Part of our fizzing study commenced this evening with shock boat teams from around the state participating in gathering fish for the study. I rode with the San Angelo crew. First stop we gathered 12 fish , with the best fish weighing right at ten (10) pounds, fat and in good shape. She was in 2 ft. of water. The others were between 2-4#. That was right before dark, 7:30-sundown. 2nd round things got better. This was after dark. Made a round on an island and gathered 22 fish. Quality was getting better. These fish were between 2-5 lbs.. Our third round was right at midnight. All I can say is someone turned on a light switch. All 25 fish that we gathered were between 3-6 lbs... ALL in less then 2 ft. of water. Why were they there ? Well, the bluegills are spawning right now.
Everything and I mean everything was up shallow after them. Flatheads, channels, gar, stripers. They were all in shallow water. And bluegills were everywhere. Also, the amount of 3-8 inch bass up in the shallow brush, hydrilla and broom weeds right now is staggering. We have had a heck of a spawn the last two years, including this one. Fry are everywhere . Each time we shocked for around 25-35 minutes to collect these fish. In those time periods we EASILY saw 100-150 small bass 3-8 inches long each trip. Incredible ! Baitfish were thick too. Big Gizzard shad were abundant and threadfins were to. All I can say is this. ..... I am gonna take up night fishing around here ! Oh, and for you guys fishing during the day, you best have something that looks like a bluegill right now, or you won't be doing what the fish are doing. They are sitting right outside those bluegill beds ! Just FYI. Regards !

Good info Carl!!!! Need to get back to down there, havent been in a while, still my favorite lake in Tx!!!

I had always heard that a different set of fish move up at night here, but I haven't fished here at night so far. Now I know ! You had to see it to believe it. I think the moon has a lot to do with it, coming off of full and it almost like daylight out there. Time for the black musky jitterbug to make an appearance ! Maybe some 16 inch trick worms in black too !

Sounds like I need to bring my self to see old brother and do some night fishing.

Cool post, Carl! Thanks for the interesting info!

Hmm ,could the Anglers Lodge summer tournaments become night tournaments.

thats pretty cool..thanks for sharing

glad u got to see that carl. most people dont understand what its like and how much work is involved. we shocked a swimming beaver on accident at grapevine years ago. crazy. im curious though, why throw something 16 inches long instead of something 6 inches tall? love them gills...

watch out, that night bite is addicting, my favorite time to fish...seems like u always catch 2 to 3 times the amount at night

A lot of people around Rayburn think the bluegill spawn is over I'm with you its just at its peak, thats some pretty cool info. I wish I night fished more but since all I do is fish tournaments I didn't think it would benefit me much, probabbly the one thing I really need to do more.

Great post, you can learn a lot shocking fish.

Todd you hit the nail on the head on that one, the perch are in full swing on Rayburn right now! I had a 2 lber cough up a 4 inch bluegill last weekind!

you're not kidding about this years spawn. baby bass everywhere hitting your line on top of the water

Was thinking that myself William. Would be interesting results with a night tournament. David, that 16 inch would be weightless. Make it look like a snake. Or maybe the 20 inch curly tail cut in half ! Surface retrieve. Manchu, they were everywhere. Recruitment has been excellent. And the shape these little fish were in was outstanding. Even the little 3 inch bass had pot bellies. Little ghost minnows were thick too. They apparently love the lights being on. Color wise on the bluegills was a light green side with silver and an orange belly. 8 inches was the biggest gill we saw. Now, if I could just figure out where they go during the day. I bet they go off and suspend. Gonna have to ride around and graph and see if I can find them. Scary part is we didn't go shock my best areas. The adult bass we shocked were the same way. Every one of them were footballs with pot bellies. Even that 10# had a belly on her. They are eating good from what I can tell. And these fish aren't all beat up like you see in the daytime either. 59 fish in an hour and a half is good enough for me ! Time to put fresh line on the reels, make some black spinnerbaits and shallow cranks. Hmmmm, swimbaits at night. Might be worth a try.

Wow! good info..

Oh, and for you guys that are grumbling that these fish are sacrificed are incorrect. Out of all the fish captured, 99% or better are released right back into the lake to fight another day. There is NO fish fry either. Just thought I would clarify that.