Night Fishing
You and your buddies from work load your fishing gear
into the car and hit the highway that leads to the lake.
None of you have ever been night fishing before, but the
company you work for has chartered a boat for a night
fishing excursion. You get to the lake, board the boat
and find that there are a couple of guides on board that
are experts in night fishing. You are excited and hope
to land a couple of the big ones that you've been told
come in to shore to feed at night. Maybe you will take
up the hobby of night fishing.
Night fishing is fishing at night, usually, but not
always when the moon is full. Night fishing is quite
often done from a boat, but can also be done from shore
or in rivers and streams. In some areas, you can use
artificial light to lure the big fish. However, the use
of artificial light for night fishing is prohibited in
some areas, so be sure to check the rules and
regulations for the area where you are planning to night
fish.
Night fishing is more of a thrill for the angler.
Imagine hooking and landing a large fish in almost total
darkness. Anglers love the thrill of a night catch and
the challenge that it presents. The best time of the
year to night fish is from mid-April to October. The
summer months are the prime time for night fishing
excursions.
If you've never been night fishing, there are a few
preparations you will need to take care of before the
night fishing excursion. Be sure the running lights on
your boat are working well. Running lights are mandated
by law in most areas. Check the fuses and bulbs and be
sure that there is no acid corrosion on your battery
terminals. Check your boat's engine and be sure it's
running smoothly. It must be in top running condition
before going on a night fishing excursion. It's not good
to be lost on the lake during daytime, but it's even
worse if you are stranded in the middle of a lake at
night. Pack two flashlights that have new batteries
inserted and take along extra batteries as well. This
will ensure you are not left in the dark if your
flashlight or batteries fail.
Be sure there is a pair of needle nose pliers in your
tackle box. Because at night you can't always see your
line and the fish may swallow the hook or it may become
deeply embedded in its mouth. Needle nose pliers make
removing the hook a much easier task. Pack a couple of
cans of insect repellent with your gear. This will give
you protection against mosquitoes and other hungry
insects. If you take extra repellent, you will have lots
to share with other anglers who forgot theirs and are
slowly being eaten alive.
Make a mental note of where to find everything in your
boat. At night, it's next to impossible to find pliers
or tackle if you don't have some idea of the area where
it's located. Pre-tie flies, leaders and terminal rigs.
If you tie too many, you can always use them on your
next night fishing excursion. If you don't tie enough,
you'll be hard pressed to tie them in the dark. It's
best if you head out onto the lake before dark. It's
difficult to anchor properly on a reef or ledge if it is
pitch black.
There are several advantages to fishing at night. Night
fishing affords solitude and tranquility, as most
anglers go to the lake during daytime when it is
overcrowded. Fishing at night gives you a chance to fish
in peace and leave the stress of the world behind.
During daytime when it is hot, large fish tend to avoid
shallow water. At night, they move into the shallows to
feed. Night fishing often produces a larger catch
because of this.
If you are night fishing, anchor your boat over reefs
and ledges, or pull your boat within casting distance of
the shallows. Big bass and trout lurk in weedy areas and
wait for prey to pass by. Lights of nearby docks or
street lights attract microscopic marine animals into
these areas. Larger fish will follow these animals into
shore to feed upon them. Cast near retaining walls,
docks and brush areas to catch fish that are feeding.
They tend to hide in shadowed areas while waiting for
prey. Another good spot to night fish is the entrance to
a bay or harbor. Fish move into these areas from deeper
water in the night hours in order to feed.
There are several fish species that can be fished at
night. In the spring, smelt fishing is a popular sport.
Other species include bass, trout, catfish, walleye,
king mackerel, snapper, shark and bullhead. Because the
fish that feed at night are sensitive to both sound and
smell, there are a wide range of baits that can be used.
Nightcrawlers, crustaceans and chum lines all work well,
as do minnows, shiners, cut bait, prepared bait, egg
sacs and bug hatches. Artificial bait includes spinners,
streamers, and wet and dry flies.
If you would like to try night fishing and need
assistance choosing equipment, tackle or bait, ask an
experienced night angler to help you. This might be a
family member, friend, neighbor or a guide on a
chartered boat.
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