night fishing largemouth bass

Chris Schneider photo. But when White reviewed moon phases of Texas' 50 biggest largemouth catches and his own top 50, he found that summertime full moons never produced a giant bass on those lists. But the records show that a few of the biggest largemouths were taken during summer at other moon phases, but not one during a full moon.". Fishing at night can be challenging but very rewarding. This makes fishing from shore an attractive option for nighttime bass fishing. Bright colors, shiny metals and lifelike plastics and stick baits are all popular choices. Fishing Skillz is reader-supported. When the mercury soars this summer and bass are lethargic and suspend, use these night-time tactics to catch the biggest bass in your favorite lake. Some of my greatest success catching bass after sundown has been with buzzbaits, jitterbugs, poppers and other topwater lures such as frogs. They're also good hookers. The deeper the water, the more rope you need to hold the boat. Unfortunately, night fishing can be intimidating to a lot of anglers, and it takes some skill to do it right. You can try any kind of lure, but make sure it is near the top and during the retrieving, stays near the top and doesn't sink too much. When you anchor and wait, they resume feeding. You don’t need to get way out there on the water to find the fish – In fact, all the action is likely to be within feet of the shore. It means bass will be feeding shallow, deep, and everywhere in between! Bass have a tendency to feed more during bright moonlit nights. It is recommended to use a red colored headlamp when fishing at night. Large grubs rigged on ballhead jigs also work well at night, as the steady flapping of the tail creates vibration that helps bass find the bait. While bass will key in more on sounds during the night, they still will hunt by sight if possible. Guide Richie White has fished famed Lake Fork in Texas after dark for 15 years. You may struggle to even see where your line is ending up, which makes angling tough in a number of different ways. Spinnerbaits: With pronounced vibration, spinnerbaits offer extrasensory appeal to bass. Black or purple ten inch worms are still great lures at night! Topwater won’t work every night – Sometimes the bass just won’t come up to take a lure off the surface. In lakes where alewives have been introduced, the summer smallmouth fishing has been crippled substantially because the bass will be more than 40 feet deep with the alewives. Many anglers view night bass fishing solely as a summertime option, but it can start during the Prespawn Period, when bass first move toward shallow water. Don't let the cover of darkness keep you from catching that Bass. They're actively hunting but cautious nonetheless. Jigs: According to Looper, working a bulky jig outside bays and along creek channels during the Prespawn Period is the best way to catch the largest bass in the lake. At night Largemouth bass follow the lure by its sound. Night Bass Fishing Lures. This lets you see exactly where you’ve casted and where your line currently is located. During the summer, the water can get really warm in a pond, so therefore they may do the bulk of their feeding at night. Think big, and you target mostly largemouth bass. Big largemouth bass eat frogs but they also eat snakes, worms, eels, lizards or water dogs. Larger bass move into shallower water at night when the water cools and calms. But during the night, hunting bass focus far more on finding prey by sound. It’s easier to scare bass away at night than it is during the day. Looper has a caution concerning topwaters, however: "I no longer fish topwaters at night due to the danger factor. Another bonus of a full moon -- the moonlight cuts down on your need for flashlights or running lights. They feed near brush piles, gravel areas, boat docks, and rocky outcrops. "When light is relatively bright after dark, such as around full moons, bass can see about half as well as they can during twilight. Fish are very active and they will continue to feed through the night. As a result, many bass lures and baits focus on visual presentation. Every body of water is slightly different, and you’ll probably find that certain techniques work better or worse for you as you experiment. Largemouth bass have excellent night vision. As the eastern sky begins to get light, the largemouth bass fishing remains good. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Understanding Largemouth Bass Night Fishing. But in the night, most colored lures tend to look a fairly similar dark gray, blue or black. In the fall, the flow of … Without illumination, bites must be detected by feel. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. "Summertime, in contrast, sees some big bass shadowing shad schools, holding off structure. But it may take 10 or 15 minutes for them to settle down. Fall is heavy feeding time for largemouth bass. Recently, the IDNR has been stocking striped bass in alternating years. This means they’re more sensitive to noise coming from a boat or on shore. "They work—sometimes. Understanding Largemouth Bass Night Fishing Basses are equipped with numerous tools to assist them feed in the dark. There is no turning your head to watch how your back cast is doing. Night fishing for bass is electric. This can be a great advantage for anglers to conquer their most sought after prey, the largemouth bass. Spinnerbaits also come through cover cleanly, so casts parallel to a submerged treeline or weededge are effective. Bass are sensitive to light and turn away from well-lit areas. Clear your schedule to allow a couple full nights of fishing, putting off sleep for the intervening days. Such conditions make it almost unbearable to fish- that is unless you’ve learned to fish at night like Arizona… 5,557. Night Time Bass Fishing . What do you do now? I told him if he wanted to throw a ­treble-hooked topwater, he'd be doing it from the bank. The best conditions for night fishing are moonless nights. Night Fishing. Basses are equipped with numerous tools to assist them feed in the dark. One cool trick that I use for night time bass fishing is pairing a mono or fluorocarbon line with a blacklight. And when the wind is blowing, a big spinnerbait is a great choice.". Aron Kastern on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin where they go after whitefish on ice. In most jurisdictions you must display a white stern light when fishing or at anchor, for safety. The largemouth bass fishing that afternoon had been very good. Armed with hollow plastic Scum Frogs, we had worked our way into the heavy cover of lily pads and stumps at the lake’s outflow creek, catching and releasing several 4-plus-pound bass for our efforts. As a result, baits and lures that incorporate a strong element of noise during retrieval are better choices for night fishing. If the day has been cloudy or rainy, the best night fishing occurs during the late evening or the first couple of hours after sunset. Make sure you always bring plenty of bug spray. Once they’ve adjusted, the bass will begin to hunt. If you were fishing along with the trolling motor, you'd be long gone. Night fishing. Largemouth bass have b… Keep them in mind, and you’ll have a new way of hooking up with largemouth when many people are fast asleep. "It seemed that spinnerbaits limited the top end size of bass, since I never caught one over 9 1/2 pounds on a spinnerbait and I knew 10-pounders were present.". You’ll need all the moonlight you can get to cut through the murk and give the bass some visibility for hunting. They come through cover cleanly. As a rule, you need five feet of line for every foot of depth. This recipe for Steelhead Trout Niçoise Salad is heart healthy, paleo- and gluten-free diet... Ned Kehde breaks down the finer points of the Rabid Baits Goby. Many avid night anglers have preferred phases. Night Fishing for Largemouth Bass. First there's the static "zing" of the line as you cast, followed by the silence that leaves you tensed, listening for the "kerplunk." There are a number of reasons to pack light when night fishing, but the general rule is that you want to pack as little as you can get away with. I turned my back and the lure embedded into my jacket. Next your fingers begin to turn the reel crank and you feel the bait moving, pulsing through the water. August 2, 2016. "Vision researchers have found that in clear freshwater, most underwater light is greenish at twilight," he says. Each night, I try to spend time exploring and looking for new spots. It’s almost as if a bass night shift shows up. Largemouth bass can be found close to structures such as underwater brush piles, old road beds, rock reefs or weed lines. That's when he caught his biggest bass, just under 14 1/2 pounds. New regulations effective July 1, 2020 The 2020-2021 summary of Florida's freshwater fishing rules and regulations is available: Give a Gift   These lights will give you enough illumination to change a lure without frightening all the fish away. All Rights Reserved. Any kind of bait that displaces water on the surface or features a rattle or chattering sound will give you an extra edge when fishing for largemouth after the sun has gone down. Later in summer, big curlytail worms like Berkley's PowerBait 10-inch worms and magnum ringworms come into their own.". To fish outside lily-pad beds, or along shallow flats and bars, 1/4-ounce models work well. Forgotten (Or Temporarily Overlooked) Muskie Lures, Hobie MirageDrive 360 Kayak Propulsion: Amazing Control and Power, Umbrella Rigs: A Double Dose of Matching the Hatch, The True Story of the Bass Boat Hero Who Broke the Internet. If the water isn’t as clear, you probably want to get out there closer to a full moon and on cloudless nights. Fish are very active and they will continue to feed through the night. Also, there is a little video run-down of these lures to help you visualize these baits, and the video describes why these baits work for night fishing. But if it's reasonably clear, get on the lake at midnight and fish 'til dawn. One of the key challenges of hooking a bass is the bass’s strong preference for being under cover. "Threadfin are basically a shallow water baitfish, which means smallmouth will be shallow to feed. Experts believe, however, that color can make a difference. "I rig them for casting parallel to weedlines, with 3/16- or 1/4-ounce slipweights. In the past, I’ve also purchased citronella bracelets, and they also have pins that you can wear on your hat to keep bugs … The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more... A half century of classes taught by some of the best guides, pros, and anglers in the country. "To double-anchor, I first place the rear anchor at least 20 feet behind where I want the stern to set. Telemetry studies have shown that largemouth bass concentrate as much as 90 percent of their activity during nighttime hours, when the water temperature is above 70 degrees. "I divide summer nightfishing into three phases," White says. Here are 5 good night bass fishing lures to help you with night fishing. The best practice is to stand out in an open yard blindfolded and flail about. Another option is swimming a jig through the edges of lily-pad beds or stands of bulrushes or stumpfields in river backwaters. Larger bass move into shallower water at night when the water cools and calms. When bass burrow into cover or hug the bottom at night, try a slow-moving lure such as a plastic worm for fishing in clear water. You can certainly catch bass at night under full-moon skies but bass will rely more on their sense of feel to locate prey now. If you’re not used to night fishing, you might carry over the same mindset to night fishing. Pick a clear lake with a lunker reputation. Even on the toughest fishing days in the summer, big bass will pull up shallow right before sunset and put on their feed bags. Their movements are more synchronized than at any other time of year. "When you find a good offshore hump or an underwater point or bar, you can be confident that feeding bass will use it after dark. Not only to preserve your vision but also not to scare fish away. Night Fishing For Largemouth Bass. Lighted bridges on creeks also were excellent producers of big bass, including my biggest night bass of just over 8 pounds. A beautiful fishery located in west Florida just north of the city of Tampa has been on fire for largemouth bass. When you make a cast parallel to a weededge or tree line, use the same soft-entry techniques you employ to pitch baits into tight spots during the day.". "Some big bass move inshore and feed along edges during summer, the pattern that John Hope described in detail in his tracking work with big bass. Black or purple ten inch worms are still great lures … Casting at night can sometimes be tough. One of the key challenges of hooking a bass is the bass’s strong preference for being under cover. Finding largemouth bass at night is not especially difficult. Fish that area slowly and methodically with big baits. This goes for light too – Shining a blinding light during night time is likely to spook fish in the surrounding waters. That’s not to say that color makes no difference at night, especially in clear water lakes under a full or nearly full moon. If you want to catch big largemouth bass during the summer, there is no better strategy than fishing at night. Largemouth bass tend to avoid direct sunlight, so midday glare off the water can make bass fishing a challenge. Avoid jerking or popping your bait too much. You can purchase lights specifically designed for night fishing. Summer is the usual season for bass fishing, although in warm climates such as Florid­a or along the Gulf of Mexico, the season doesn't really matter. All your casts will have to be done by feel. When the boat is in position, tie both anchors off. Makes it easy to get up to go fishing in the middle of the night. The best practice is to stand out in an open yard blindfolded and flail about. A bright moon allows bass to see more clearly, and thus allows them to venture deeper to feed. In those conditions, though, a large weightless soft plastic bait works, too.". The best days for fishing at night are the worst days for fishing during the day. They also create a confidence-building thump that tells the angler they're working. The toughest part of night-fishing is taking the plunge and reversing your schedule. If the edge of the fish's mouth stops evenly with the fish's eye, then it's a smallmouth. If bass seem to be short-striking the blade, a trailer hook usually nabs them. Night. But the conditions looked perfect. All your casts will have to be done by feel. "One reason, of course, is that bass weigh less in summer than in fall, winter, and early spring," he notes. The best time to fish for bass is May through July, using minnows, crayfish, night crawlers, jigs, crank baits and spinner baits. ©2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. A patch of yellow-green or light blue against a dark background increases the chance of a bass detecting a lure when it's looking down or outward. When you have a hot, sunny day in the summer, fishing will most likely be good at night. Join this bass fishing discussion topic in the Bass University bass fishing forum. Finding largemouth bass during the transitional seasons of the year can sometimes seem challenging, but with a few key late fall fishing tips, you can bump up your cool weather catch rates while using artificial baits and lures. If you fish in the south where hot, summer temperatures can soar during the day, you may want to become acquainted with the art of fishing in the dark.

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