After dark, summer bass become different fish
During the hottest part of the year, it is often best to stick with the air conditioning, watch fishing shows and ready your gear for the fall. But when the urge hits you and you just gotta go, one great option is to fish at night.
When I was a youngster, I fished at night all the time in the summer. I even fished club tournaments at night. Often, fishing after school from 3 until dark wasn’t enough, so I stayed well into the night. I used to fish off a dock at a nearby lake for hours, casting a black worm, and it was amazing how many fish I caught without really moving that much.
I must admit, I don’t fish at night much anymore, but this summer, I’m going to start back. In fishing, it is often doing something different that makes it the most fun.
What I learned as a kid was you have more options at night. In the summer, during daylight hours, bass are often deep and suspended. Or they’re in really thick cover and hard to get a bait in front of. At night, they roam more, just like on rainy days. And they are often more prone to getting caught. They also see almost no fishing pressure at night, so your odds are higher with that alone.
Look shallow, look on top
For me, one of the appealing things about fishing at night is you are more apt to catch fish shallower and on top. Lots of fish stay on structure, but they will position shallower on that structure. And fish are generally more active.
If you know some areas on your favorite lake or river that are productive during daytime, try those same spots at night. If it is a deep spot, one of the best baits to throw is a giant worm. The Big 12 Culprit in dark colors was always my favorite for fishing humps and structure. Rig it up with 12- to 15-pound fluorocarbon, and you are ready to go catch the big ’uns that won’t bite in the daytime.
Lakes with docks are really good at night, as there are often lights that attract bugs and bait and hungry bass.
Lakes with weeds and clearer lakes are generally better at night than muddy lakes. Most lakes get pretty clear by July. So I can’t really think of a bad lake to fish at night as long as they are clear. Weeds, however, are a big plus. Big fish live in and under weeds and at night are extra willing to come out and bite.
My favorite bait to is an old, black Jitterbug. It is slow and steady, making it easy to track for night-time feeders. The old Jitterbug was responsible for lots of big, exciting bites.
Big, slow, steady
You don’t want to fish with erratic baits at night. Generally, big and slow is what you want. A black spinnerbait and black buzzbait are also must haves. Keep it simple and slow, and you should do well. Remember, you still have to be in good areas, so keep moving until you find some fish.
Another thing to keep in mind at night is the fish will get active at certain times. Often, the fishing is not that good for the first 30 minutes to hour after dark, as they tend to feed just before dark. Hunger usually strikes them, their eyes adjust to the dark and they are ready to go again a little after dark.
Fishing at night is dangerous. Make sure you have all your safety gear and proper lights on your boat. I would recommend wearing clear, protective glasses, as you are casting treble hooks. Always tell someone where you are going. Fishing from the bank is really fun at night if you have a good pond you can visit.
Have fun and stay safe doing a little nighttime basin’.
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