Night fishing

[Bigfisherman]

Would appreciate any tips on night fishing, was out last night and found myself in the pitch dark by a little after 9pm, only having fished at night once before years ago I was confused on what to use so I grabbed a jitter bug and casted until my reel tangled... I was fishing for smallmouth.

Now that Sept is getting closer I also plan to fish Rice lake in the late aft/evenings any tips for night walleye fishing would be appreciated as well.

Thx

 

[toronto_angler]

Would appreciate any tips on night fishing, was out last night and found myself in the pitch dark by a little after 9pm, only having fished at night once before years ago I was confused on what to use so I grabbed a jitter bug and casted until my reel tangled... I was fishing for smallmouth.

Now that Sept is getting closer I also plan to fish Rice lake in the late aft/evenings any tips for night walleye fishing would be appreciated as well.

Thx

Cant beat top water fishing for bass right after dusk.

 

[frozenfire]

casting or spinning setup?

For spinning, I tend to cast out and always run my fingers through the line to make sure it's tight before starting to reel. This keeps most potential tangles away.

For casting, I will usually thumb the spool most of the way before it lands in the water (cause I can't see the lure and how far it is away from the water), I don't get the distance like in the daytime, but it keeps the nests away.

If jigging plastics and cranking lures is not working, you can always try the tested and true method of float fishing with a lighted float and either live bait or my favourite... the GULP minnow. you'll get into wallies for sure. Provided you're in walleye waters.
I would say HALF of my fishing is done at night, and majority of success comes from slip floating with small plastics using ultralight gear. Walleyes and crappies don't stand a chance :mrgreen:
Depending on the type of lighted float you use, bring extra glowsticks or battery LED's cause you'll lose floats to either snags or toothy fish.

 

[reefrunner]

I concur with Frozenfires assessment in full. Can't beat a slipfloat rig and keep a finger/thumb on the line when casting.

Moreover, I would add using baits with lots of vibration/rattles to attract strikes. I read an in-fisherman article way back advising the use of BIG topwaters and make a tonne of noise and commotion on the surface to get the fish out of there hiding holes. Spinner baits with two or more colorodo blades (vibration). My PB smallie came at night on a white Cotten Cordell Big-O (rattle).

Tight Lines!

 

[Bigfisherman]

Thx for the info guys, I will try again next week, I forgot I had some LED crankbaits too that I can try.

 

[Bigfisherman]

Going to try again tonight :mrgreen: Will let you guys know if I'm successful. I even bought an LED light headband...

 

[ec1]

i hope you'll like night fishing, because i kinda hate fishing in the day now.

 

[frozenfire]

was out at scugog this evening during sunset/night for a couple hours and had so much fun fishing topwaters for bass and walleye.
i couldn't believe the walleye were coming up for the lures right at the surface. These were 20+ inch walleyes that had nothing to do but EAT.
Guess the cold temps are making them FEED like crazy.

 

[Bigfisherman]

The weather was awesome but the fishing wasn't great prior to sunset I had lots of hits and all 4 smallies that I managed to hook got off right near the boat. As 10pm approached we decided to call it quits.

Would smallies hit a top water even if its 10-15ft deep?

Thx

 

[reefrunner]

Not for lack of effort Bigfisherman, good job out there.

Smallies will hit a top water out of 15-20 feet. In fact, I've read that, provided there is enough surface commotion made by your topwater, they may come up to hit it in as deep as 30 feet of water. Poppers like a Hula popper, Pop-R, skitter pop; walk the dog style baits like a Zara Spook.

Most dependant is what pattern and where in the water colomun they are hitting that evening. When trying to figure out a pattern I try a top down approach. Topwater with any of the baits mentioned above, if your getting hits but missing stick with the topwater but maybe change the bait. If that doesn't produce go subsurface with a crankbait; my preference is a Cotten Cordell Big-O in white or shap-raps. Again, if your getting hits but no real hook ups change it up. Lastly, provided you're having no luck within the top and mid water column, go for the bottom with a drop shot.

 

[frozenfire]

excellent info! :mrgreen:
Fish will come from great depths to inspect the commotion. I've raised some big smallies in deep water, but usually they'll just come to see what the hell is making all that noise at the surface, then turn around and head back into the depths.