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| OK how about you night owls. What works?
If a person who has never fished after dark was to try it what would be some hints to help them along the way?
A few to start....HOOK CUTTERS AND KNOW WHERE THEY ARE!!
HEADLAMP |
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| CLEAN BOAT!!
Everything either out of the way or put away. And, be familiar with where to find it.
How about glow beads just ahead of your leader so you can see it coming in??
One suggestion at a winter show was a layer or two of plastic from a Mountain Dew bottle over the rear light to tone the intensity down a little. |
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| Here are a few to add to the list:
- Know the location that you are planning on fishing so that you are in the right spot. It is very difficult to position your boat when it is pitch black out.
- Keep your boat clutter free, accidents can happen quicker than you expect and nothing will ruin a night of fishing like tripping into an open tackle box
- Keep your tackle boxes closed (see about tip)
- Leave the boat's lights on.. not only is it the law, but with them off after dark, other boaters can't see you. |
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| Almost forgot to add a very important point:
- Try to keep your voices down. They can really carry on a quiet lake. |
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| The first choice would be a bucktail. This choice would let you cover a lot of water and stays above the weeds. Most of my action has come from the weed beds close to deep water or a weed and rock combo. The next bet is a crank bait,a little harder to work the weed edges in the dark but the rewards are worth it. The surface bait is also a good option, worked over the weeds and off the weedline. Do not overlook night trolling the breaks and suspended bait schools,this has produced multiple fish nights for me in the last few years. Night fishing is a great way to beat the crowds on popular lakes. Start out trolling and watch your graph,find the highest concentrations of baitfish and the muskies wont be far,cast the closest weeds or rock a few hours after dark. A good organized boat and spotlight is a must. |
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| 1,000,000 "Candle power" spotlight is the KEY to fighting fish at night and not loosing them....Always have it ready where everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
A clean boat, tools ready...expect to get a fish!![;)] |
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| I think the most important aspect of night fishing is knowing the body of water or area of the body of water you are traveling and fishing in great detail. Use a good map that you have personally used previously and has the proper depth and contour lines plotted out accurately. Mark down any differences you have noticed as well as any obtructions, or get a good GPS unit. Big rattling crankbaits, black bucktails with a large colorado blade, spinnerbaits have all worked well for me. [:bigsmile:] |
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| I hope Mr. Smith meant candle power and not watt. If not, watch for a glow from the batteries right before the fire. He won't need a spotlight for long.[:devil:] [:(] [:sun:] |
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| Your are correct Sir.....Candle power!!!
Sorry dont mean to blind anyone!![;)] |
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| In night fishing, I beleive you must lure the Muskies in. Jason's post about the Candle power, well I like to light some candles, play a little Barry White, do a little dance and wallah! LOL just kidding.
Keeping your mouth shut is a good one because you have one of your biggest senses (sight) gone and sometimes talking and moving takes out your two big ones left (feeling and hearing). I have missed a couple quiet stalkers at night because I was yappin' and movin' and didn't realize the fish had gently hit. Clean boat & Big Light (not a candle joke) are also big.
-Phil Cali |
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| Another thing when fishing with another person is to watch your cast all the way from the beginning to the end. You don't want to get a hook in the arm or any other place during the night and you also don't want to throw onto land in a tree(my Dad did with a guide on Bone Lake-another story! LOL).
Brett Carroll |
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| All good points.
I would also recommend a headlamp, one with an on/off switch, not the twisting kind as you need two hands to turn it on.
For lures it depends on weather and the structure (as with day fishing).
If its rock, gravel, or sand (calm or windy) I'd always go with a jointed rattlin crankbait first. The crank I choose must be able to contact the bottom.
If its weedy and calm, I like a hawg wobbler or creeper. Something slow and noisy.
If its weedy and windy, I like a spinner bait or bucktail with big Colorado Blades.
And don't forget to figure eight.
The biggest mistake I made last year was not setting the hook when my hawg wobbler stopped making sound. There was no splash on the strike and the increased weight was so light, I was sure it was a weed. Turned out to be a 34 ish inch walleye. When my weed started swimming away, I was out of position for a good hook set. My buddy grabbed the spot light and all we saw was a tail walking 34 ish inch walleye walking away and out of the hooks.
I will never forgive my self for that one.
Steve
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| All good things so far but never I mean NEVER go alone. too many things can go wrong at night also your partner can do cpr on you when that 50 plus hits at boatside[:bigsmile:]
Safety First ( Always )
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| Baraless hooks. [:bigsmile:] |
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| WATCH THE WEATHER!!!!!!
I can't tell you how many times I got caught in SEVERE weather because the cover of darkness concealed the approach of the storm. Most good night owls are very safety conscious.... thus all the clean boat recommendations. But, don't mess with mother nature after dark... it can be deadly.
The only time I ever put my boat up on a rock reef was when a severe thunderstorm caught me by surprise and I got disoriented in the "panic" to seek shelter. Also, there is nothing worse than trying to trialer up your boat in total darkness as trees are falling down around you!!!! Scary.
Safety should be your #1 priority when the lights are out. Then worry about catching fish. Good Luck. |
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| To add to Jlongs....bring the weather radio...saved me too a couple of times in the summer....
ONE ROD AND ONE ROD ONLY!!! Amazing how that second rod on the floor can trip you, catch the net, catch you in the back of the leg (wearing shorts)eyes get busted etc.....
GOD I LOVE NIGHT FISHING!
BRING ON THE SEASON!
Cory |
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| Instead of those glow beads at the end of your line,I use a little trick from the walleye fish`in days and put a slip-knot about 12"-18" above my leader so each time you feel when to start your 8 and not cram your leader into your tip eye!Alot easier on the equipment and you can always know where your bait is! Jeff |
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| Petzl headlamp with the dual lights (one is halogen)
Concentrate on just a few prime spots that you know well
Placing a reflector by the boat landing can help you locate it on the way in on unfamiliar lakes
Never fish with more than two people in the boat at night for obvious safety reasons.
go slow- you never know whos out there without running lights
New and /or full moon periods can up your odds quite a bit -pay careful attention to times of moon rise and moon set
As pointed out in previous posts- a clean boat is an absolute must
red interior lights can help maintain your night vision
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| When using surface baits at night I always wear clear safety glasses. Missed hooksets close to the boat can have baits flying at your face.
Dave Jackley |
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