In addition to cookin up this blog to share with y’all this week, I’m also volunteering as a boat captain at the 2019 Bassmaster Mossy Oak High School Fishing Championship on Kentucky Lake for some really cool young kids that are fired up for bass fishing.
Speaking of cooking, water temps are nearly 90 degrees throughout the Mid-South, and even warmer in places like Texas and Florida. It’s the late July through early August time period that marks the hottest days of the year, and the only way to truly escape the sweltering daytime beatdown is to go night fishing.
Not only is it obviously more comfortable, but the big bass that get tough to catch under super hot and sunny skies also become a lot less bashful and more active at night.
Safety first!
The first thing I’ll tell you about night fishing is “safety first!” Make sure your bow and stern navigation lights are working properly and glowing bright. Not only is it the law – but not having your lights on could lead to a terrible accident with another watercraft.
And whether it’s day or night, please wear your lifejacket and make sure your kill switch and lanyard are hooked up to it. Beyond good common sense safety, you should also add a good flashlight or headlamp to your night fishing adventure, along with a blacklight to help you see where you’re casting.
Best night fishing locations
A lot of guys I know will find a steep bluff and spend half the night on it. And for some people that works great, but personally I like to cast at steep main lake points where big bass call home, and they can easily slide from deep water to shallower haunts at night.
My buddies Bradley and Dakota and I also like to use a blacklight to fish many of the same deeper banks with laydown trees on them that we fish during the day. The blacklight helps you see those key targets way better.
It’s not all about the full moon
It seems like nearly every time night fishing gets discussed, people often associate it with a full moon. I think that’s more to do with making it easier to see than actually making the fishing better. In fact, my buddies and I have our very best night fishing trips on a new moon.
Now, I will tell you there’s one exception to this – and that’s when there’s a full moon in October. For whatever reason, I don’t know if it’s related to crawfish molting or what – but we have had some awesome night fishing trips on the full moon in October – so mark that on your calendar.
One of my favorite night fishing lures
Some people love a topwater at night, others swear by a big 10- or 11-inch worm, and those are time proven classics for sure, but I probably throw a Cumberland Lures 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with a dark skirt and a big thumper sized #7 nickel colored blade more than any other night lure.
A spinnerbait like this is just so versatile at night. I can cast it across a deep point, or roll it around laydowns or docks with great casting accuracy, and it’s fairly snagfree too.
Whatever you do, don’t let these sweltering hot days keep from fishing. Take advantage of the night bite. Just promise me you’ll wear your life jacket and have your navigation lights turned on while you’re out there casting around for that late summer giant.