Thread: Nightstalking????

I night fish a local lake once the water temps reach into the upper 75+. The best way I have found to night fish is to:

1. Go to a spot where you normally catch fish. Move the boat from the shoreline to the first significant drop off of 4-6'. Watch your depth finder close. The first drop-off in depth seems to be key for me.

2. Get a submersible light (take an extra 12V battery with you) drop it in the water about dusk. It will usually take 30-45 minutes before bait shows up in the water.

3. Fish very very light. I don't use any weight at all. I fish a #4 hook under a bobber about 2-3' below where I have set the light (usually 4-6') Get some small minnows and hook them just under the dorsal fin. Hook the minnow very light so he swims around.

It's just a matter of time before the fish show up. This is an almost fool-prrof method at my local lake. I can't promise you'll have the same luck, but it's definately worth a try. It's nothing to catch 40+ fish an hour once they start hitting.
It's usually just a matter of time before the fish appear.

Went for the first time this year two days ago. Usually put out two or three lanterns off the end of the boat. Also drop down a submersible light. I fish a lake that is very clear 15' or more of visibility. I do not fish in less than 30 fow. Fish are usually marking at 14-17 fow. We use ice fishing rods and ice jigs with beemoth or minnows. No minnows the other night. Just got some nice 8-10" gills. It was a good first outing.

Went last night with my girls & neighbor and his little girl. Watched fireworks from the distance over the lake. Fish were 10-17ft in 20ft of water. Set out lights and using jigs & minnows. No bites, nothing. Last year we found schools and only caught a few. Normally night fishing has produced & is fun for my girls. In the past night fishing has produced crappie earlier in the year, so I don't believe it is b/c we are too early or water temps. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by PapermouthLegend

I night fish a local lake once the water temps reach into the upper 75+. The best way I have found to night fish is to:

1. Go to a spot where you normally catch fish. Move the boat from the shoreline to the first significant drop off of 4-6'. Watch your depth finder close. The first drop-off in depth seems to be key for me.

2. Get a submersible light (take an extra 12V battery with you) drop it in the water about dusk. It will usually take 30-45 minutes before bait shows up in the water.

3. Fish very very light. I don't use any weight at all. I fish a #4 hook under a bobber about 2-3' below where I have set the light (usually 4-6') Get some small minnows and hook them just under the dorsal fin. Hook the minnow very light so he swims around.

It's just a matter of time before the fish show up. This is an almost fool-prrof method at my local lake. I can't promise you'll have the same luck, but it's definately worth a try. It's nothing to catch 40+ fish an hour once they start hitting.
It's usually just a matter of time before the fish appear.

It's good to read different ways to nightstalk. I'll be sure to freeline a couple minnows under floats next time I go. Thanks for the ideas. On a typical nightstalk here on my lake I start off by easing along in a suspectable spot looking for bait balls and/or fish. Usually I'll see "something" closeby worthwhile to set up for but even if I dont I'll still anchor down in that area since it was my plan to start with for that particular night. I try targeting 25'-35' of water looking at creek channel ledges or deep drops along banks out of the wind. I fish two sets of 4 rod holder racks across the back of the boat and usually hang just one submersible light off the motor. If I fish the front of the boat I use 2 sets of 4 rod racks located off each side of the front of the boat and usually hang two submersibles out. I tightline my minnows with one splitshot per line starting the depth of my hooks around 12' ranging down to 17' or so. As you have stated, it sometimes takes a bit to get the baitfish started around the lights then the fish come in. Depending on where the most steady bite comes from I'll re-adjust the rest of my lines within a foot or so either way of the depth they seem to be biting best at. If it gets real busy quite naturally I wont be able to keep all 8 rods out but I do what I can. Oh, and most always I try to keep atleast one float fished about 3' deep out along the edge of the light drift fishing it too. Have caught some nice ones off the float at times.

BTW, I NEVER fish bridges either.

Fished Friday and Sat. night while camping. Fished several spots that are usually very productive for us. Had tons of baitfish swarming the lights, but could only find schools of dinks. Dont think we caught a fish over 8", but caught lots of them. All the fish we caught were about 4'-10' deep in 20' of water. Fish would not touch jigs, only minnows. I love to fish at night, but have not caught any quality fish this year.

Maybe the high water is putting them off, I catching them shallower than before even with dnr dropping the lake levels here,

When tightlining, what method do you use to know what depth to put your jig back at after you catch a fish. Without having a line counter, I have alot of problems with this?

I use slip knots one every ten ft. in a pinch. (string not wasps or rubber).