Nighttime Bass

[Maximum12]

Greetings All,

My wife is a nurse & works some odd hours, so I have days & weekends where my only fishing option is after 8PM or so. We used to catch bass when I was younger fishing from shore at night, but I've never pursued them from a boat in the dark.

Any tips? General suggestions &/or tactics? Do they respond to colors at night or is it better to use lures that make a lot of commotion?

I'm looking to take an after-dark trip this weekend so any suggestions would be appreciated!

[Ralph Wiggum]

If you can get your hands on the latest issue of In-Fisherman, there is a good article about night-fishing for bass.

[EBass]

Buzzbaits over shallow weeds (milfoil on tonka)or a single colorado blade spinnerbait. Both dark colors. Something that has a lot of water displacement to get their attention and to hone in on.

Or what my buddies do at the cabin is fish off the dock with leeches and bobber. You'd be amazed (well we were) how the bass and even walleyes come into 3' or less in sparse weeds and sand bottom in mid summer. We bring the spot light down and can see them, then try to catch them. The bugs sure like the light though.

Has anyone tried glowing blades or a glow grub for bass at night? Glow anything? Works on walleyes and crappies. It's gotta draw attn. Sure and I just went to Gander. Cripes

[jalberg]

I was out last night until about 1am on a metro area lake with a good water clarity. Clear water seems to be key. I was getting a range of bass from 12" to the largest being 19.5". I got most of the fish on bulky texas rigged plastics fished over and on the outside of the weed edge. I also threw a black/silver flake senko in the shallower areas and got a few fish that way. The moon was brite and helped out with visibility. I tried a few topwater baits, but they weren't producing. The fish seemed to be in areas where deep water came very close to shore. Hope this helps.

Jer

[Maximum12]

Thanks for the responses guys. I picked up the In-Fisherman, good article. There was another, strangely, in the FLW Magazine but it wasn't nearly as good. Both mentioned that clear water was important. I'm hoping to get out tonight...we'll see!

[ikeslayer]

there is also a good article on it in one of last summer bassmaster mags.

i am wondering does anyone do this much. I know lots of fisherman who get up at 4 to go fishing but i don't know many that stay out past 10. ike