I tried out night fishing for the first time last night.  There was no moon in the sky at all so it was pitch black.  I brought a maglite, a small latern and a head lamp.  I only used the head lamp to tie on a new bait or unhook a bass.  And the others were for launching and getting back in.

Ended up catching 4 bass in about 2 hours.  Largest was about 2 lbs. so sorry I didn't bother getting a pic.  Honestly it was kinda freaky, lol.  There is about a 6 foot gator in that lake and even though I know he couldn't touch me my boat rides low and it was in the back of my mind. lol.  

The baits I caught fish on were:

3/8 oz. spinnerbait white - My first spinnerbait fish ever. whoo hoo!

10 inch ragetail anaconda greenpumpkin weigtless.

and zoom U-vibe watermelonseed. 2 fish.

I tried some Rat L traps and buzzbaits to no avail.  I got 2 hits on a black Jitterbug but they missed the bait, and nothing after that.  I also missed one on a *** black and blue.  One time when the I thought I was close to surfacing the *** I reeled it in real quick and the tails were skipping on the water, a bass tried to hit it about 2 feet from the boat but missed it, it scared the crap out of me. lol.

I took extra precaution being out at night and the only person who knew I was out was sound asleep.  I was fishing a lake that I have never fished before from a boat, so I didn't motor anywhere besides the areas I have bank fished previously to make sure I didn't hit any unknown structure.  I wore a life-vest the entire time, which I never do.  And I also fished sitting down in my jon boat 95% of the time.  It can get pretty unstable and I have accidentally rocked my dad out of the boat once...oops.

It was a cool experience and I would like to try it again, maybe with a little moon light.    Is there a best moon phase to fish?  I have always heard under a full moon the fish feed all night, but after last night getting plenty of hits I believe they just feed 24/7  

This morning I went out on the same lake, my gf is house sitting and the house is on a private lake.    Caught 7 this morning all on plastic U-vibes and lizards and ***.  Unfortunately I didn't look up the new entry code for this week of the fall series before I got on the water, oh well an excuse to go out again.   I also traveled the entire pond to explore the different structures.  So next time with some moonlight I can safely navigate.

I am familiar with that feeling young friend,

When I was about 20 yrs. old, I made the mistake of wade fishing at night in the small body of water across the highway from from Lake Jackson, Tallahassee.

Was throwing Tx rigged 10" worms and on every other cast, the water would erupt in a huge boil as soon as my bait hit the water and I could feel the strike....After setting the hook several times and coming back with 1/2 of my worm left, I called my to my dad who was bank fishing about 50 yards away...

He came down with his headlight to ck things out and as soon as I casted, the same thing happened so he peered out with his light and said to me quietly, "get out of the water now". Of course I followed his direction and when on shore I looked where he was pointing the light and there were three gators in the edge of the pads looking right at us.

Needless to say, we left and came back the next night with a Boat.   ;D

Big O

www.ragetail.com

I keep threatening to fish Lake Carr at night, but my wife would just figure that I was out tomcatting.  

I keep threatening to fish Lake Carr at night, but my wife would just figure that I was out tomcatting.  

Back in the mid 70's I caught one of the biggest Mudfish, Grennel, Bowfin I have ever caught while bass fishing in Lake Carr at night with a muskie jitterbug on the end of a jiggerpole.

After the fight was over, although he was in the boat, I'm still not sure who won that war....He was 15 lbs. and we were both soakin wet, worn out and bloody.

I actually released him, he was a worthy foe.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Sounds like your approach is not only worthy, but smart minded.  

Learn that lake a little better during the day and then get back out there.   Some nights, the moon is so bright, it's like the lights are on

I keep threatening to fish Lake Carr at night, but my wife would just figure that I was out tomcatting.

Back in the mid 70's I caught one of the biggest Mudfish, Grennel, Bowfin I have ever caught while bass fishing in Lake Carr at night with a muskie jitterbug on the end of a jiggerpole.

Jiggerpole!  Man, I had forgotten all about that technique.

I caught my personal best bass, 9 pounds 6 ounces, on Carr last month.

Hey Olebiker, I fished that lake from early 70's to early 80's and mainly at night and it's hard to imagine the numbers and size of the fish we caught...1 over 13, 3 over 12 and WOW how many between 10 and 11.... If you remember, in those days very few folks even knew where the lake was and it was a dirt road that led to it.

Only a few locals spent any time on it and they were mainly brim fisherman. There were absolutely no tournaments ever. The lake was too choked in lillies and hydrilla with only a 8 or so open pockets.

I would spend a part of my day ripping through the lillies with stem cutters mounted on my boat and create the perfect trails unknown to anyone else and come back to fish them a few nights later. Those were the days....don't seem that I am that mad at'em any more ;D

Big O

www.ragetail.com