ok, so the last few weeks, I have been getting some great results using gurgle type topwaters at night.  (J-bugs, buzzbaits,etc)

The funny thing is that as I am getting more and more hours on the water, I am noticing the pattern develop.  It has snuck up on me and surprised me and even taught me a few things.  The big fish I am hitting are being taken VERY close to the reeds and banks.  I nomally avoid fishing anywhere near the bank.  It's well known that the edges and banks are going to hold mostly smaller bass.  

NOT AT 2AM!!!

This is the thing.  The pattern I am using, if duplicated any other time, other than the 4 hr window I am fishing (1-5am) will produce small, aggressive males.  All day long.  But during this small, crucial window, the table totally flips.

Pretty cool, just thought I would share ,....give you other "Dark dwellers" something to think about in the blackness.  

theres another crazy thing bass do :

I make it out about 3 or 4 times a summer at night. I wish I would go more because you are absolutely right. Then big girls like to hit them banks after midnight and the sound of a topwater getting hit in the dark is an awesome rush!

It has been known for years that bass (plural) will actively feed once during a 24 hour period; if you can figure out when this feeding period occurs for the big girls need I say more. The problem is this feeding period maybe any time during the 24 hours so the more time you spend on the lake the more likely you will find out this feeding period.  

Russ, does the lake you're fishing have shad? Do you hear them flopping around close to the bank during these times?

The reason I ask is that on my home lake the shad spawn during the early summer and about 11pm every night the shad will be thick along the shoreline just about anywhere you go. That is when we get parallel against the bank and throw topwaters pretty much dirt shallow and usually can pull some good bass like that. But once the shad spawn is over, we have to back off into deeper water because the majority of the shad wont come up like they had been and the (bigger) bass wont either. They stay out in deep water where the shad are hangin out.

The shad spawn was over here about 3 weeks ago and with you being to the north, you may have just hit primetime. Either way, it sounds like you are having a great time and catching some good fish.

Nope, no shad.  I wish

I just think this is the time they feel safest to be that shallow (very clear water) and there is lots of food up tight.  

It just hit me when Eric and I met up after the fishing shift and were comparing notes and while scrolling through the footage/pics of the night, he would say "where did you get that one?"  The answers had one thing in common.  Up tight.  Not a common answer for either of us.

Thats cool then. Maybe your window of shallow big bass will hold up longer than the usual period we go through here. Sure, we can still catch a few good ones shallow (at night) but once the shad spawn is over, the shallow bite is not nearly as dependable as the deep bite.  

Yea, Fingers crossed, I'm havin' a blast!!

Hey LBNH: Ron used to love to fish shallow, and i have seen him catch a few hogs outta inches of water in the night,

 This year ,fishing by myself I have noticed something fishing this way also. MAKING A LOUD,SLOPPY CAST GET'S EM GOING EVEN BETTER> It seems when using these baits(MY BAIT OF CHOICE HAS BEEN THE JITTERSTIK) that if you start off with a loud cast, then let it sit for a bit before you retrieve , it seems to draw more vicious and frequent hits!!!!!!!

I'll be doin' some of this night stuff on Kentucky Lake this week ... can't wait

here in N. fla. weve been in and are in an extended drought .the lake im fishing which still holds water is close to 4' below normal.most edges ,not all, are 1-2'.this whole yr. ever since the early spring ,big fish are holding in the real skinny water.all day long.not every day, but more days than not.for awhile it seemed only a few of us knew but now everyone has figured it out and fishin water you cant even get your t.m. into.dont know why,but i learned long ago to let the bass tell you where there at and dont rule out anything.