O'Brien Outdoors: Night Bassin' Offers Action, Adventure

The wind that had wrinkled the face of the lake just an hour before sunset had subsided. The moon, just one day short of full, shimmered on the mirror-like surface and created shadows along the tree-lined shore. A cork popper delivered to the darker-looking water was greeted by a glistening surface reflecting what seemed to be a billion stars. All this allure was unceremoniously interrupted by the surface-shattering strike of a largemouth bass. This is night fishing, and may very well be the most productive option for summertime bass.

During the warm summer months, largemouth and smallmouth bass, especially the larger specimens, often bite best at night.  This coupled with the fact that most fishermen will be home watching the late news and you will have the water all to yourself, should be enough motivation to give night fishing a try.

Productive water can range from the West Branch Susquehanna River to the three main tributaries (“The Sock”, Lycoming, and “Big Pine”) for smallmouth, to local ponds and larger lakes such as Rose Valley for largemouth. With all these options, anglers on foot or in a boat have numerous venues to pursue bass after dark.

I’ve never met an angler that didn’t thrill from the take when fishing a surface lure. The clamorous disturbance of a big bass as it rolls up on your plug or popper can be heart stopping; the stuff that yarns fishing stories. There are a number of productive topwater plugs including Chug Bugs, Jitterbugs, Zara Spooks, Gaines’ Crippled Killers, and Tiny Torpedoes. For fly fishermen, deer hair bugs or poppers are good surface choices. In my opinion the Fly Rod Hula Popper reigns king.

Many night fishermen believe that a steady retrieve is best. Just don’t make it too fast, as big bass usually won’t waste energy chasing prey. You want the bass to easily find and intercept the bait. I have found a stop-and-go retrieve productive. Many times bass will strike as my popper sits motionless. Try lighter colors like yellow on moonlit nights and darker colors like black for the new moon phase.

Bass often miss our topwater offerings on the first try. I have had smallmouth blast my popper two or three times before actually getting it in their mouths. It is important to maintain a steady retrieve, which will keep the line from fouling on the hooks and keep the plug in the fish’s strike zone. Wait until you feel the weight of the fish, keep reeling until the line is taught, and then strike to the side.

Underwater offerings can also be effective. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, rubberworms, and streamers (Lefty’s Deceivers, Bendbacks) will take bass when fished slowly near shoreline structure, weedbeds, or drop-offs. When fishing near weeds or wood it pays to have a weedless offering. I detest completing a retrieve only to find weeds hooked on for the ride. When fishing weeds, take position so you can fish parallel to the weedbed. This allows you to cover more of the productive water with each cast. This does not mean you should just fish the edge of the weedbed. Start by fishing out about 50’ or so and progressively work closer.

One key to successful at night is to fish in shallow water. Remember that much of what these bass are pursuing will be found in skinny water. This could be near shore or an underwater hump. If fishing water that is off-color or stained it becomes even more important to fish shallow as bass will move closer to the shore where they will have better visibility.

Choice of tackle runs the gamut. Stiffer rods with reels spooled with 20-lb. test are recommended for largemouth, and 10-lb. to 12-lb. test outfits for smallies. Flyrodders can use either 8- or 9-weight outfits, but I prefer the heavier rod when tossing poppers for largemouth. Leaders can be simple affairs of nothing more than 3’ or 4’ of 15-lb. to 20-lb. test.

Just because you are out there at night does not mean you will always be greeted with success. There are certain nights when the bass do not go on the bite and almost always periods throughout the night when the bass shut down. Patience and persistence will pay off. I have found the timeline from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. to often be the most productive time of the night. If this does not appeal to you or fit your schedule, consider getting on the water an hour or so before sunup.

When to go? I have found that the three-day period before and after new and full moons to offer the best night fishing for bass. If push came to shove I would fish for largemouth bass around the full moon and smallmouth bass during the dark of the moon.

When the moon is up, the boat will be loaded, and I’ll be “Gone Night Fishin’.”

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