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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | Hey guys,
Fairly new here to the sight. I have been interested in night fishing, but have had very little success. Just going by pictures posted and a select few articles i have read, fishing at night seems to be quite productive and also produce some enormous results. I cant say I have had any success with it myself though. I have tried a few times, but not one of those times have I not asked myself what the heck was I doing out in the dark fishing for what seemed at the time to be a giant waist of time. Do you just do what you do during the day... but only when its dark, or are there other factors to consider when night fishing? As far as location and presentation/ technique. All i really seam to know is a slower speed and a larger profile "noisy" bait.
I guess I am looking for a few tips or techniques to use. Something to keep my confidence up. |
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| where do you fish?
best way to get used to it is to put in a couple full nights. sundown to sunup. stick it out. sounds like those nights you tried it before you were really pumped up, then fished for a couple hours and lost the will. it takes a strong mentality to fish long hours in the dark but it's worth it.
i throw blades 90% of the time when i'm nightfishing, don't get too hung up color and speed though, just concentrate on your bait and fish well with something you can see. fish don't have any trouble finding it in the dark. i like chartruese blades at night because i can see them. do your figure 8s, we have periods in the summer where for a couple days or a week we'll only catch night fish after 4 or 5 figure 8s and won't see any of them follow.
you can use a knot or one of those fancy leaders to let you know when your bait is getting close, but a rubber bead above your leader and feeling your levelwind on your reel with your index finger will let you know when your bait is close and it's time for the 8.
use your headlamp if you want, keep it simple, and once you get comfortable with it you'll love it. i like being out there in the dark much more than in the daytime. |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | I fish in Southern/ Central Ontario. Primarily the Kawartha lakes but I do also go to the French River and Georgian bay a few times a years as well.
Thanks for he advise. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | Not much experience with night fishing myself. This will only be the 2nd year targeting muskies but did get out a few nights last year. The first few nights I felt the same way as you , pitch black out / what the hell am I doing here. I decided to wait for a full moon clear night so I could at least see a little better , that helped out a lot. |
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| Hometime- A couple things that may help.
Pick a body of water that you know very well. Make sure you really know the structure and if you have gps really go out of your way to mark weedlines, bars etc. This will keep you from getting too far into the structure and reduce frustration ...Also good idea for safety. Your electronics are key since that is your only visability of the structure at night. I would not suggest fishing a new spot after dark...check it out and mark it during the day and then return at night.
Just like during the day, there are feeding windows at night. May be first hour of dark, and not again until 2:00. Remember a lot of time goes by during the day without getting bit, just seems longer at night. Know your major and minor feeding windows, if for no other reason it gives you confidence in the middle of the night.
Just like everything else, the first one comes the hardest. I think the most difficult thing is keeping yor confidence. Again, just like the daytime If you can keep your boat and bait on good spots eventually you will connect.
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | I've done quite a bit of night fishing... the advice regarding familiar water and knowing your structure is right on. Location-wise same spots you fish during the day but the fish will move out of the thickest stuff, seems to be a movement towards the outside weed edge where I fish, and I think fish that suspend during the day will also relate to the edge more at night. Other than that keep a clean boat, have all your release tools ready in advance, bug spray, caffeine, have fun! |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Great advice here so far, especially about using GPS to mark spots and to fish structure you are familiar with. One point is that during the day you might get away with less than a fully implemented 8, at night you have to do a good job each time. When you get your first fish in the black of night on an 8 you gunna phr33k. |
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