I�ve seen some posts and received several PM�s about fishing dock lights recently. These are some of my observations put together from fishing dock lights since I was a little. I started on Lake Livingston then Palestine and for the past six years on Cedar Creek. I�m not saying this is the only way but it works very well for me.


Tackle:
� Chose a rod and reel combination that you are very comfortable casting as accuracy is important
� 12lb line is a good all-around size. It will give you a fairly small profile and still offer enough backbone to steer a hybrid around the pilings.
� I started out using chrome rattletraps and white shallow diving crank baits but have found that the cheap Berkley 3� white swim baits that are $3 for a 5 pack from Wal-Mart are the best overall option along with the 3� cr�me spoiler shad. They hit the water more quietly and are less likely to spook the fish. It is critical that the bait is tuned correctly and swims straight. After you tie one on do a test run and ensure it swims straight up and down and doesn�t kick to the side, this will result in more bites.


Light selection:
� You can greatly increase your odds of catching and fish more efficiently by being selective in your light choices
� I like to fish lights with at least 3 feet of water underneath, generally the deeper the water the better
� Pay attention to light intensity and the distance from the light to the water. A bright light close to the water is best. Also look for those small lights with the concentrated spot beam they hold a lot of fish as well.


Presentation:
� Keep the boat as far away from the light as possible
� The best presentation I have found is a slow and steady retrieve. Don�t set the hook immediately when you get a bite, do just the opposite, slow down and just let the fish load up. Then give it a tug to the side.
� Try to keep the boat steady, if it is gliding swiftly it will mess up your retrieve
� Cast past the light into the shadow and then reel back into the light. This has two benefits; it helps to not spook the fish and gives the fish an ambush point to strike the lure.


Tips:
� Remember the dimmer the moon, the brighter the lights
� The fish spook more easily in calm water
� You will catch more fish at each light if you get the hooked fish away from the light with your rod tip pointed down as quickly as possible
� Single hooked baits don�t hang on docks as easily
� The lighter the wind, the lighter your bait should be
� If you hang up on the dock let your buddies fish the light out before you mess it up to retrieve your lure. (we call this a power play while your buddy is in the penalty box)


One more fun thing to do is catch fish in the shadows with top waters. I like to keep a black walk the dog type top water tied on one rod. If you hear fish strike out in the darkness get ready for some fun although it may take some practice to master it. Cast out and twitch the rod tip 2 or 3 times then let the lure sit for a 10 count (this is the most important part). Listen for the strike because you won�t be able to see it. Catching a hybrid like that in the dark is amazing!

I hope this helps!

Great info.

X's 2, may have to try some deep summer night fishing for hybrids

Don't want to hyjack the post but there's a person on Twok that back in day, when he was younger, him and his dad would make regular trips to Cedar Creek, they would throw bone colored hotspots or traps around the lighted boathouses and simply slaughter them, I know I've seen the icechests they used to bring back. Never got to go myself, but everytime they went it was a slaughter

There is nothing more fun than catching hybrids off those lights.

That is great info and pretty much what I have figured out in the last 9 years on cedar creek night fishing.

Also there are a few docks with underwater green lights on cedar creek, if u find them u willhave a blast

Good write up thanks for the info.

Sounds really fun!

Great tips.

Great write up Chris. It takes me back 25 to 30 years ago night fishing black bass in Oklahoma. Old Hula Poppers,Spooks, I forgot the name of the top water frog. I remember well hearing a bass smack the water and casting off to it, fishing the docks at Grand Lake, gravel beds on Tenkiller. Lots of memory.

Thanks for the post Chris. I was going out for a morning trip on Palestine and decided to start a little early before daylight. Found a couple docks with lights everything above was spot on. Got hit first cast but instinctively tried to set hook and missed it. Cast right back to same spot and slowed retrieve and waited for it to load up and it was fish on. Caught about 6 big whites in 30 minutes before light. All came on a 3" black gulp minnow on 1/8 oz jig head that I already had. Was something new and definitely fun. One mistake was that I did not have a topwater tied on, because twice heard fish blow up out past the light in the dark and didnt have anything ready to throw at them. Won't make that mistake next time.

Here is my 2 cents.

Purchase luminescent curly tail grubs and charge them with a flash light. Charge last for several docks and makes a huge differance some nights.