Memorial weekend is almost here and brought back many memories for me. You see that was pretty much the official start of Night Fishing for me and some of my buddies back in the 90's. We would start on Memorial weekend at Fork and fished it pretty much the rest of the year with Bob Sandlin thrown in there a bunch as well as Monticello in November and December. At the time my first tournament partner Kenny was Val Poe's son who owned Val's Landing. Sometimes we would help out in the restaurant then take off to head up to Garrett/Shotgun area. We would put the trolling motor down at the Power Lines at approximately 8:00pm and would fish until we pulled the trolling motor up around 8:00am the next morning then head back into Val's for breakfast. Back in those days we basically threw only a few baits. A Hilldebrandt Go Getter Spinnerbait, one with a #5 Gold Colorado blade and one with a #6 blade. Both were with an Uncle Josh Pork trailer. We would also have Larew's Craws. Hawg Craw in a Black Neon and the smaller Craw in a Black/Blue. Also would have a Berkley 10" Red Shad Power Worm, one on a Texas Rig one on a Carolina rig. We always pretty much started out throwing the spinnerbait actually hoping we didn't have to do anything else just because of how awesome the fish used to crush that bait at times. Really enjoyed the Axton's Night Tournaments and back then with the different slot limit there were many times me and a partner would bring in 2 over the slot fish at the midnight weigh in, then 2 more over the slot at the morning weigh in and not even collect a check thanks to Dreabon Joiner and others who fished the tournament. One Memorial weekend night me and a buddy went over to Boardtree and were catching them decent when we moved out onto the main lake point at the mouth. From 8:00pm to about midnight we ended up catching over 60 fish in about a 100 yard stretch with 10 of them going over 5 lbs including an 8.98 lber. That next week as I always did I would call my buddy Jimmy Smith at Smitty's to place my next order of Spinnerbaits which had mangled about 10 of them that night. An expensive but awesome time. One night I also lost the biggest fish I ever had on when one hit my spinnerbait and I jerked and could feel it pull away from the fish. I started reeling the bait in quickly to make another cast while telling Kenny what had happened when right at the boat and fish crushed it. He took off and all I could do is extend my arms and watch as he pulled line and came to the surface and tail walked away from me in the moonlight until the line snapped with a loud pop. We just stood there in silence for a while soaking in a memory I would have forever. Conditions at that time with the hydrilla and population of big fish will never be the same but the memories will live on and am truly glad I was able to fish it for all of those prime years.

Good stories!

I am planning to night fish for the first time this season. I must admit it is creepy---especially alone. I thought I'd use red flashlights to help with night vision. Thought I'd throw a spinnerbait, top water, worm, or jig.

Any other pointers?

I love night fishing. My club's June, July, and August tournaments are all at night and I can't wait.

Pointers?
Get you some Skin so Soft.
Mosquitoes can be bad especially at dusk.
Makes you smell pretty too.😁

How exactly do guys night fish for bass? Is the process the same as during the day, just without sunlight? Or is there an entirely different mindset?

The only freshwater night fishing I've ever done is crappie fishing under a light.

You are correct. The trick to night fishing is that it's just like fishing during the day, only it's dark out. Maybe a splash more topwater for me.

Do you guys wear head mounted red lights? Or something else? Or nothing?

Do you run around the lake or mostly stay put?

For me I find that even though you can still catch fish in heavy cover bass at night will tend to roam and feed a lot more than during the day. That's why my preferred way to catch them is covering a lot of water with the spinnerbait. Then as I am running with the spinnerbait when I run up on some type of bush or dock I will flip it pretty quickly. If I am running a bank area and end up catching a couple of fish on the spinnerbait I will always turn around and conver that same area with a worm or Craw.
This is just my way that I found I was consistant for me night fishing but in reality any baits you tend to throw during the day will catch fish at night.

Have tonight planned @ Fork and I have a Hilderbrant #5 and a Craw tied on..great story TBass, I too fished the late 80's with only 3 baits tied on SpinnerBait,Craw (Hawg Craw blk/blu),and Blk BuzzBait. Those were the nights back then 50-60 fish night 5lb small 10-11lb big.

I like dark bulky baits, thumping dark spinner baits, and a couple of glass beads on my Texas rig.

Yup. And a 10" Black and blue fleck power worm. All you needed. It was nice fishing the night tournaments out of Axtons with only 4 rods. lol.

Another good tip to pair up with the Skin So Soft. Take a few Gain dryers sheets with you. Take one and fold it around the back of your hat so that most of it is flapping. It helps to keep the gnats off.

i miss the old 12" junebug powerworms

I hate spinnerbaits at night.

Been working on getting my stock back up. Should be ready to go.

I started night fishing back in 1988 to get away from the heat and the crowds. End result is usually more and bigger fish.

Awesome!
Yeah my first night trip to Fork I was drooling on myself asleep and a huge bass nearly ripped the rod out of my hands, went to deep water, took lots of drag, and a piece of my finger that was on the line. Somehow caught that beast through all the wood with 20lb mono- was a huge fish, no pics or weight but a really great memory and the scar to prove it. Brought more coffee next time, and a scale and camera.