How to Catch Bass at Night

Bass are known for their excellent sight and for using that sight as the basis for predatory activities.  So a lot of people overlook the possibility that they can be caught at night.  Do this, and you'll miss good fishing opportunities.

Much like people, bass rely on more than one sense.  When visualizing a target is not an option, predatory fish rely on two things:  location and water displacement.

Let's look at location first.  At night, bass put the odds in their favor by pushing baitfish up against objects.  Retaining walls are a favorite.

Once you find a retaining wall (the marina probably has one), I recommend using a swim bait with a bullet weight.

I'm particularly fond of the three inch Berkley Swim Shad because they have a vibrating tail.  That displaces water and gets the bass' attention.  As you can see from the pics above and below, there are many design options.

Once you have your retaining wall, let the lure drop to the bottom at arm's length from the wall.  Then lift the lure just off the bottom.  Now you will simply want to walk along the retaining wall (which will be a sidewalk if you're in front of the marina), and pull the lure along.

I call this "walking the dog."  It will cause the swimbait to swim horizontally and parallel to the wall.  Remember, the bass can't see anything.  BUT - it can feel something about the same shape and size of a three inch Shad swimming along the retaining wall.  In this pitch black world, the bass registers a cornered shad.

The results speak for themselves.

Check out these shots with the lure still in!

One last tip for bass at night.  Hit the crappie house at least once.  The crappie house lighting tends to attract some fish.

That said, concrete retaining walls where bass can corner baitfish are absolutely PRIME nighttime locations.  All fish pictured were released unharmed.

Tight lines!!

Crappie Jigging for Bass!

So you're out at the lake bass fishing.  You've thrown every lure imaginable.  The kitchen sink, or your pole, just might be next.

Don't give up.  Just start crappie jigging! Granted, the bass you catch probably won't be trophy-sized.  But the fact is that bass hit a crappie jigs.  Plus you can catch some crappie, which are fun too!

All fish were released unharmed.  Tight lines!

Rebel Crickhopper Review

So I'm perusing the fishing aisle at Walmart on Sunday, and I'm looking at the lures.  Slowly but surely, I'm building my collection of plastics and lures in order to do more bass fishing.

Out of all those lures, what caught my eye was this very realistic-looking grasshopper lure.  So I take a closer look.  The package says that this will catch trout, bass, and panfish.

I often use non-game panfish as cut bait for my first love - catfish.

I'm thinking about my usual process to catch these panfish.  It involves going to the store, buying nightcrawlers, and then heading to my lake.  I can't help but think that it would be nice to have a lure that would catch a non-game panfish, so that I could go straight to the lake and skip the store.

So with a great deal of skepticism, I made the purchase.  Then I tried for a panfish.  The first two casts resulted immediate strikes.  Cast three resulted in this.

That lure is a Rebel Crickhopper, and that's a sunfish, my friends.  Below is the catfish that followed the sunfish.

Let's also not forget that this provides a solution to worm hands and worm dirt still caked around your fingernails after the third wash.

Last pic.  Check out that moon!  Nothing beats night fishing.

Tight lines!

Full Moon Fishing

Night fishing is awesome in and of itself.  The only thing that makes it better, in my opinion, is a full moon.  I say this not because it has a huge impact on the bite rate, but because it adds to the beauty of the experience.

Check out the moon's reflection on the water!

Here's a shot of clouds passing in front of the moon.  It looks beautiful and eerie all at the same time.

And a closer look ....

Buffalo Springs Lake doesn't limit the number of poles you can have, so I took four.  I tried for catfish, bass, and carp.

I ended up with two catfish, both of which were on the smaller side.

What I was NOT planning on was this little guy.

That's a gizzard shad, hooked right through the mouth with a shad crankbait!  Here's a closer look.

I didn't catch any bass or carp, but I did get two small flatheads, a gizzard shad, and a full moon that lit up the place like daylight.  The catfish were released.

I used the shad as live bait.  They're a favorite meal of bass and catfish.  Other baits were nightcrawlers, corn, a shad crankbait, and a spinner.

Tight lines!

Night Fishing

I absolutely love to go fishing at night.  It offers peace, quiet, and a beautiful view of God's  work.  I've found it to be the perfect time for prayer and meditation.

Check out those lights shimmering and reflecting off of the water!

              How about that moon?

The key to night fishing is knowing your target.  Fish that rely heavily on the sense of sight will be scarce.  Conversely, fish that rely heavily on the senses of touch, vibration, and echolocation will be abundant.

In other words, you're most likely to catch catfish at night.  Moreover, you stand a serious chance of catching big catfish.  All you need is a weight, a worm, and some patience.  

Of course, the bait does not have to be a worm.  There are dozens of dough baits on the market that combine the catfish's favorite flavor with its favorite smell.  These are very effective.  

I have one other recommendation.  Try to plan on a night with a full moon.  You'll be surprised at how much it illuminates your surroundings.  It might also draw out a few of those fish varieties that normally feed during the day.  

If you can't make your schedule coincide with a full moon, there are battery-powered underwater lights that can be purchased. Tie the rope to the pier, then toss the light in the water.  The concept is that light attracts fish.

If you haven't tried night fishing, give it a chance.  You'll be ... wait for it ... HOOKED!