Why would anybody want to go fishing after dark?
I’m an avid fisherman, but I’ll be honest, I’ve had no interest in heading out fishing these past couple of weeks due to the sweltering heat and intense sun. I can’t imagine sitting out in the middle of a lake in a boat with temperatures pushing the 100-degree mark, or even wading a trout stream in that kind of heat, is not my idea of having fun.
Could you catch fish if you went out onto a lake with temps in the 90s? Very likely you could, especially if you fish deep water, steep rocky shorelines, and fairly deep areas with good woody cover, but four or five hours out in that intense sun will certainly take its toll.
You might also be able to take some trout, but when it gets that hot and the water levels drop so low, even the trout back off on their daytime feeding.
So, if heading out into that intense heat to go fishing isn’t high on your list, what’s the alternative?
The answer — fishing when the sun starts to set, and then fishing on into the evening.
Some of my best hot summer fishing, especially for trout and bass, has been after the sun has set on a very calm evening.
One of my favorite methods for good-sized largemouths is to work deep, weedy, lake shorelines since the bass will often move into this shallower water after dark in search of frogs or other prey hanging out in the weedy shoreline. Believe me, one of the most exciting ways to hook up to a good-sized fish is with some kind of surface presentation, and doing so after dark may require you to not only depend on seeing the strike but also feeling and hearing the strike.
What’s a good lure choice for after-dark fishing? There are several surface presentations that are high on my list, and one of my favorites is the good, old jitterbug lure. The jitterbug is a frog imitation; the curved metal lip causes the lure to wobble back and forth as it is slowly retrieved across the water’s surface. I like to pitch the jitterbug into weed openings or work it along the weedy shoreline. After the cast, I usually let the lure lie quietly for a brief period, then I give it a little enticing wiggle, and it’s not unusual for a bass to smash it then. If no strike occurs after the cast, I usually work the lure back with a stop-and-go approach; strikes can occur at any point during the retrieve, and the strikes are usually hard and smashing.
Other lures that are also good choices are propbaits — they are floating baits that have the revolving blades in front and back. I fish the lure with a stop-and-go retrieve, and with the props, it seems to work better if there is a disturbance on the surface.
A simple chugger-type lure with the concave face is also a good surface lure for bass. I prefer using heavier line with these rigs-20-30 pound braided line, and I prefer a stouter bait casting outfit instead of an open-faced spinning outfit.
Those after-dark hours are also great for some trout fishing. I’ve taken some of my biggest trout after dark. I will tend to go with larger dry flies like an Adams size 10 or a Royal Coachmen. Those big trout that were lying low in that heat all day will often become pretty active feeders after the sun goes down. Change up your timing a bit, and you can still enjoy some exciting fishing — go after dark.
