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I am curious as to how you guys use lights for night fishing. What type of lights do use when fishing, if any, and what type of lights to see in your boat. I observed some people leave lights on to see the banks, while others do not like lights at all on while fishing. Thanks.
I use flourecent line with black light. That allows the line to grow without an excessive amount of light.
Basic equipmet for night fishing: prsonal floatation devices, bow/stern lights, horn, fire extinguisher, paddle, anchoring device, bailing device, flashlight/batteries, weather radio, first aid kit, basic tools, manuals, and GPS.
[QUOTE=AndyG;296362]I don't. Gets aggravating, but Im not sitting in the dark all night for little bass. Lights spook big fish, sure you can catch one facing the other direction, but going undetected is the point of night fishing, right?[/QUOTE]
I never have any trouble catching good fish at night. Maybe I am missing out on all the true monters but as long as I can catch a heavy limit I won't be changing my tactics.
Some basic night fishing suggestions:
A faint glow is better than a bright light.
Try to keep boat noise to a minimum.
Black, black/blue, black/red, black/chartreuse tail are best colors at night.
Slow, natural presentation is better than noise in clear, calm water.
Fish the edges of the shadows on bright moon nights.
Oxygen levels become depleted after nidnight, so move outside weedbeds in open water.
Weedbeds on and around points with current usually hold fish any time of the day.
After dark, shad disperse and may be found at all depths above the thermocline, or at only one depth. On bright full moon, shad will school in open water, which can provide great top water action.
Bass will move to shallow, open water on dark nights, especially the bigger bass.
Dirty water limits night fishing and then you need lures that make noise and/or vibration.
[QUOTE=AndyG;296362]I don't. Gets aggravating, but Im not sitting in the dark all night for little bass. Lights spook big fish, sure you can catch one facing the other direction, but going undetected is the point of night fishing, right?[/QUOTE]
I must have missed something but how do you fish without having a anchor light on?????Without the water patrol giving you a ticket. I put a sock over mine to cut down on the glare, but you can still see it..
[QUOTE=Bonefish;296351]Basic equipmet for night fishing: prsonal floatation devices, bow/stern lights, horn, fire extinguisher, paddle, anchoring device, bailing device, flashlight/batteries, weather radio, first aid kit, basic tools, manuals, and GPS.[/QUOTE]
I don't have a GPS. does that mean I have to stay home?
Serious note here, Water Patrol will give you a ticket at night if you don't have your lights on at night. Something like a $ 85.00 fine. I have even heard of the Water Patrol giving tickets to boaters who start up their boat motors and back off the trailers. They don't have their lights installed and on....Bad move they just earned a ticket....Supposedly if your big motor is on at dark time, the lights must be on.... NO Questions.....
So if your out after dark, keep them lights on......:)
HurricaneBob, I hope we get a hurricane soon. We need some rain. I personally do not have GPS, but I am going to try to get one soon. Wouldn't it be nice when you see those humps veneered with those big SM and you could just push that button to mark the spot?
AndyG, I think you may have something there by sculling your boat. Trolling motors do emit electrical vibrations that can be detected for long distances through the water. Fishing for big bass is a challenge and that is why you do not see too many above 8 lbs. Thanks for your comments and be safe no matter where you are on the water.
[QUOTE=MsgMills;296400]Serious note here, Water Patrol will give you a ticket at night if you don't have your lights on at night. Something like a $ 85.00 fine. I have even heard of the Water Patrol giving tickets to boaters who start up their boat motors and back off the trailers. They don't have their lights installed and on....Bad move they just earned a ticket....Supposedly if your big motor is on at dark time, the lights must be on.... NO Questions.....
So if your out after dark, keep them lights on......:)[/QUOTE]
Years ago I got a ticket fishing with my dad in the cancer night tournament in June on Nolin. We were fishing way out a long point on the inside curve of the lake where boats would tend to short cut a run. The officer was a real jerk but what we found was that from many discussions (official and not) is that if you are out in the lake in any way in the "navigation channels" you better have your light on. If you are back in the creeks or near the bank (IE not in a navigation channel) they wouldn't ticket you.
All that said I do not fish with my lights on at night. I am a believer that anything unnatural can and will spook the fish -- especially big fish. I don't fish with lights and I don't leave my running light on all of the time. However, I do flip it on if a boat is approaching. That's what got our goard about the officer who gave us the ticket. He was actually running the far side of the lake and when we flipped our lights on he then noticed us and swung over to do his deed. At the court house he didn't show and the ticket was dismissed but I didn't think that we should have been written up in the first place. The whole point of having a light on is to alert other boats to your presence. That is exactly what we did when we flipped it on as he approached us.
On the flip side of that thought I would like to have a nickel for every time I was heading for a point or bank only to have a boat light up as I approached and I made part of my run for nothing. But as I stated I don't want my light on either so I can live with that.
kc
I have two spotlights 1 in front and other on the rear each with their own non-latching footswitch. I fish near the banks for channel cats with a slip float and a 1.5 inch glowstick attached. When I cast toward the bank I hit the switch and light the bank, when done I let off the pedal. I catch a bunch of them like this. A sock over the white pole light does take the glare way down while still functioning safely.:)