How To Target Bass At Night

When you think of bass fishing, many anglers imagine themselves hitting the water early in the morning, spending a day on the water, and catching the last bite as the sun sets. However, bass fishing can be just as productive (if not more productive) during the night time. Here’s what you need to know to do it effectively.

Understanding Bass Behavior At Night

When the night time hits, bass are typically going to move up into the shallow areas of whatever body of water you’re fishing in. These areas are prime locations for them to move into and seek prey. This is especially true during the summer months when temperatures are high during the day and they can finally move shallow to feed when the sun sets.

You’ll want to find shallow areas that you would normally fish when they’re shallow. Points, banks, and vegetation can be great. It’s also a good idea to look out for docks (especially with lights) as they will tend to attract baitfish. As for the time, you can experience amazing fishing during the middle of the night, avoiding the first hour or two after sunset and before sunrise.

Night Time Bass Fishing Gear

If you’re going to fish at night, you’ll need to have some specific gear along. For lures, you have a few options. Anything that creates a lot of commotion is a good choice. Think buzzbaits, spinner baits, and top water poppers. These lures make a ton of noise and vibration that can grab the attention of nearby fish. Try using these on nights with little to no moon, as these nights will be the darkest.

You can also use big soft plastics paired with a jig. Worms and craws can work well. If you go this route, you’ll want to use dark colored baits. While it sounds counterintuitive, they actually stand out better with their silhouette in the night. Try using these on nights when the moon is out and providing some light, as they will really stand out well.

For both options, keep things slow and steady. Don’t be afraid to throw in some pauses in your retrieval as well to give them a shot at finding the bait and striking.

Another key piece of gear to have along is a flashlight or a head lamp. Even on nights when the moon is out you’ll need a light source to tie on new lures, and unhook big fish. Some anglers also put additional lighting on their boat to make things easier, which isn’t a bad idea.