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Location: Contrarian Island | Interesting to look at the 2008 Big Fish album and 2009 Big Fish album people registered on here...as of todays date there were about 50 night fish registered in 08 as of August 26th..this year, I count 14 at night registered ..granted this is a very small sampling of what is being caught by the masses at night as I know of many guys getting big fish at night that don't put them in there ..but it is an interesting data set none the less....
So, is it the water temps being cold all year? a record cold July for most places?
conditioning taking effect to some degree? The fish have to eat, this we know..with numbers of big fish caught down overall by most...when are they eating? one would say not much at night from the #'s from 08 to 09 on here.
I know last year my time spent night stalking was much more successful and action packed, this year I can count on 2 hands the fish we've had action from at night after 10pm in MN. Sure some were monsters but action from less than 10 fish? Makes me think I should have skipped the midnite hour and fished all day...anyone else have any thoughts/theories/stories?
bnelson
Edited by MSKY HNR 8/25/2009 1:50 PM
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | BST #1 - With temps lower than past summers the night bite seems slow because I believe the fish are feeding less (slower metabolism). To me they seem to be taking full advantage of good weather/moon but the night bite is mediocre this year. A hotter than normal September could yeild an awesome night bite this year and we'll be looking back wondering why we thought it was slow. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Will, I said the exact same thing to a buddy on the phone about 2 hrs before posting this...so I agree 100% w/ your BST!
fish having to eat less, and less often makes feeding windows shorter ...and not as often...good stuff. |
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| Another thing that might contribute to the lack of good night fishing is the lack of insect hatches that have occurred on the cool to cold nights. The insect hatches bring baitfish to the surface and kick start the food chain including the muskies. Without the hatches the bait isn't vulnerable in open water.
Isn't the muskies preferred temperature around 72 degrees? All the fish I have caught this summer have been fat and healthy as opposed to some skinny ones I've caught during hot weather in years past. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | Dusk/night has saved more than one crappy day for me but what I've noticed is that after a crappy day of fishin, don't expect a slammer night to follow. Where I fish good daytime action usually means riding that on into dark. This year it has been just awful many, many wknds. I agree 100% that this cutails feeding+travelling for fish in general, morning, noon or night. Just got back from four days on Georgian Bay, and Moon Set/darkness was the time to be hitting it hardest. Nothing we boated was huge, but thats when they hit the net and when spots came alive. No matter how awful a day has been, I always figure that sundown and into darkness will show you something if something's gonna show.
It's relative to conditions too. Personally, I call huge wind and intense sun terrible. Once it gets dark things can get going after a day like that though. Like was said above though, you get a rough, wet, cold day and darkness only makes it colder and worse. This year, fishing has sucked for me in general, and nightfishing gets lumped right in there with the sucking. Aug and Sept are gonna be great though. As things get better and more stable out there (finally water from 74-76 everywhere) I can see the night fishing coming on strong. Is like an Index Fund if you're an investor..whole market moves up, the fund comes along for the ride. Surface baits are producing more and more right now, which is also good to see.
Hey Will, actually the trip mentioned above, I had a member of your Muskie Club in the boat with me. Great guy and a great fishermen. Another thing we're seeing lots of this season, fish nipping that tail hook on baits. Never seen it like that before, normally everything but the front hook is just there for show.
Edited by JBush 8/25/2009 3:11 PM
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Location: Twin Cities | Night fishing has been on track for this year for my friends and I, same as last year. Same pattern for the most part too, save for 1 night we got blanked out of maybe 20. Now to see if it continues into the fall in a similar fashion... |
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Posts: 31
| It's nature....there's all kinds of factors..but catch and release, weekend warriors (is that politically correct?) and one hell of a comeback of baitfish..I wouldn't eat the fake stuff anyways! |
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Posts: 59
| I still think that this year the first hour after sunset and the hour before surise have been the most productive for me. At least as far as number of fish go. |
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