The classic image of bass fishing is lazing in a rowboat in the middle of a lake on a sunny afternoon. However, some smart bass enthusiasts have discovered that the best way to get great bass during the summertime months is by fishing in the dead of night.
There are a lot of reasons why night fishing for bass is a great idea, so if you haven’t tried evening fishing yet, give it a shot and be prepared to reel in some winners.
Summer is the most popular season for fishing, which has both positive and negative aspects for sportsmen. Because bait and equipment are in so much demand during the warmer months of the year, these goods are plentiful and easy to find as retailers stock up in order to get the best bait and tackle to their customers.
However, as fishing fans flock to lakes and streams all over the country, all too often the peace and quiet of the sport becomes quite elusive as multiple sportsmen jockey for position on the same water. The summertime crowds can take away a lot of the fun of bass fishing. If you choose to fish at odd times of the night, it is likely that you will never run into the problem of overcrowding.
Because only a small percentage of bass fishermen hit the water in the dark, you should have no trouble finding a pond or a lake offering plenty of solitude and a supply of fish that is all yours for the taking. Another reason why bass fishing at night during the summer can prove to be a kind of fisherman’s jackpot has to do with the habits of the bass themselves.
Bass prefer to stay cool, so they tend to head for the deepest waters that they can find during the intense heat of midday and afternoon. The deeper down in the pond the fish are lurking, the more difficult they are to catch and reel in. This can lead to fruitless afternoons of sitting in the sweltering heat and catching very little bass.
However, during the cool nighttime hours, the bass come much more readily into shallow waters. This means that they are easier for sportsmen to find and to catch.
Although nighttime bass fishing can be much more rewarding than trying to snag these elusive creatures during the day, there are some disadvantages to night fishing. One problem that many sportsmen are surprised by during late night expeditions is insects. Be sure to pack some bug repellent to help you emerge from your night on the water without falling prey to mosquitoes and other warm weather pests.
Another issue to consider is safety. Spending time in a boat when visibility is low because of the lack of light can be more dangerous than boating during the daytime, so make sure to take all of the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your fishing companions.