Night fishing ideas

[fishin spro]

I have night fished a pretty good bit, but have never really thrived doing it. I am looking for a few ideas other than the typical black buzzbait and black worm.
The tournament is 4 am to 12 pm so we only have a little while in the dark.

The water is stained, not muddy but not clear. lots of piers but only a few with lights. a few rockbanks and a little bit of grass on the lake.

thanks,

-spro

[cassidyta]

For me, 0400 screams a kicktail softbodied bait. That has been my go to bait while waiting for the first light of dawn.
If I have idenitifed ledges with drop offs, I like the throw a jig with a bulky trailer.
The last night tourney I was in was won throwing a frog. They said it was a lot of stop and go with the retrieve.

[Captmikestarrett]

Do you have frogs there or mice?

If you have some sort of food source like that I would throw a broken back jitterbug along the grass edges and rock edges.

I would also try a big zara spook. In fact have them both tied up and ready before you launch. Sometimes old school works best.

Capt Mike

[walkeraviator]

Ditto to all above... here is my usual arsenal at night...

Black or Firetail 7" powerworm
Black Spinner
Black Buzzbait
Black painted Bomber Crankbaits
Black Zara Spook

notice a pattern yet???

[cassidyta]

Walker, I see the pattern. Question though, does the phase of the moon alter your color choice at all? For me, the less of the moon, the darker the color I go to. On a full moon, I am throwing a lot of white baits.

[nofearengineer]

Try a 4" sized "chug" type popper. Fish it very slowly, but very firmly. If you can get it to make that "GLOOOP" sound and just let it be for 10 seconds afterwards, it drives bass crazy. A little moonlight helps, of course. The low-frequency sound draws them in, but the little flash on the side seals the deal.

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by Captmikestarrett

Do you have frogs there or mice?

If you have some sort of food source like that I would throw a broken back jitterbug along the grass edges and rock edges.

I would also try a big zara spook. In fact have them both tied up and ready before you launch. Sometimes old school works best.

Capt Mike

My choices exactly Mike. 3 thumbs up!!!

[skeeter1804]

I have had my best luck night fishing with black crankbaits and spinnerbaits and tube jigs with a rattle in it. I have also done pretty well with firetiger cranks when I don't have any black available.

[walkeraviator]

Originally Posted by cassidyta

Walker, I see the pattern. Question though, does the phase of the moon alter your color choice at all? For me, the less of the moon, the darker the color I go to. On a full moon, I am throwing a lot of white baits.

Actually, I dont throw anything but black at night... but when the moon is full, i make subtle changes. for instance on a new moon, i throw double colorado blade spinners (dont matter what color teh blades are)...but under a full moon, i throw a colorado/willow with silver blades. New moon means i am throwing a black worm with a rattle in it... and on full moon nights i will use a black/chartreuse tail, or my favorite a firetail 7" powerworm t-rigged... i like the black for the silhouette, but a full moon makes me add accent colors that may reflect some light to get their attention.

Just my take on things.