The dog days of summer are brutal on bass anglers all across the country. Our lakes, rivers and reservoirs are like hot pans of boiling water, and humidity levels make you feel like you’ve just stepped out of a hot shower and into your boat. Don’t give up, though. Instead make your next summer fishing trip under the cover of darkness — on a night-fishing expedition. Especially now that we’ve got a reprieve from the crazy holiday traffic that swarmed us on Memorial Day and is sure to show up again on the Fourth of July.
Boat traffic, jet skiers and large bass tournaments are never a nuisance at night — to the angler or the bass. The cover of darkness makes big bass less cautious on lakes that receive heavy daytime fishing pressure, and they move shallow to feed. And the many fish that lie dormant and unwilling to bite baits presented by sweaty, frustrated daytime anglers move without hesitation to the dinner table.
That’s right, just when the daytime summer heat forces most anglers to surrender, I try to turn up the heat on those big “lunar lunkers.” Often the clear-to-stained waters that are toughest and most unproductive during the day are the ones that are best after dark — especially those times close to a new or full moon phase.
The moon has a huge influence on bass behavior. Unquestionably the best time to plan a night trip is three days before or after a new moon or three days before or after a full moon. The moon’s gravitational pull causes intense and well-defined feeding periods at these particular lunar phases. In addition to increased feeding, a full moon allows for a more enjoyable trip. Everything from navigation to tying on lures becomes far easier.
As is the case during the day, bass inhabit a multitude of locations at night, but because of the summer heat, the areas closest to deep water offer the most consistent populations of active fish. These areas allow bass to move shallow to gorge themselves on many types of prey such as crawfish, that also become most active under a full moon. Then, as night turns into day temperatures rise and the jet skiers wake up, bass can easily retreat to deeper, cooler waters.
As far as what lures to tie on, I keep it real simple. In the same way that a golfer always takes an entire bag of clubs to the course but needs only four or five clubs to play a successful round, I could fit all the necessary lures for night-fishing in a small paper bag.
The common thread between all of my favorite night-fishing lures is their dark color. The inner anatomy of a bass’s eye allows for keen distinction of objects that are black at night. Therefore, when fishing brushpiles I rely a lot on dark-colored plastic worms. Dark colors like black, plum and red shad silhouette best, but I use the calendar to dictate size selection on plastic worms, using 7-inch worms early in the summer and progressing to larger 10-inch varieties by August. For ledges, points and scattered stumps, few lures ever invented are as effective as the new Booyah Titanium Night Spinnerbait. Both a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce version are available, and I let the depth of water dictate which size I choose, using the heavier half-ounce for deeper water. The beauty of this new bait is that its big round Colorado blade vibrates like crazy, yet its wire lasts twice as long than comparable stainless-wired night spinnerbaits plus it has a black skirt. When retrieved slowly this new titanium spinnerbait produces tremendous vibrations that are critical for both the fish and the angler to feel at night.
If the fish are aggressive enough, and you want to experience more excitement than your nerves can stand, tie on a black-bladed, black-skirted, 3/8-ounce Booyah buzzbait. I’m not sure who gets the biggest thrill, the bass or the bass angler, from listening to this squeaking creature move across the surface, but I do know that it’s probably the most exciting form of bass fishing I experience each summer.
The bottom line is that night-fishing is very exciting! Fishing at night awakens one’s senses and makes for an adventure of sorts. But as is the case with any adventure, put safety first. Night-fishing is not the time to begin exploring new bodies of water or portions of a lake. Stay in areas that you’re familiar with navigating. Have ample lighting on board, make sure your boat’s navigation lights are working properly and carry a map or GPS. You should also inform loved ones of your destination and a time when they can expect you home — if your’re going to fish all night, then make sure they know of your plans. Carry a cell phone if you have one. And by all means wear your personal flotation device when navigating.
Remember, the best time to go fishing is anytime you can, but I’ll take one night trip over three day trips when the summer sun is as hot as it is right now.
Don't Sweat, Bass Bit Best At Night
