Night Fishing Smallies!

Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow
eating. Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares
behind the horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to
black crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When
that doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then
chartreuse , next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have.
Do smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses
adjust to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about
6:15 or 5 minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and
I have gone into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am
still marking balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had
a bite, and I am probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week.
Reading those articles, I know people catch fish after dark, and I know
people here have mentioned night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago
is not by any means clear. I guess I would take any suggestions you
guys might have. I don't get out of work till almost 5pm, so if I only
fished till dark that would only be about an hour and a half, and that
just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have. Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles, I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris



I have experienced a drop in the shallow water bite shortly after dark here
even in the summer. I usually pack it in, but I have heard that they turn
back on a little later.


--
Bob La Londe

Cheapskate's Ways to Do Fishing Stuff
(The Frugal Fisherman)
Through the Month of October 2005

http://www.YumaBassMan.com

Bob La Londe wrote:
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..

Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have. Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles, I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris




I have experienced a drop in the shallow water bite shortIly after dark here
even in the summer. I usually pack it in, but I have heard that they turn
back on a little later.


Bob,

I am considering staying out till about mid-night or so one of these
nights just to see what i can dig up, and giving the fish a chance to
settle into the environment..

With that said, why type of lights do you guys recommend for night
fishing. Meaning, a black light, or small flashlight. I remember RichZ
commenting about screwing up your night vision by using a flashlight ,
so would a blacklight do me better. I have had issues with retying, etc.

Thanks again!

A blacklight wont help a bit with your vision. It only illuminates
flourescent articles...

Warren

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Bob La Londe wrote:
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..

Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow
eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind
the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then
chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have.
Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have
gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I
am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles,
I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get
out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only
be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris




I have experienced a drop in the shallow water bite shortIly after dark
here
even in the summer. I usually pack it in, but I have heard that they
turn
back on a little later.


Bob,

I am considering staying out till about mid-night or so one of these
nights just to see what i can dig up, and giving the fish a chance to
settle into the environment..

With that said, why type of lights do you guys recommend for night
fishing. Meaning, a black light, or small flashlight. I remember RichZ
commenting about screwing up your night vision by using a flashlight ,
so would a blacklight do me better. I have had issues with retying, etc.

Thanks again!

Any white light will impair your night vision, not much you can do about
it. You could use red lights, they have little affect on night vision.
But what I do when night fishing is use an indirect light (battery
operated florecsent), so I never look directly into the light...works
pretty good for me.

JK

Not true for all fluorescent lamps, Warren. I've fished more nights than
days over the last twenty years, so I have some experience with them. Black
lights usually put off enough light across the spectrum to illuminate the
bank, the area of boat around them, and certainly the water in front of the
lens. They put out sufficient light to find things on the boat deck, to
retie lures, sort through tackle, etc.

I've used five different brands of black lights over the years. The best was
a homemade job that Bubba Martin, my partner, made in his sign shop in
Memphis. Of commercially-made lamps, I prefer the Zorro models, made by Stan
Sloan. Mine has a second, small incandescent bulb with rheostat. Charles has
one with just the fluorescent bulb. They're both excellent choices.

Joe
"go-bassn" wrote in message
...
A blacklight wont help a bit with your vision. It only illuminates
flourescent articles...

Warren

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Bob La Londe wrote:
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..

Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow
eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind
the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then
chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have.
Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have
gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I
am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles,
I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get
out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only
be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris




I have experienced a drop in the shallow water bite shortIly after dark
here
even in the summer. I usually pack it in, but I have heard that they
turn
back on a little later.


Bob,

I am considering staying out till about mid-night or so one of these
nights just to see what i can dig up, and giving the fish a chance to
settle into the environment..

With that said, why type of lights do you guys recommend for night
fishing. Meaning, a black light, or small flashlight. I remember RichZ
commenting about screwing up your night vision by using a flashlight ,
so would a blacklight do me better. I have had issues with retying, etc.

Thanks again!

I didn't see the word Senko anywhere in your post. That's what I catch them
with and the action really heats up after sundown. Is this a lake or a
river?

Duane
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have. Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles, I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris

Chris, in my own experience, the bite does drop off after dusk, but it
improves after about 11 PM, and then drops off toward 4 AM. It picks back up
again as the sky begins to brighten in predawn. It stays that way until the
sun rises high enough to shine directly on the water. For that reason, there
are quite a few night anglers in the south that catch a nap in the evening
and then hit the lake just before midnight.

I fished at night year round in Mississippi, and the best night (for
catching big bass, not comfort) was definitely January. Not too many boats
on the water at night that time of year either... very peaceful, and
quiet.... except for the chattering of teeth and creaking of joints.

Joe
-------------------------
"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow
eating. Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares
behind the horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to
black crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When
that doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then
chartreuse , next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have.
Do smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses
adjust to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about
6:15 or 5 minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and
I have gone into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am
still marking balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had
a bite, and I am probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week.
Reading those articles, I know people catch fish after dark, and I know
people here have mentioned night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago
is not by any means clear. I guess I would take any suggestions you
guys might have. I don't get out of work till almost 5pm, so if I only
fished till dark that would only be about an hour and a half, and that
just isn't acceptable :-).

Thanks all!

Chris

If you find a good place where the fish are really playing in the daytime, you can go to the same place that night and get better results!

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok all, I know it is fall, and I know the Smallies are up shallow eating.
Here is what I am running into! The moment the sun disappeares behind the
horizon, boom, nothing, not a bite, or anything. I switch to black
crankbaits, black topwaters, black spinnerbaits, etc. etc. When that
doesn't fly, I go to natural(shad, crayfish, etc.), white, then chartreuse
, next thing will be glow in the dark.

I have read articles on night fishing, and here is one question I have. Do
smallies stop biting for a certain amount of time as their senses adjust
to the lighting conditions. From 5pm to 6:30pm (sunset about 6:15 or 5
minutes in that general time frame). Then nothing at all, and I have gone
into 1, 2, and 3 hours after dark. Still nothing. I am still marking
balls of baitfishing on my graph, but I have not even had a bite, and I am
probably fishing after dark 2 or 3 days a week. Reading those articles, I
know people catch fish after dark, and I know people here have mentioned
night tournaments. I will say that Winnebago is not by any means clear.
I guess I would take any suggestions you guys might have. I don't get out
of work till almost 5pm, so if I only fished till dark that would only be
about an hour and a half, and that just isn't acceptable :-).

My best smallie fishing at night has been late night. I've never done well
at dusk and the several hours after for smallies, muskies, walleyes and
largemouth, but for whatever reason, not smallies.

The best night I had catching smallies was one night muskie fishing. It was
back in my days of "If it's not a muskie, it's not a fish" mind-set and I
was throwing a large, jointed muskie surface lure. I had two smallies slam
the lure within a 30 minute period, both were carbon copy fish. I measured
them both on my board and they measured an even 25 inches! Both were fat,
healthy and obviously hungry. Looking back now, I realize that I probably
turned loose fish that might have been state records! They were caught at
2:00 and 2:30 a.m......

I don't night fish a lot anymore, but what little I have done pretty much
mirrors that experience. Late night and large, steady moving surface lures.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com