A-Jay

X2 This will contribute to the problem not lead to a solution . . . . A-Jay

Hello John and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

Big time night fishing fan right here. Each year is different but generally, May thru October the nocturnal action is vastly superior to the majority of the day time bites. With the home water environment consisting mostly of deep clear natural lakes, the cover of darkness definitely levels the playing field. Top water is often a good bet and a whole lot of fun. The darkest of nights seem to produce the bigger fish for me. Whether it's in and around the new moon or even better a fully clouded over full moon the blacker the night the better. Many nights the fish will be in some very skinny water; not the case here during the daylight - too may eagles. I am not a numbers bass angler and would rather fish all night or many night is a row for a handful of bites - but I'm looking for the bigger fish. Experience has shown night in and night out, that 4 basic baits seem to attract the fish I'm looking for. A Single bladed slow rolled spinner bait with a swim bait trailer, A big top water fished either very shallow or out off the first deep break line, A jig & big Craw trailer, and a bigger swim bait, like a Huddleston 68. When it's all said & done, each of the past few years, my number 1 producer of both size and numbers of quality fish (especially smallmouth which is what most of the lakes here are loaded with) has been the bait pictured below. On nights where there is no or very little ambient light I don't feel color is a factor and will use a very dark color usually black. Other nights with some moon light or in areas where there is cabin or dock lights, I'll fish the shadow line with the same colors I'd use during the day, usually green's and browns and sometimes a red or orange. And speaking of shadow line, these can be a game changer at night depending on where they fall on the water. On nights with 50% or more of moon light (which is usually too bright for a good bite here) the shadow line can actually be "the Pattern". Some lakes here have very little in the way of man made shoreline cover so shadows made by the tree line, completely and partially submerged wood and even the taller growing submerged weed growth makes an excellent ambush point for the bass and will often hold a few of the better bass. The challenging area of this type of fishing is one, finding these spots under the cover of darkness and two, making an accurate semi-blind presentation. Also, I think that there is a somewhat false sense of security while night time angling when it comes to how close one can be to where the fish might be holding. It took me a while to realize this. I have had considerably more success at night by exercising the same, or more caution, where it comes to being stealthy. After making the quietest approach possible and then keeping off my target as far as I can while still being able to make a quiet and accurate presentation usually pays off. On some of those special dead still nights, this is the difference. That's my story and I'm sticking to it A-Jay

OH YEA ~ ! And I hope it goes by as quickly as possible . . . . . . . A-Jay

Congratulations on 2 fronts ~ First for leaving them in a good situation as you transitioned to your next adventure and secondly for having the courage and confidence to know it was time. Good Luck My Friend - Here's to you. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

Congrats on a great first outing And a New PB ~ ! But what a crying shame you didn't have a camera or a phone or something to capture a picture of your accomplishment. A-Jay

X2 Me too. A-Jay

It's ugly - but it works. A-Jay

LOL ~ The Orangutan Hang, that is the Term of the year so far for me . . . . . I've never done one - kind tough in the Old Town, but I have escaped into the woods to do The Sasquatch Squat one or twice . . . A-Jay

Occasionally, when I'm looking to take one of my "Night Ops" trips to another level, I'll start it off with one of these . . . . . . . A-Jay

My wife & I are thinking of you Roger ~ A-Jay

The man is serious about his line conditioner. This includes a rather aggressive application process. A-Jay

And this is just another example, although a Really Funny one, of us being unable to remain focused on the OP's thread subject . . . . . What is wrong with us ? A-Jay

Taking Chubbies to a Whole New Level right there ~ So are those the "Chub-Commander" or the High-Ballers" ? A-Jay

Good Stuff ~ A-Jay

Hello Jeff and Welcome to BR ~ A-Jay

That's a first for me . . . . Pretty Wild . . . A-Jay

Mr.Tommy Biffle has always been a believer. A-Jay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJSE0aKi5Ts

Keep an eye on the Cabelas Bargain Cave. Their Guide Wear is great gear and is often available very reasonably. A-Jay

Or Daisy Duk-ster. A-Jay

It's on the angler the whole way - And it starts and end with rigging ones baits effectively. There's nothing wrong with using 2/0 hooks for everything, until it does work. A-Jay

Thank you ~ Your example illustrates my point quite well. The bait you're rigging there - Brush hog - is by most standards a THIN bodied bait. One where a smaller (2/0) hook would still be able to accommodate the plastic and still have sufficient gap left to hook the bass. When using a different bait which sports a thicker, bulkier area where the hook rides, there will be a hook size that is too small. One could use any old hook you had lying around - but not effectively or with high percentage results. A-Jay

Pinnacle Perfecta DHC5 Cast Rod 7' MH Squarebill Rod A-Jay