Thread: Night stalking

I'm pretty much a "Newbie" to freshwater fishing and most definitely to speck fishing - but I'm liking it!!! I used to work an area of Lake Rousseau over towards Inglis, FL and I would see A LOT of guys night fishing with lanterns for specks over that direction. . .not sure why it wouldn't work over your direction. I hunt quite a bit along the St. John's and Lake George, and would really like to learn the areas from the Barge Canal south through the lake and into Dexter and Woodruff for specks. I know that is a big area to cover, but I would like the adventure. Anyone fishing these areas and need a partner, please touch base. . .I can clean the boat/days catch, pretty much go anytime, have my own tackle and I have a bank account.

I was working in Sebring and saw guys night fishing for specs but at the time had no idea what they were doing. This was on lake Josephine. I have tried some night fishing but don’t really know how to do it right. Let me know when y’all figure out this Florida night fishing cause I’ve heard crappie really like to feed at night! Wish I could be more help

I've only been on Lake Rousseau a few times and didn't do much but that's mostly my fault. The first time the wind was blowing at about 30 mph and the next few times I was still learning my way around. I haven't had time to go back yet but I will. By the reports, it's a great place but you need to learn your way around. Also, there is NO place in Lake Rousseau where it's safe to run above idle speed!

There are marked channels but there's still an occasional stump there, too. The lake is about 100 years old and when you get out of the marked channel you'll find that most of the trees that were flooded are still there - just below the surface. You need to explore it in the day time and chart some safe passages before you try it at night. Good luck!

I hear that a great place but very stumpy and hard on boats a motors if you're not careful.
Not a place I would try at night until I knew it super well and even then I'd probably only go a short distance from the ramp. Just to be on the safe side.


Sent from my moto z4 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I thought about it and went there today! I'm trying to learn the lake a little so I spent more time looking around than fishing. I found a couple of drop offs & holes I'd heard about that are supposed to be good for crappie fishing - about 25 ft deep. Got the waypoints marked.

I don't know that you'd hit any more stumps in the dark than you will in daylight. Today is the first time I haven't hit one there - but I go slow in there just because. My boat will run around 50 mph but not in that lake! Outside of the channel it's trolling motor or idle speed only but I saw half a dozen boats on plane in the channel.

I tried throwing a spinner bait some but I was spending more time cleaning the spirogyra/snot grass on my spinner bait than fishing. Had to stop and clear my trolling motor a few times. The lake appears to be about 10 feet deep on average.

I grew up fishing in the SC Lowcountry rivers & lived on a beach near Southport, NC for a while. First thing I learned when I moved here is that most of what I learned up there doesn't work here - especially salt water fishing!

Originally Posted by Bud in Fla

I thought about it and went there today! I'm trying to learn the lake a little so I spent more time looking around than fishing. I found a couple of drop offs & holes I'd heard about that are supposed to be good for crappie fishing - about 25 ft deep. Got the waypoints marked.

I don't know that you'd hit any more stumps in the dark than you will in daylight. Today is the first time I haven't hit one there - but I go slow in there just because. My boat will run around 50 mph but not in that lake! Outside of the channel it's trolling motor or idle speed only but I saw half a dozen boats on plane in the channel.

I tried throwing a spinner bait some but I was spending more time cleaning the spirogyra/snot grass on my spinner bait than fishing. Had to stop and clear my trolling motor a few times. The lake appears to be about 10 feet deep on average.

I grew up fishing in the SC Lowcountry rivers & lived on a beach near Southport, NC for a while. First thing I learned when I moved here is that most of what I learned up there doesn't work here - especially salt water fishing!

Thanks for the info.
Hope you find something worth your efforts on your next outing.
We used to stay at Holden beach every year. Love that place. Very laid back.
Used to fish out of Southport for many years with a Capt. Named Jake. He ran the boat Idle On and then Moving On.
Great memories of those days.

Sent from my moto z4 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Originally Posted by FisherFore

Used to fish out of Southport for many years with a Capt. Named Jake. He ran the boat Idle On and then Moving On.
Great memories of those days.

Sent from my moto z4 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

When I was growing up in SC a group of us made several trips to Southport and took the Idle On II out to the wreck of the USS Gill to go scuba diving. Years later I was working at Brunswick nuke plant in Southport and living on Long Beach. Lots of good memories from that time here, too.

Shouldn't be a problem finding fish @ night in the Palatka area, seek out a deep hole that provides a Eddy & it should be the ticket....the hardest thing about night fishing is finding excellent insect repellent....good luck when ya get out!

Sent from my moto e5 go using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app