So, you’re thinking about venturing into the depths of the night to catch some serious fish, huh? Well, before you start, you’re going to need to know a few things. You see, it’s very different fishing in pitch-black to fishing in broad daylight, and the methods you can adopt vary depending on the region, species, type of water and time of year.
To ensure your night time trip goes swimmingly, here are some things you should consider…
How to adapt to no light
Being brutally honest, there is no definitive way to adapt to having no light. You have to just work with what you’ve got, and deploy some clever tricks to gain an advantage. As it’s not possible to keep an eye on your line or observe your lure in the water, you need to develop a strong feel for movement. A great way to improve that is to acquire a sensitive rod and line, and use a heavier tackle.
Another obvious approach is to use an external light source, but that can actually damage your chances of catching fish, which is why experienced anglers advise against it. If you really can’t work in pitch-black, then schedule your night fishing for when there’s a full moon out or head to docks where there’s more natural light. A healthy equilibrium is to purchase a tiny headlamp that isn’t too bright.
Safety
Fishing in the dark is significantly more dangerous than fishing in the day, so it’s imperative that you pay special attention to safety. So, when you’re unhooking fish that are attached to multiple hooks, take your time and stay aware of your surroundings so you don’t lose balance. Why? Because you wont be able to see objects in the dark that could potentially knock your boat. Also, make sure you have a strong flashlight, so you can warn other boats that you’re there.
Tips
Of course, we aren’t to end this article without providing you with some helpful tips. Now, before we get into them, it’s vital that you take night fishing seriously. It’s not something you can dive into headfirst and expect immediate success. You need to absorb knowledge, hone your skills and practice frequently if you want to catch fish.
Anyway, these are some tips that you can use to improve your chances…
- Have multiple rods ready on your boat with different lures or baits so you don’t have to try and assemble them in the dark
- Use spinning gear if you often experience backlash while using baitcasting tackle
- Familiarize yourself with the area that you’re going to fish in during the daytime, because it’s much easier to fish in an area you know
- Laser-target one area rather than casting wide, because it’s harder to be accurate in the dark
- Avoid making too much noise as this will only scare away all of the fish
- Leading on from the last tip, drift into your desired area without the motor running so your approach is quieter
