Jet skis on the water, water skis all over the lake, pleasure crafts rolling big waves and summer sweat running down your skin are all part of the summer-fishing scene. At this time, your patience can be worn down quickly, as the summer sun pounds down on you. The remedy is easy — go night fishing.
- Advertisement -
Untitled Document
Cooler temperatures, less traffic and active crappie all make sundown fishing more enjoyable. Setup and preparation are required, but a little work is worth the effort.
As with any method of fishing, finding the right seasonal structure is the key to success.
Night Moves
Clear lakes are known to have the best night fishing. This is probably due to the fishing lights being seen from farther away and drawing more bait and crappie to them.
Selecting the right spots to fish is important, too. Many of your daytime spots will also be good at night. You can find that other mid-depth or shallow areas will produce as crappie move up. Test-fishing may be the best way to learn these productive spots.
You also must pick the right night. Darker nights are best, so a dark moon or heavy clouds are important. This means your lights won’t be competing with the moonlight.
Crappie often travel in schools at night. You can have periods of little or no action, but when a big school of fish moves in, you will have fast-paced catching.
Bridge Pilings
Bridge pilings are often crappie magnets, especially when the sun goes down. They are also easy to find if you go to a new lake. Your biggest challenge may be picking the right piling.
A bridge may have both shallow pilings and one or two deep ones next to the channel. The deeper piling should be your first choice, but if you have no luck there, check the others for active crappie hanging around.
Anchor securely or tie to the piling. Any portion of the piling may be good, but the best spot is often the downstream end. It provides a current break, and there will be an eddy that makes a good feeding spot for fish.
Standing Timber
Crappie love wood. Standing timber in mid-depths or deep water provides the fish an opportunity to be deep or shallow as weather, water and feeding moods change. Fish holding at 14 feet in the daytime will likely move up the tree to 6 or 8 feet at night.
To locate the right spot, try finding something different. It can be an isolated tree near a stand of trees, the biggest tree in the group or a tree next to the edge in deep water. Your eyes and locator will help you find the most likely spots. In areas with trees, it’s best to do your search during daylight hours and carefully mark locations so you can find them in the dark.
Anchor securely by tying to the trees or tying one end of the boat to a tree and anchoring the other. Be quiet, place your lights and wait for the action.
Channels
A river or creek channel is a prime spot for night fishing. Crappie move along these travel paths, find the baitfish attracted to your lights and then give you action worth bragging about to your friends.
Not all channel spots are created equal. A mid-depth spot is ideal because you’re not limiting yourself to shallow water and the fish will come up to the light to feed. Bends, cuts and points with cover are the best places to try. Again, top daytime spots may produce crappie at night.
Anchor carefully so everyone in the boat can fish the prime area. Anchoring on the edge of a channel drop will allow you to try both the deep and shallow sides of the drop.
Boat Docks
Those anglers who own boat docks are known to place brush within casting distance of the dock. Docks with rod holders at different spots and a fish-cleaning station should be your first targets.
Move around the outside of the dock while watching your locator for good structure. Drop-offs, brushpiles and stakebeds are potential hotspots. Anchor your boat where the structure can be easily fished and where your lights are within about 8 feet of the cover.
Never intrude by fishing a dock where the dock owners are fishing. They don’t own the water, but courtesy is the best policy.
Factors
Water Clarity — You’ll catch more crappie in a clear lake. Fish and baitfish have difficulty finding the lights in stained or muddy waters. A clear lake allows your lights to penetrate and be seen from far away.
Wind — If blowing hard, wind can make it difficult to stay on a spot. It also can make a rocking boat uncomfortable for youngsters and inexperienced fishermen. Try to find a potential spot that has a little windbreak. A ripple on the water is fine because the fish will be less spooky.
Moonlight — You’re not competing with natural light when the moon is dark. You become the focal spot, making the baits drawn to the light prime targets that are easy for the crappie to find. On nights with a bright moon, try putting out an extra light to increase light intensity.
Lights — A light near the front of the boat and one near the back is usually the preferred method. You can also place one on each side of the boat if you are on a sharp drop-off to include the deep and shallow sides of the drop.
Poles — Long poles are an advantage. They keep baits away from the boat and avoid spooking the fish. Also, the best fishing is in the edges of the light, not directly in the light.
Boat Type — Night fishing is good from any type of boat, from tiny to large. Many pontoon owners find a night of fishing with a few friends can be comfortable, productive and fun.
Insects — Mosquitoes are also drawn to the lights so be sure to have insect repellent.
Want more great articles from Bassin' and Crappie World magazines? Click here to download PDF articles just as they appeared in print.
