRW - because I've found that they just don't work as well as the noisier baits in most circumstances, and I'm talking mostly about finding fish. If you have a good spot where you know there are fish, by all means drop some plastics in there like your Fat Ika's. I just feel like the fish can really key in on a chatterbait at night.
I see your reasoning but can't totally agree. Plastics have turned up some of our biggest nighttime fish. Night fishing is no time to learn new water. I only suggest venturing at night on bodies of water you already know. With this in mind, search bait patterns shouldn't be neccessary.
Camping out on flats and their edges are what night fishing is to us.
Also, very clear water, loud baits aren't always recommended. Topwater action can surge with subtle types of twitch baits,.....but big ones. When our clear water reaches it's plankton max if you will, during the summer, thats pretty much the only time we get loud with big, huge rattle spooks like the excalibur but even then, the subtler of the loud baits shine. Jitterbugs, baby spooks just softly walked,etc
Tokyo Tony reply :
Good point LBH - I'm usually night fishing on stained water and not targeting any specific structure, hence my preference, but you make a good point.
rondef reply :
Thanks guys, I will just use all of the same techniques and lures that I do during the day. I guess I was just trying to think about this to much. I do have a fish finder so I will be able to get an idea where the fish are since I have only fished this lake from the shore in the past. This will be the first time fishing this lake in my boat.
Ron
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Rondef- More important than lure or presentation, at night, is safety.
-PFD's, if not on, close by.
-Eliminate any floor clutter that is not necessary
-bring a few sources of light (flashlight, headlamp, big beam, lighter)
-Throwable flotation
-cell phone
-check all lights before leaving ramp
and most importantly
-Let someone on land, know where you are and when you expect to be back.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteRondef- More important than lure or presentation, at night, is safety.-PFD's, if not on, close by.
-Eliminate any floor clutter that is not necessary
-bring a few sources of light (flashlight, headlamp, big beam, lighter)
-Throwable flotation
-cell phone
-check all lights before leaving ramp
and most importantly
-Let someone on land, know where you are and when you expect to be back.
Great Post.
Excellent advice! 8-)
Tokyo Tony reply :
Oh and LBH do you use scents at night with your plastics? If so, any preference?
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
If there is a scent around, I'll throw it on but it's not something I "need" to have confidence, just something I think "can't hurt".
It's not like there will be no bite, then I put o some special, super secret scent and it's hit after hit,...but if it's around...
Dirk usually has a bottle of BANG Garlic around. Megastrike is in the boat for a lube on swimbaits also, every once in a while, I'll slop a bit on a big spook too.
Catt reply :
Move up closer to your target and waste less time in unproductive water.
Give special attention to beaches, docks, buoys, rafts, rip-rap, or night lighted areas.
I fish in grass a lot and the attractant helps my plastic baits slide through easier. I use Fish Formula II or Baitmate (clear) with a ½ oz of pure anise oil added.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteI fish in grass a lot and the attractant helps my plastic baits slide through easier. I use Fish Formula II or Baitmate (clear) with a ½ oz of pure anise oil added.
I figured you would be the type to then dip it in some of that special Louisiana coffee!! lol
Catt reply :
I heard about that but at 2:00 am I'm to busy drinking it to dip my worms in it
rondef reply :
I always prepare a fishing plan and give it to my wife before I leave. It contains the ramp location, the departure and return times, cell phone number, boat registration number and a map of the lake with marked locations that I plan to fish. I always carry an coast gaurd approved kit with me (4 PFD's, 3 wearable and 1 throw), a flare gun, a weather radio, a flashlight, a boat ladder and I have a latern for light. As for preperation I always check my lights, horn, bilge pump, plug, electric and gas motors and my live well for proper operation and I charge the trolling motor battery before every trip. Oh and I do have a set of oars as a last resort.
Catt reply :
Max Million III Q-Beam; 3,000,000 candle watts
Del from philly reply :
iv been told, and have had some luck with solid black plastics at night
people on here pointed me in that direction, the solid color is easier to see with the kleast amount of light
MY FAVORITE FIHSING IS DONE FROM 6-9pm.....never had any luck in the early morning
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteMY FAVORITE FIHSING IS DONE FROM 6-9pm.....never had any luck in the early morning
There is no reason this should be the case. Low light, morning or evening, is usually good for most fishermen. "Action" baits are more productive during these periods. I had some pretty good luck last weekend in the early hours throwing the Cavitron Buzzbait. You might want to give that lure or a similar bait a try.
Catt reply :
The eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Bass can see color but not at night, color it's self is meaningless at night. Bass cannot see details at night, so don't waste time with meticulously painted or patterned lures. 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 spinners with a white grub. 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. Under water vision for the bass is reduced at night, so use lures that are a little larger. Slow retrieves work better because it lets the bass locate the lure easier and zero in on it.
There is no reason why the night time bite can't last all night but just like during daylight there will be periods of high/low activity. According to my records some of my best night bites have occurred as follows.
An hour and a half prior & after the raising of the moon on the horizon
An hour and a half prior the moon reaching its apex (moon directly over head)
An hour and a half prior & after to the setting of the moon on the horizon
An hour and a half prior to the moon reaching its perigee (moon directly underfoot)
twors reply :
Go to WalMart and buy one of those cheap Energizer head lamps with the combo white and red LED's....their less than $15. I don't use the white light very often but the red light part of the lamp works well for working with tackle issues as it doesn't attract the bugs nor will it jack up your night vision.
Del from philly reply :
QuoteGo to WalMart and buy one of those cheap Energizer head lamps with the combo white and red LED's....their less than $15. I don't use the white light very often but the red light part of the lamp works well for working with tackle issues as it doesn't attract the bugs nor will it jack up your night vision.
IS THAT WHAT I SAW THE OTHER NIGHT!!!!
jesus, i thought it was some alien fishing after dark.....me and my girl were actually scared after a while, kept seeing this red light walking all over the shore line.....
WRB reply :
QuoteThe eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Bass can see color but not at night, color it's self is meaningless at night. Bass cannot see details at night, so don't waste time with meticulously painted or patterned lures. 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 spinners with a white grub. 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. Under water vision for the bass is reduced at night, so use lures that are a little larger. Slow retrieves work better because it lets the bass locate the lure easier and zero in on it.There is no reason why the night time bite can't last all night but just like during daylight there will be periods of high/low activity. According to my records some of my best night bites have occurred as follows.
An hour and a half prior & after the raising of the moon on the horizon
An hour and a half prior the moon reaching its apex (moon directly over head)
An hour and a half prior & after to the setting of the moon on the horizon
An hour and a half prior to the moon reaching its perigee (moon directly underfoot)
Bass vision; do you have any sceintific data to supports your statements? or just your opinion? Just because the bass has cones/rods in their eye make up doesn't factor in how they process light waves. Have you ever considered that bass may not see color as we do or at all? The evidence that bass may see in the ultra violet range vereses the color spectrum is interesting. The colors we select definately has a major impact on our fishing success, but is it the color or the contrast to the color? Contrast is very important factor at very low light conditions, like at night or deep water. Have you ever wondered how a bass can see a translucent smoke color 4" worm at 50' during an overcast day, when the diffifence may be blue flakes verses red flakes or no flakes? I can't see them laying on the boat carpet or down 3' in gin clear water.
WRB
MemphisFisherman reply :
what's the lake like? out of a boat i assume? Full moon or no?
Catt reply :
Scientific data on bass vision as compiled by Ken Cook, a former Oklahoma fisheries biologist.
rondef reply :
The lake is 218 acres in size, relatively small. The contour of the lake shows a band around the lake less than 5 feet deep followed by a band 10 feet, 15 feet, 20 feet and then some pockets that are 25, 30 and 35 feet deep. The deep pockets are near the dam and there is also an island on one side of the lake .
There are various fish in the lake (LMBs, Muskie, Walleye, Catfish and Bluegill) and it is stocked by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. They have pulled some LMBs as big as 10lb (average sizes are 3 lbs to 6 lbs) some Muskies in the 20 lb to 25 lb range and one over 4 feet long and some Waleye in the 4 lb to 7 lb range and one as large as 8 lbs 12 ounces. I am really excited about the potential to pull a trophy fish out of this lake.
What do you folks think? Should I try the deep water first or work the coves or around the island in the middle of the lake. The VDGIF recommends fishing the willow weed beds across from the boat ramp. I have only tried fishing from the shore in the past because of the motor restrictions, I can launch my boat if I only use my Bill Dance trolling motor, no gas motors allowed. I have to diconnect the gas line and tilt the motor up out of the water. This has kept me away from this lake but I just can't pass this up because of the restriction any longer.
My only concern is the trolling motor lasting long enough, I don't want to get stranded out on the water. I may go out and buy a second trolling motor battery this week as a precaution. I guess if the battery didn't last I could put the gas motor back down to get me back to the ramp but I just don't know if I want to chance being written up for the violation.
frogtog reply :
Yall are to dog gone smart for me. I never even take all that stuff into consideration. I just go fishing.
fishingfourfun reply :
I don't think they would fown on using the motor if your trolling motor was dead!
lovecranking reply :
I fish southern Wisc. at night all of the time. No hassles from jet skiers, water skiers and not many guys fishing. My #1 go to bait is the palm tree in either junebug or blk/red. I rig backwards T style with 1/16 weight and shove a 5mm glass rattle in it. I've caught alot of smallies and largemouth with this bait. If I'm fishing just before dark or dawn, the hot bait has been either the fat ika pumpkin (color #186) or the palm tree watermelon w/chart tail (color #826). Hope this helps & works for you. Once you get use to night fishing, you'll love it.
Bob Kavanaugh reply :
Insect repellent. Lots of insect repellent.
rondef reply :
Anyone here have a problem with their spouse when it came to taking your boat out at night for the first time? My wife is all ticked off that I am going to take my first night fishing trip and says that she will be up all night and will be unable to sleep worrying.
Catt reply :
Carol just answered Nope never I've got $250,000 insurance on em
rondef reply :
I have insurance,both life insurance and boat insurance. My wife would be fine financially if something happened to me. I told her that she just needs to get over it because she is not going to stop me from going on this trip.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Take her with you so she sees firsthand and won't worry each and every time you want to venture at night.
BTW- we are booking the 4th annual BassResource.com roadtrip to YOUR BACKYARD!!! lol Got room for tents?? 
rondef reply :
I could try that suggestion and she if it helps but she normally does not like to go out much on the boat. Thanks for the suggestion.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
An easy mellow, short trip. T/M only,etc. maybe just an hour from dusk into dark.
Also, If the water is close enough to the house, get a set of 2-way radios. The free, constant contact might ease her nerves.
joez2872-ct reply :
roadwarrior is right why not fish plastics i use them at nite and kill them on senko dark blue flake
QuoteQuoteUnless you have a good spot where you KNOW there are a bunch of fish, I'd stay away from the plastics.Why?
Tokyo Tony reply :
I guess I have a different night fishing experience than most. I'm usually kind of search-casting a general area when I night fish, and I've found that noisier baits are much more efffective (and fun to use instead of slowly working a senko). But like I said, I could see them working well if you're fishing an area where you know there are fish, even though I would still prefer to use a more active bait. Even in those situations though I find a rattle trap or a chatterbait will get more strikes than a plastic. This is mainly on several smaller lakes and ponds in central CT, by the way.
roadwarrior reply :
Tokyo_Tony,
There is no "right answer." I don't think any bait is necessarily the only way to go. It's really more about preference and confidence. I don't fish much at night, but when I do I usually fish jerkbaits, biggun's too!
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