Night Fishing Do's & Dont's...

[crappiepappy]

Stratos185 .... I don't think you are required to have your red/green bow light on WHEN FISHING -- just your white stern light (visible 360deg). Of course, you would have to have both on when running down the lake, under power of the big motor.

I'd add putting a t-rigged 4" plastic craw w/rattle on the menu !! Or, if nothing else ... a 3-4" tube t-rigged.
If you want to throw cranks ... find 12-15ft depth that parallels the bank, and throw crank straight out in front of the boat. Hot Lips - Model A 6A Bomber - Wiggle Wart ... have all produced for me.

If you're on a bank/area with fish ... don't just fish it one time thru -- double back and run thru it again. (you could have come in contact with fish just coming up shallow to feed !! )

For me ... there seems to be two distinct "times" when I get a bite on t-rigged plastics, and the majority of the bites of the night seem to stay that way. One is right after I lift/drop, when the sinker has hit bottom, but the bait is still fluttering down. Second is when the bait has settled on the bottom, and been there a few seconds. On the first scenario ... I usually see the line jump --- on the second, I don't see any line movement, but do feel the 'weight' of the fish (when lifting rod) or the line moves off (doesn't come towards me, but heads off sideways) as I lift the rod. Don't get "feely" with the fish ... if it even remotely resembles a bite, or just doesn't feel/act "normal" --- SET THE HOOK !!

.... luck2ya ... cp

[crazyfishinnut]

I think fishing at night is exciting. You are REQUIRED to keep both your lights on unless you are anchored, if you are fishing with a trolling motor you are still "underway". Just enjoy the peace and dont get in a hurry.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

unless you are running or idling in the main navigation channel with the big motor only have on your white anchor light according to the officer at barren.he pulled up at 1130 to say thanks for having on my lights on but turn off the red and green when fishing.by the way he went about a hundred yards and ticketed the next boat for no lights at all,except the black light.

[MsgMills]

Also remember, settin the hook is free, so don't take no chances at night...if it feels funny, set the hook, if'n it feels heavy, set the hook, if'n you ain't fer sure, set the hook...sett'n the hook don't cost nutt'n there free remember that...Plus hang onto that rod at all times, never know when a big old green fish will try and jerk that rod out of your hand....Especially right at the boat sometimes on a spinner bait........

[Moose1am]

I would think that the anchor lights are designed to be seen from a distance. They are there and required to be turned on at night so that other boats can see you.

Now I am assuming, but this is an educated guess, that the anchor lights are designed to use 12 volt and a certain watts sized bulb. And further the light already have a while to clear plastic cover sitting over the light.

If you further restrict the amount of light that can be emitted by the light by putting anything over the light that's going to reduce the amount of light coming out of system. Now how much I don't know. It would depend on how thick the white sock is but it's definatley going to reduce the amount of light that can be seen by somone off in the distance.

Light energy is measured in LUMINS. So I am thinking that the amount of lumens seen from a certain distance is figured into making these anchor lights. And putting anything over the light is going to reduce the amount of light

Does anyone know how much light is required by law on the anchor light? ie do the reg's say that the anchor light has to give off so many lumens of light energy or has to be seen visible from a certain distance away?

I am wondering if the anchor light is giving off glare if you are in the front of the bass boat facing to the front and not looking back toward the anchor light?

It may not really do any harm to cover the light with a white sock but I would like to know if that's perfectly legal before I did that. There may be nothing on the books to prevent me from doing that. So I am just curious.

Does it really help with the glare? I don't see so good at night as I wear eyeglasses and I suffer from glare even when driving the car at night.

In reading the answers to your question I did not see the one thing that I do that helps me with night vision. By Ky law you are required to keep both bow and stern lights on at night. The bow light does not bother night vision much but the glaring stern light will. I solved this problem for me by taking a white sock and putting it over the white light and tying it on with a rubber band therefore cutting out the glare and the white stern light can still be seen by everyone.

[MsgMills]

I believe the only reason for the sock is to help the eyes of whoever might be fishing out of the back end of the boat....My guess on the sock.... I put one in my boat for a potential Night Tourney coming up.....

[djh480]

All of the safety things mentioned and then some. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FLOURESCENT LINE ON OUR REELS. Good luck. You will be hooked if ya do good. I would rather fish at night then day anytime.

[TEE]

I'm confused...
Doesn't all lakes have idle only from dusk to dawn ?

[Zfrog]

I'm confused...
Doesn't all lakes have idle only from dusk to dawn ?

Not in Kentucky.

[Cajun78]

Last rule of thumb: take the heater. Never know what kind of jerks will run up on you.

[crazyfishinnut]

Tee On ky water ways including the ohio river there is no speed limit day or night. When we fished ind. at night we idled I am thinking that ohio has a similar law. But in the bluegrass let um rip

[kc]

A couple of other thoughts on night fishing:

You really should know the water you are night fishing. I usually arrive a hour or two before dark and "run down" the lake some distance and then fish back from there. You can scope out any obsticles in the day light as well as visually check out potential spots along the way.

But a counter thought to that - not being the spring chicken I once was I have a hard time fishing all night these days. If I truly want to fish all night into day light I don't put in until about 30 minutes or and hour past dark so that all of my energy is on "night fishing". I also tend to fish closer on these type trips.

An organized boat is a must. You need to have everything in it's place and a clear path to walk the boat. I rig every rod I am going to use prior to dark and have back up lures handy and easy to find at the top of my box. I take several flash lights and have a small one in my pocket and 2 or 3 more seeded in specific spots in the boat for easy access. A spot light is nice for dark nights but don't overuse it. There is nothing worst that a spot-light crazy nut running in your direction while you are trying to fish.

Cut down on the number of rods. Sometimes during the day and not on a specific pattern I may take 8 - 10 rods out but that would be tangle city at night. I try to take 4 or 5 rods out max for night fishing and I also limit my lure selection greatly. Spinners, jigs, and worms are pretty much my staples although you can catch them other ways.

Keep your hooks sharp and re-tie as necessary. Fishing at night has a way of "lulling you to sleep" and not thinking of things you normally would but I have found fishing spinners and jigs heavily around rock will most definitely dull your hooks and nick your lines. You are out there for the big bite and those are the last things you want to have when it comes.

Be patient and cautious with everything. There are some people on the water at night you don't want to encounter -- avoid them when you do. Run cautiously. I usually just get my boat up on plane and run easy from there. The biggest problem on dark nights is depth perception. Sometimes I can't tell if I am 50 feet or 500 feet from the bank. You won't have that problem on the full moon but I like to fish dark nights too.

Good luck out there this week end. I hope to get out after dark some myself next week.

kc