Night Fishing
Fishing at night is a good way to beat the summer heat but it can be productive at all times of the year. All kinds of fish feed at night and some feed in the dark better than they do during the day. Try fishing at night and you may open up a completely new fishing experience.
Fishing Fresh Water at Night
Sitting by a fire on the edge of a pond with several rods out for catfish is a common practice. Fishermen bait up bank hooks, trotlines, or jugs and then go back to camp and fish with rod and reel while waiting for a bite on the set hooks. A rod holder is a must because a big catfish can take your rod and reel before you can react if you let your guard down. Bait up with liver, earthworms, or live fish for nighttime cats.
Bass fishing at night is very popular in the South, and many lakes have weekly night tournaments. Anywhere it gets too hot to comfortably fish during the day is a good place to fish at night. And lakes are calmer with no skiers and pleasure boaters to bother you. Cast plastic worms, spinner baits, crank baits, or jigs to the same places that hold fish during the day. A jitterbug fished around cover is a classic way to fish top water at night. Just be prepared for heart-stopping strikes.
Tying up under a bridge, hanging a lantern over the side of the boat, and dropping minnows down to crappie, white bass, hybrids, and stripers is so common in the South that many bridges look as if they have towns under them. The lights attract small baitfish which in turn attract fish that feed on them. Any fish that eats baitfish can be caught like this at night, and it is a relaxing way to fish.
Lighted docks are good places to fish at night for the same fish that come to lights under bridges. Look for any lights near the water and try fishing around them at night from a boat or from the bank if you have access to it.
Trout fishing at night can be an excellent way to catch the biggest fish in the river or stream. Wading at night takes some getting used to and is more dangerous, but you can do it; you can also fish from the bank for nighttime trout. Use spinning equipment for live bait or small jigs and crankbaits, or use fly rods to fish flies that match the hatch of any bug out that night.
Saltwater Fishing at Night Can Be Thrilling
Fishing at night in salt water can seem like a scary thing to do, especially if you've watched some of the shark movies. Sharks do feed at night and so do most other saltwater fish, so fishing in the dark can be very productive.
Some party boats go out for reef fishing at night and produce big catches. Flounder hit good at night on flats and you can even wade and jig them in some places. Fishing where lights on docks, bridges, or piers shine on the water can be excellent, too. You can catch everything from sharks to mackerel. Snook and other saltwater fish can be caught in the shallows, and you can even cast to rising fish around those lights. Make sure you have all the bait and equipment you need since tackle stores on piers usually close up at night. Fish all night long and you'll have less company after midnight when most folks go home.
