#Fishing in the dark year full#

It's generally best to anchor on a key spot and wait for the fish to come to you, rather than to chase them here and there. 'When you find a good offshore hump or an underwater point or bar, you can be confident that feeding bass will use it after dark. 'One key is recognizing productive structure,' he says. White believes that anchoring often is the best approach. At dawn, bass return to edges to feed, shifting into thick cover as the sun rises. Lighted docks simulate daylight by creating shade where bass may lurk all night, feeding when an opportunity arises. They're less cover-oriented and often roam sparsely weeded flats in the 4- to 8-foot range. During summer, active largemouth bass prowl areas after dark they rarely visit in daylight. Fish move to the edge of woodcover or weeds to attack passing baitfish, and they form aggregations that move along cover edges to flush prey. A semi-quiet presentation often works better than loud artificial noises, particularly when fishing for pressured, experienced bass in clear, calm waters.' Twilight is a period of peak activity for bass and other predators. Bass can feel and hear subtle movements of lures without rattles. 'Many anglers rely on rattles at night,' he says. But at other times a constant noise or vibration pattern is needed to help bass home in on a lure. At times, irregular action is best, as it imitates an injured fish. Baits must seem both natural and catchable to attract bass. 'On darker nights, lure speed, depth, color contrast, and sound become increasingly important in helping bass locate prey. Any lure type and color that works during dawn or dusk can be successful under those bright conditions.

#Fishing in the dark year full#

'When light is relatively bright after dark, such as around full moons, bass can see about half as well as they can during twilight. But the records show that a few of the biggest largemouths were taken during summer at other moon phases, but not one during a full moon.'įishery scientist and longtime In-Fisherman contributor, Ralph Manns, notes that moon phase can affect lure choice.

'There are far fewer 10-pounders in Lake Fork in July than in February, and that 8 1/2-pounder you catch in August might go 10 by March. 'One reason, of course, is that bass weigh less in summer than in fall, winter, and early spring,' he notes. But when White reviewed moon phases of Texas' 50 biggest largemouth catches and his own top 50, he found that summertime full moons never produced a giant bass on those lists. This phase may draw more fishing pressure. Perhaps more importantly, it makes it easier for anglers to fish effectively. And particularly where waters are ultraclear, some anglers prefer dark moons.Ī bright moon allows bass to see more clearly, and thus allows them to venture deeper to feed. The full moon has fans who feel that bass activity is heightened when the fish can see better. Many avid night anglers have preferred phases.

And when the wind is blowing, a big spinnerbait is a great choice.'įishing lore surrounds the moon and this celestial body seems to have extra effects after dark, lighting the scene for anglers and even casting shadows that position bass. When you're after big bass, you need to minimize the number of small ones you catch, since that commotion spooks big fish in the vicinity. These are the big fish that you can catch at night in summer. 'Some big bass move inshore and feed along edges during summer, the pattern that John Hope described in detail in his tracking work with big bass. I've never had success fishing offshore structure at night in our reservoirs that lack submergent vegetation. 'Summertime, in contrast, sees some big bass shadowing shad schools, holding off structure. You can stay in one spot for a good while without any action, but then a giant comes along and the game is on. After dark, the big ones are moving and searching. Fish that area slowly and methodically with big baits. 'The best strategy is to define a small area of the lake that you think has an excellent chance of having big bass. Their movements are more synchronized than at any other time of year. 'In spring, most or all big bass are moving shallow under warming conditions and feeding heavily on crawfish and sunfish.