|
|
You and your buddies from work load your fishing gear into the
car and hit the highway that leads to the lake. None of you have
ever been night fishing before, but the company you work for has
chartered a boat for a night fishing excursion. You get to the
lake, board the boat and find that there are a couple of guides
on board that are experts in night fishing. You are excited and
hope to land a couple of the big ones that you've been told come
in to shore to feed at night. Maybe you will take up the hobby
of night fishing.
Night fishing is fishing at night, usually, but not always when
the moon is full. Night fishing is quite often done from a boat,
but can also be done from shore or in rivers and streams. In
some areas, you can use artificial light to lure the big fish.
However, the use of artificial light for night fishing is
prohibited in some areas, so be sure to check the rules and
regulations for the area where you are planning to night fish.
Night fishing is more of a thrill for the angler. Imagine
hooking and landing a large fish in almost total darkness.
Anglers love the thrill of a night catch and the challenge that
it presents. The best time of the year to night fish is from
mid-April to October. The summer months are the prime time for
night fishing excursions.
If you've never been night fishing, there are a few preparations
you will need to take care of before the night fishing
excursion. Be sure the running lights on your boat are working
well. Running lights are mandated by law in most areas. Check
the fuses and bulbs and be sure that there is no acid corrosion
on your battery terminals. Check your boat's engine and be sure
it's running smoothly. It must be in top running condition
before going on a night fishing excursion. It's not good to be
lost on the lake during daytime, but it's even worse if you are
stranded in the middle of a lake at night. Pack two flashlights
that have new batteries inserted and take along extra batteries
as well. This will ensure you are not left in the dark if your
flashlight or batteries fail.
Be sure there is a pair of needle nose pliers in your tackle
box. Because at night you can't always see your line and the
fish may swallow the hook or it may become deeply embedded in
its mouth. Needle nose pliers make removing the hook a much
easier task. Pack a couple of cans of insect repellent with your
gear. This will give you protection against mosquitoes and other
hungry insects. If you take extra repellent, you will have lots
to share with other anglers who forgot theirs and are slowly
being eaten alive.
Make a mental note of where to find everything in your boat. At
night, it's next to impossible to find pliers or tackle if you
don't have some idea of the area where it's located. Pre-tie
flies, leaders and terminal rigs. If you tie too many, you can
always use them on your next night fishing excursion. If you
don't tie enough, you'll be hard pressed to tie them in the
dark. It's best if you head out onto the lake before dark. It's
difficult to anchor properly on a reef or ledge if it is pitch
black.
There are several advantages to fishing at night. Night fishing
affords solitude and tranquility, as most anglers go to the lake
during daytime when it is overcrowded. Fishing at night gives
you a chance to fish in peace and leave the stress of the world
behind. During daytime when it is hot, large fish tend to avoid
shallow water. At night, they move into the shallows to feed.
Night fishing often produces a larger catch because of this.
If you are night fishing, anchor your boat over reefs and
ledges, or pull your boat within casting distance of the
shallows. Big bass and trout lurk in weedy areas and wait for
prey to pass by. Lights of nearby docks or street lights attract
microscopic marine animals into these areas. Larger fish will
follow these animals into shore to feed upon them. Cast near
retaining walls, docks and brush areas to catch fish that are
feeding. They tend to hide in shadowed areas while waiting for
prey. Another good spot to night fish is the entrance to a bay
or harbor. Fish move into these areas from deeper water in the
night hours in order to feed.
There are several fish species that can be fished at night. In
the spring, smelt fishing is a popular sport. Other species
include bass, trout, catfish, walleye, king mackerel, snapper,
shark and bullhead. Because the fish that feed at night are
sensitive to both sound and smell, there are a wide range of
baits that can be used. Nightcrawlers, crustaceans and chum
lines all work well, as do minnows, shiners, cut bait, prepared
bait, egg sacs and bug hatches. Artificial bait includes
spinners, streamers, and wet and dry flies.
If you would like to try night fishing and need assistance
choosing equipment, tackle or bait, ask an experienced night
angler to help you. This might be a family member, friend,
neighbor or a guide on a chartered boat.
Fishing
Facts |
|
|
