Well summer is approaching, which means more heat and more boating/camping/people activity.

 

Some of the lakes I fish I feel like night fishing offers the best opportunity to catch bigger fish. Cooler temps and less people causing disturbance in and around the water.

 

The last couple of times I've gone out in the early evening, I've stayed well beyond dark and have had good success throwing a swim jig.

 

More specifically the Dirty Jigs CA swim jig in SXY Guntersville Shad with a 4" Rapala Mayor on it. I think it's the Albino Shad color.

 

I'm really enjoying this right now. They knock the socks off of it.

 

I'm now wondering about switching colors.

 

The lake I've been fishing has decent clarity but a different lake that holds much bigger bass has less visibility.

 

Would a black/blue jig and trailer work better? Both companies offer this.

 

Does it make much difference at night?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Almost regardless of the lure, I'm throwing black at night.  About the only exception is if there is a bright moon (half or more) and the water is clear.  Then there is enough light that white shows up pretty well too.  

 

More important to me is having enough thump in the water for both me and the fish to feel it.  the fish are better at that of course so it doesn't take much for them.  For me, I need to know the lure is working right and with the amount of weeds we have here it only takes one strand to stop a spinnerbait blade or foul a buzzbait blade.  And I want to know if it is fouled.  On a swim jig at night, that means throwing one with a rage bug or another rage product as a trailer.  

 

Never change a winner. If you are having success with the current set up, stay with it until it quits producing.

 

If you want to try a black/blue jig and trailer, tie it on another rod and see what kind of results you would have. 

If you have more than one setup rig up another color and alternate them.

33 minutes ago, river-rat said:

 

Never change a winner. If you are having success with the current set up, stay with it until it quits producing.

 

If you want to try a black/blue jig and trailer, tie it on another rod and see what kind of results you would have. 

 

Good point.

 

I was mostly thinking about changing for the lake that has less visibility.

 

The places I'm also currently throwing, which has decent clarity, are somewhat lit. I'm throwing off of a dock and also by a beach. 

 

I didn't know if I went off the beaten path more if color made more difference.

 

I'm just going to have to get on omnia and buy some stuff. Even though my wife is complaining about the THREE packages coming today. LOL

23 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well summer is approaching, which means more heat and more boating/camping/people activity.Some of the lakes I fish I feel like night fishing offers the best opportunity to catch bigger fish. Cooler temps and less people causing disturbance in and around the water.

The last couple of times I've gone out in the early evening, I've stayed well beyond dark and have had good success throwing a swim jig.

More specifically the Dirty Jigs CA swim jig in SXY Guntersville Shad with a 4" Rapala Mayor on it. I think it's the Albino Shad color.

I'm really enjoying this right now. They knock the socks off of it.

I'm now wondering about switching colors.

The lake I've been fishing has decent clarity but a different lake that holds much bigger bass has less visibility.  Would a black/blue jig and trailer work better? Both companies offer this.

Does it make much difference at night?

Thanks!

 

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Good point.

I was mostly thinking about changing for the lake that has less visibility.

The places I'm also currently throwing, which has decent clarity, are somewhat lit. I'm throwing off of a dock and also by a beach. 

I didn't know if I went off the beaten path more if color made more difference.

I'm just going to have to get on omnia and buy some stuff. Even though my wife is complaining about the THREE packages coming today.

LOL

 

While I have spent many nights on the water bass fishing and some times even catching a few,

I'm far from a night time bass fishing 'expert'.

@Catt has that one completely covered and then some.

However, here's a few things to think about.

Regardless of water clarity, Levels of moon light and or the depth of water fished,

the prey bass eat during the day, do not suddenly change at night.

The don't change color, they don't get louder and I'm pretty sure they don't 

go out of their way to draw all kinds of attention to themselves.

And yet, the bass still find them and eat them.

So IME, under similar conditions, the techniques / baits that work during the day

also work at light.  That said, I do love me a black-ish spinnerbait at night,

which is not something I routinely throw during the day. 

But other than that, I have success with the same deals.

btw, I love a good swim jig bite myself; anytime.

Good Luck

A-Jay

5 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

I'm just going to have to get on omnia and buy some stuff. Even though my wife is complaining about the THREE packages coming today. LOL

 

Before you do that, visit one of the board sponsors in Siebert outdoors and pick up a couple swim jigs or mini swim jigs, whichever is your preference.  They are the highest quality you’re going to find and the colors are limitless.  

 

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

While I have spent many nights on the water bass fishing and some times even catching a few,

I'm far from a night time bass fishing 'expert'.

@Catt has that one completely covered and then some.

However, here's a few things to think about.

Regardless of water clarity, Levels of moon light and or the depth of water fished,

the prey bass eat during the day, do not suddenly change at night.

The don't change color, they don't get louder and I'm pretty sure they don't 

go out of their way to draw all kinds of attention to themselves.

And yet, the bass still find them and eat them.

So IME, under similar conditions, the techniques / baits that work during the day

also work at light.  That said, I do love me a black-ish spinnerbait at night,

which is not something I routinely throw during the day. 

But other than that, I have success with the same deals.

btw, I love a good swim jig bite myself; anytime.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

I just might have one tied on right now for tomorrow’s trip.  The bluegill were on beds heavy 10 days ago but the bass didn’t care.  I suspect they care now.  I’m throwing my black buzzbait first thing and until they stop eating it, but shortly thereafter I expect the swim jigs bite to kick in.  

The hour after darkness the fish activity usually slows down as the ecosystem switch’s to nocturnal critters becoming more available and eyesight adjusting to very low light.

Buzz baits can be good at the transition time noisy on the surface.

Slow down and enjoy the night and keep a tight hold of the rod as night bass can be very aggressive!

Tom

@HawkeyeSmallie I fish at night pretty frequently during the pleasure boating months and I always have a DJ CA 3/4oz swim jig tied on.  It's by far my best producer.  It's also one of my favorite daytime baits too.  I don't change colors; almost exclusively crappie or alabama bream; whichever is on from the daytime.  If it's a moonless night and I need to tie one on; I'd choose alabama bream with a GP 120mm D Walker, I feel like there's plenty to silhouette and the fish will find it and smash it.  MB uoze, bladed jig, and Baca burrito are my back up night swimmers.  Jigs and big worms if slowing down is key, and a frog if they'll bite it.

 

scott

Well I just got back from my first “night” outing of the year.

 

My wife came along and sat and read in the truck.

 

Was getting close to 11:00 and I knew she was getting tired/bored. I think I had been fishing for about two hours, not a sniff.

 

Figured I was going to get skunked and then bam, fish ON!

 

Got it to the bank and went to lip it but there was nothing there to grab. I thought this is not a bass! Wiper? Catfish? Come to find out it was a Smallmouth! My old best friend. It’s been a long time since I caught one. The lake was stocked with them back in 2017.

 

15 minutes later I caught one more. Then the wife made an executive decision that we were going home.  

Lure of choice was the swim jig/trailer I’ve been using at the other lake.

 

Next time I go out I might get there at 11:00 and stay much longer.

 

Was a successful trip. When you are 98% ready to call it a night and then end up getting a couple solid fish, makes it an entire different trip.

 

The two smallies had chunky bellies from all the crawdads swimming around. They were everywhere.

 

Now I’m just trying to figure out my next outing in pursuit of my once cherished BROWN bass.

On 6/13/2025 at 2:19 PM, A-Jay said:

 

 

While I have spent many nights on the water bass fishing and some times even catching a few,

I'm far from a night time bass fishing 'expert'.

@Catt has that one completely covered and then some.

However, here's a few things to think about.

Regardless of water clarity, Levels of moon light and or the depth of water fished,

the prey bass eat during the day, do not suddenly change at night.

The don't change color, they don't get louder and I'm pretty sure they don't 

go out of their way to draw all kinds of attention to themselves.

And yet, the bass still find them and eat them.

So IME, under similar conditions, the techniques / baits that work during the day

also work at light.  That said, I do love me a black-ish spinnerbait at night,

which is not something I routinely throw during the day. 

But other than that, I have success with the same deals.

btw, I love a good swim jig bite myself; anytime.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Perfect

Man this topic came up in a conversation earlier lol. I wana go night fishing now. My local spots get a lot of catfish action at night  though. Maybe I’ll give it a try! 
do yall wear headlamps? So you can see casting and such? I know saltwater fishing we never worried about a headlamp. 

@HawkeyeSmallie- that’s awesome.  I don’t think I’ve ever caught a smallmouth in the dark.  I’ve not really fished for them in the dark, but still never done it.  

 

12 hours ago, Joedodge said:

Man this topic came up in a conversation earlier lol. I wana go night fishing now. My local spots get a lot of catfish action at night  though. Maybe I’ll give it a try! 
do yall wear headlamps? So you can see casting and such? I know saltwater fishing we never worried about a headlamp. 

 

I have a headlamp and wear it all the time when I’m out in the dark.  It is almost always off, and when it is on I have it in red mode.  I don’t use it for casting or anything other than tying a hook (or detangling a mess).  It is easier than leaving a flashlight out or searching for it in the box when you need it so I just leave it clipped to my hat.  It’s handy when you are loading up the boat also since most of my ramps don’t really have god lighting.  I’ve got pretty good eyes so once they adapt to the available light I’m good to go with just starlight/moonlight and the bit of glow in the sky from light pollution.  YMMV.

1 minute ago, casts_by_fly said:

@HawkeyeSmallie- that’s awesome.  I don’t think I’ve ever caught a smallmouth in the dark.  I’ve not really fished for them in the dark, but still never done it.  

 

 

I have a headlamp and wear it all the time when I’m out in the dark.  It is almost always off, and when it is on I have it in red mode.  I don’t use it for casting or anything other than tying a hook (or detangling a mess).  It is easier than leaving a flashlight out or searching for it in the box when you need it so I just leave it clipped to my hat.  It’s handy when you are loading up the boat also since most of my ramps don’t really have god lighting.  I’ve got pretty good eyes so once they adapt to the available light I’m good to go with just starlight/moonlight and the bit of glow in the sky from light pollution.  YMMV.

That’s all makes great sense. Thank you!

@Joedodge on the kayak I keep a headlamp with spare batteries, 360 overhead light with spare batteries, and a high powered flashlight for signaling with - you guessed it - extra batteries. 

Boy I’d be hard pressed to change it up if you’re having good success. It’s like leaving biting fish to go find more biting fish. 
 

I do a ton of nighttime fishing. Mostly striped bass and trout, but have recently been dabbling in LMB at night too. I keep it super simple. Black, or white. Black on a dark night, and white on a bright night. However, last night fishing under the street lights in very clear water, the fish keyed in on natural shad colors. And then in the other side of the pond with no light, they would only touch black. 
 

Keep your lights off as much as possible. You can surprisingly see pretty well once your eyes adjust. I find this critical to being able to cast at the banks in the dark. If I absolutely need to use my light for something, I try to use red and make it quick. Casting in the dark takes good casting control, intuition, hearing, etc. I find that my senses are amplified in the dark. You’ll still decorate the trees with tackle as it’s inevitable, but you can also get away with fishing heavier line/leader in the dark which helps.