The Allure of Night Fishing

Put yourself in this picture. You and the guys from work load your fishing gear into the car and head for the highway to the lake. Night fishing is a new experience for all of you, but your employer has chartered a boat for a night fishing excursion. You arrive at sundown and load your gear onto the boat. You find a couple of guides on board who are experts in night fishing. You are pumped, and looking forward to landing a couple of the big ones you've heard come in to shore at night to feed. This might just be the beginning of a new hobby -- night fishing.

By The Light Of The Full Moon

Night fishing is usually, but not always, done when the moon is full. Often done from a boat, night fishing can also be done from the shore, or in rivers and streams. Some anglers use artificial light to lure the big fish. Certain areas prohibit the use of artificial light for night fishing, though, so be sure to check the rules and regulations for wherever you're headed.

For many an angler, fishing at night is more of a thrill than fishing in the light of day. Hooking and landing a large fish in almost total darkness is a challenge. Night fishing is best from mid-April through October. The summer months are prime time for night fishing excursions.

Preparation Checklist

For those who have never been night fishing before, there are a few preparations you should make before your excursion. Check the running lights on your boat to be sure they are working well. Running lights are mandated by law in most areas. Test fuses and bulbs, and be sure there is no acid corrosion on the battery terminals. Give your boat's engine the once-over and be sure it's running smoothly.

You want your boat in top running condition before going on a night fishing excursion. Being lost on the lake during daytime is no fun, but it's worse in the middle of a lake at night. You need to pack 2 flashlights with new batteries and take along extra batteries as well.

Check to see that you have a pair of needle-nose pliers in your tackle box. You can't always see your line at night, and the fish may swallow the hook or it may become deeply embedded in its mouth. With needle nose pliers, removing the hook is a much easier task. Make sure your gear includes a couple of cans of insect repellent, unless you enjoy being slowly eaten alive.

Tie Some Flies In Daylight

Take some time to make a mental note of where to find everything in your boat. If you don't have some idea of where to start looking for pliers or tackle, you'll waste a lot of good fishing time searching. Tie your flies, leaders and terminal rigs ahead of time. If you tie too many, you can always use them on your next night fishing excursion. If you don't tie enough, you'll be hard pressed to tie them in the dark.

Also, you'll want to head out onto the lake before dark. You'll need some light to anchor properly on a reef or ledge -- it's a challenge in pitch dark.

Fish In Peace

Night fishing has a number of things going for it. Since most anglers go to the lake during the daytime when it is crowded, night fishing affords more solitude and tranquility. It gives you a chance to fish in peace and leave the stress of the world behind. Large fish tend to avoid shallow water during the daytime when the weather is hot. At night, they move into the shallows to feed. Because of this, you can more often land the big ones at night.

Where To Find The Big Ones

To find a good spot for night fishing, anchor your boat over reefs and ledges, or pull your boat to within casting distance of the shallows. Weedy areas are where big bass and trout hide and wait for prey to pass by. Microscopic marine animals are attracted into these areas by the lights of nearby docks or street lights. Larger fish will follow these animals into shore to feed upon them. You can catch fish that are feeding by casting near retaining walls, docks and brush areas. The big fish tend to hide in shadowed areas while waiting for prey. In the night hours the entrance to a bay or harbor is another good spot for fishing. Fish move into these areas from deeper water in order to feed.

What Kind Of Bait To Use

Night is the best time for catching several fish species. Smelt fishing is a popular night sport in the spring. Bass, trout, catfish, king mackerel, shark, snapper and walleye also make for good noctural targets.

Fish that feed at night are sensitive to both sound and smell, so you have a wide choice of baits to choose from. Crustaceans, chum lines, and nightcrawlers all work well, as do shiners, cut bait, minnows, prepared bait, egg sacs and bug hatches. If you want to use artificial bait, you can use spinners, streamers, and wet and dry flies.

Give Night Fishing A Try

If you've enjoyed fishing in the daytime, perhaps you're ready to give night fishing a whirl. If you would like to try night fishing and want help choosing the right equipment, tackle or bait, ask an experienced night angler to help you. If no family, friends or neighbors fill the bill, then you can ask a guide on a charter boat or check with your local sporting goods store.