Night Fishing For Largemouth Bass
One of the most exciting experiences in the bass fisherman's career is to participate in night fishing. There are no limits when it comes to bass fishing; the fanatical angler understands that some of the best catches can be made at night. Most Extreme Large mouth Bass feed at night, actually it is reported that only 10% of fish species feed in the daytime. An angler can be most productive if they choose prominent feeding times to fish for the large mouth trophy bass.
If you plan on attempting night fishing you must be aware of your surroundings as you need to be knowledgeable of different terrains in the water. Preparing your night fishing is started by checking out the terrain during the day. At night things are different even if these are waters that you have been familiar with for years. You must remember to move slowly as things are different in the darkness. The first and foremost issue is safety all the time,so keep this in mind as you enter the dark water. It sometimes is a good idea to carry a wading staff and check the depth of the terrain as you advance in the water.
Night fishing outfitting can vary but things that usually come in handy are commonplace and a standard outfit can make the trip more comfortable based on the weather conditions and the time of year. Summer is the most common time to perform night fishing so that is were we will concentrate for this discussion.
Light khaki shirt and trousers, tennis shoes, a light vest with many pockets,
a head lamp and plenty of insect repellent is a necessary start.
You can use this outfit for wading or boat fishing. Even though night fishing in the
summer is the most common, you will have to decide if you want to use waders or hip boots when you go into the water, or just use more comfortable "wet wear", it's up to you and your personal preference. In some cases it is just easier to go into the water with your tennis shoes and get a little wet, especially in the warm summer water.
There seems to be consensus regarding wading into the water at night vs. using a boat. Wading is much more quiet and there is a much less chance of alarming the fish than in a boat, the choice is yours and dependent upon your desire to be in the boat or enter the water.
One of the most successful techniques to catching large mouth bass at night is one of the simplest as well. Use surface plugs that run very shallow when retrieved and move as slowly as you are capable. There is no need to rush this kind of fishing, as a matter of fact, in this case slower is better.
In the dark, bass have a lesser ability to sense shadows, perceive noises, and see their surroundings. They can’t sense the things that deter them from biting that hook.
These are some of the reasons that one should be aware that night fishing is often more rewarding in the size and quantities of large mouth that an angler can catch, in comparison to daytime fishing.
Since large mouth bass eat almost anything, frog imitations are very successful for night fishing. You can try any kind of lure, but make sure it is near the top and during the retrieving, stays near the top and doesn't sink too much.
To fish at night is certainly an exciting experience. Getting out of the heat of the day and relaxing at night always is a refreshing change. Night fishing also enables one to escape the masses during the day when everyone is out,(especially on weekends) and the noise is enough to drive even the deafest fish away.
The best results occur on the calmest and quietest of nights. The less wind the better,as is makes it even more difficult to control either the boat or the line. Once you get good at fishing at night, you can almost hear the fish in the quiet of the night and if you are experienced enough you can practically cast your line right into the mouth of that prized Extreme Large mouth Bass you have been waiting for.
Below is a great video from one of the best bass fishermen: Doug Hannon, explaining more about night fishing.