night fishing for bass

[friendlyfisher]

I wondering if any of you guys bass fish at night?

This time of year are the bass coming in the extreem shallows to feed on frogs? If so how shallow and what time of night are the bass moving in and at what time do they move back out.

What are the best tactics for catching them.
I assume top water is the easiest and very productive.
Do the big hogs move in shallow?
How late in the year can they be caught at night. thanks ff

[Lost]

I'd love to point you toward an article I read just a couple weeks ago on fishin' for bass at night. I just can't remember where I read it.

Best of luck on getting the info! Might get a general idea by doing some search engine searches.

[Skater13]

you don't have to fish for bass at night to get them in shallow this late of season there in shallow through the day.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I was kind of worried that this post wouldnt get much for a responce... We here in the midwest just dont night fish for bass much... Its very popular in the warmer states. They dont seem to have the bugs that we do.. and its so hot down south that its unconfortable to fish during the day.

I will make it a goal to try it before the ice hits... and I'll report back to this post.

[Granny]

I had one of my most memorable days of fishing during the night. A friend and I hit the water at around 11:00pm (after the bugs went to bed) during a full moon. The lake was pretty small and we were the only ones on the water. We tossed rubber frogs as close to shore as possible. We had the best luck in areas where the moon light directly hit the water. We didn't catch any real big fish but it was still a blast. When a fish would hit we both would have to set the hook because we were not sure which frog had the bite. We noticed that the frogs with a popper type heads worked the best. I highly suggest doing some night fishing!

Granny

[friendlyfisher]

thanks for the replys

Hey granny, What time of year was this when you were out? ff

[Granny]

The date was 8/9/03. I just checked one of the pictures I have. We tried staying out a couple hours after dark a few times this summer but not much luck. We caught a few fish but there was a little breeze and not much moon light. I think it would be interesting to head out at around mid night and fish till around 8:00am. It doesn't happen very often that there is a full moon, clear sky, and no wind. Do a search for bass fishing at night. I think we discussed this topic a while back.

Granny

[EBass]

Night time bassin can be a blast. In the spring or early summer at my buddies cabin right off his dock we can catch bass, and bullhead when using leeches. It's has nice sand with sparse weeds around and we bust out the flood light and see them all around. Sometimes I use a jig and curly tail grub and can get them that way to. But it's nice to see a lighted bobber go down and is just easy fishing. Of course we're sitting on the dock, but it works and is fun. Oh we also saw a walter in the shallows to. I'm talking like 3'

[Jim W]

If it is a clear lake and has weedy/ sand submerged points, adjacent to deeper water (points need to be well defined small peninsulas)
try using a lighted slip bobber and a juicy nightcrawler!

Jim W

[Stratosman]

I had my best bass fishing ever one night on a metro lake, we hit the lake about 1 am and fished for about 2 hours with only a couple bass, then we came around a point and were throwing midnight specials right up on shore and all of a sudden we caught a bass on at least every other cast for two hours, we must have caught 200 bass between us, no lie. All in a 100 yard stretch of shoreline, at one point I caught a fish on 8 consecutive casts. All were between 2-3 pounds. We have tried it since when the conditions were the same with no results, to this day I cannot figure out why the bass were schooling up there, the water was only about 1-3 feet deep where we were catching them, I suppose they had a school of batfish pinned up against the shore. I enjoy night fishing for bass and we usually do quite well throwing midnight specials.

[dan sexton]

Night fishing is best for me 3 days prior and after the full moon. The tournaments I fish at night don't always fall on that schedule though. So I have had to adjust.

Locations: Any point next to deep water, off shore weeds, bushes or humps are prime.

Rocks and hard bottoms would be the main target.

Forage of choice for the bass at night is the crawfish, which is why rocks are so good.

You name it, any bait will work. Bottom choices would be weight-less 6" sinkos (both wacky and texas) and texas rigged: Brushhogs (junebug, or red ruby are my favorite colors), Ikas, Speed worms, Dead Ringers, and 10" Power worms.

I personally like the Buzzbait at night, but it has to make a squeeky noice on a slow retrieve. Sunday night I fished a local lake and I only caught 3 fish on buzz baits, while a friend of mine in another boat spanked 'em on spooks and jointed jitterbugs. Go figure...the bite didn't turn on top until after midnight. They had 45 and we had 20. But it was a fun night.

Crank baits and blades are also very important as well. Last year I had 26 lbs on 5 in an event with a 6.53 big fish. All of those fish came on a Manns DD22 Blk/Red color, and they all bit between midnight and 3am.

One last thing (I am sorry for going on): I use 20 or 25 pound "florescent" Stren with a Sloan Black light. This is only for the bottom type baits, so I can see the line when the bait hits the bottom or I get bit. This is also a real good tool. Power Pro #50 for all the reaction baits.

Time of year is from 48 degrees to 90. As it gets colder slow it down, as it gets tougher fish more jigs and crawdad type baits, but most of all take plenty of Red Bulls and have fun!!!

Dan

[friendlyfisher]

WOW Dan that sounds awsome. That is the response I was looking for. Are you fishing in the metro? Whats it like trying to net a 6lb fish after dark? ff

[Deitz Dittrich]

Exudedude stands up and claps for Dan Sexton... By far one of the most informative posts I have read on here in a while.. bravo!!!

[Dan Wood]

Nice to see you back Dan S., great post... 26 lbs.. for 5 fish is a darn nice bag anywhere.. Those western and southern boys do a lot more night fishing - it definitely is not nearly as popular up here...

[dan sexton]

Thank's for the nice comments!

Hey Dan, Friendly and Exude,

Maybe we could plan a little team night event in the summer of 2005 at 'Tonka.

Night tournements are a blast!!! New E-mail Dan: [email protected]

To answer your question about landing the studs after dark Friendly. I tape a flashlight to my net.

Trivia Bassing Brothers, I have'nt seen a post about one of our own being on Primetime TV. Byron Velvick, swimbait-King, record holder for most weight in a BASS at Clear-Lake California will be on the "Bachelor". Catch it Thursday night this week. This is going to be good for the sport of Bass-fishing! Especially for acceptance from our wife's and girlfriends...

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dan I'm in... I always enjoy donating money to people who kick my butt fishing!... Lets do it!

I think I know tonka well enought that I could make it without running in to to much!...

[This message has been edited by Exudedude (edited 09-21-2004).]

[Dan Wood]

Sounds good, always willing to donate some $ for a good cause

Anyone interested in doing a night of fishing yet this year? Maybe the Oct. full moon time frame (end of Oct)?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sounds cold to me.. maybe if we get a warm fall night I could be talked into it...

[Tonka Boy]

I always seem to pick up a few while walleye fishing during the full moon (Tonka). I use #12 or #14 HJ and tick the rocks. Funny thing is I never get any while trolling, but if I stop and cast with a SLOW retrieve, they will bite.

I've never tried using bass gear. I bet that would be fun. Thanks for the tips guys!

------------------
Tonka Boy
http://catchn.com/

[dan sexton]

I will plan for a trip to Minnesota next August (around the full moon). My Mom lives in St. Louis Park, so Tonka would be perfect!

Exude, Don't give your money away so fast!

I'm going to need some pre-fish partners and a tournament partner that week. I will keep you all informed.

I fished a 6 boat Turkey-shoot yesterday. We had 16.90 for five fish. Caught all of them on blades. The guy that beat us had 17.33 with a 7.10 big bass. We had three - 4 pounders. We just needed one more 4.....

Oh well, it was still fun. We boated more than 40 fish during the event. The Cal Delta is an awesome fishery!!

[Dan Wood]

Dan S., have you fished Tonka much at night? I'd like to try to get out after bass/muskie one of these nights - probably won't happen until the end of Oct. full moon... Way too much on the plate for this coming full moon. Hopefully the weather will hold this fall for awhile longer!

[kato811]

iwas night fishing last weekend an just nailing them off the lilypads using a buzz bait everytime it hit the pads i got one as soon as i pulled it off an landed all of them(which i have trouble doing when i see them hit) it was a blast dint have much light so just casted until i heard the plop of it hitting the lily pads an bang

[sami0115]

there was a beautiful full moon last night! i was thinking about this very topic while taking the dog for a walk at 10:30pm.

[Granny]

Yup, with the full moon I might have to hit the water around 11:00 p.m. this weekend. Lets just hope it stays clear!

Granny

[BigMike]

All this talk is making me wish I had the time to hit the water with the huge full moon & clear skies we've had for the last 3 days!

I might be up for hitting the water in late October for a night but it all depends on the day. BURR!! Bring lots of coats & gloves!