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Night Fishing for Trophy Bass
by Dee Cowgill
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Are you tired of 90 degree days on the lake, while fighting water skiers, and other fishermen, who are competing for the same spots ? Night fishing could just be the thing for you. Of course one of the best reasons to fish at night is, the greatly increased chances of catching a big bass !
Here are some of the keys to successful night time trophy bass fishing. I should note that these techniques are based on fishing with soft plastics :
1) Work areas that are known to hold large bass, during the time of year you are fishing them. Fish these areas very slowly. I have spent many hours fishing on one point, or a single rock pile.
2) I prefer to Texas rig my plastics, with a brass weight and a glass bead. I believe that at night, the sound can help to attract more bass to your bait. Of course the weight depends on the depth of the water you are fishing, and the wind conditions.
3) I typically use a smaller soft plastic bait, say around 4 to 6 inches, rather than the 10 and 12 inch worms, which have become so popular. Sure these baits catch fish, but I believe that the bulk of those giant plastics, decreases your hooking percentage.
4) I also use a larger hook, for the plastic bait that I am throwing. Usually a 3/0 or 4/0 wide gap Gamakatsu.
5) I Use a black light and fluorescent line. I prefer to use clear blue fluorescent mono in
14 lb test. I want to stress the importance of the black light, because many bites are undetectable by feel, and can only be seen as a slight jump of the line. (Those of you who are line watchers while day fishing, know what I mean.) This is not to insult anyone's ability to detect strikes, but I myself, only feel about one out of every 4 or 5 strikes, which I see with my black light, while night fishing. So why not catch 12 to 15 bass, instead of 3 or 4. Line control can be difficult too, if you are unable to see it. Well, I think you get the message.
6) Don't limit your night fishing to hot summer months. Night fishing can be very productive all year long ! I have caught many large bass from October through March.
7) Please practice Catch and Release. If you catch a trophy, take a few nice photos
( you may want to weigh it, so you won't have to guess later ), and release the bass, to be enjoyed by others.
8) Remember that at night, it is very easy to become disoriented. It is usually a good idea to get on the water before it gets dark, so that you will have a feel for your surroundings, after the sun goes down. Always drive safely, and watch closely for hazards. Wear a PFD.
Good Fishing !
A note from the web master,
I met Dee about 4 years ago, and found that although he had been fishing for most of his life, he had really only been bass fishing for a few years, and he was already interested in fishing specifically for big bass !
In all the years I have been fishing, I have never met anyone who has come on so strong, in such a short period of time, as Dee. At last count ( and this changes just about weekly ) Dee had caught and released 33 bass over 8 lbs, in just the last year and a half !!! And he has pictures of nearly all of them, to prove it. He has also caught 7 over 10 lbs, which can be seen on this site. One or two good fish could be wrote off as luck...... but 32 ! Obviously Dee has the touch, and I personally place a lot of weight on his theories and ideas.
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Fish Chris
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Here's Dee with another 10 plus hog !
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