Thought I’d start a thread. What are your stillwater night fishing tactics?
I’m talking trout, high elevation lakes.
Flies?
Do’s and Don’ts?
Moonlight or no?
Thanks in advance!
Dave
Do:
BE SAFE
Wear a PFD (Personal Floatation Device)
Carry flashlight
Fish with partner or be sure folks know where you are (carry cell phone or 2 way radio).
DON’T
If you get lost in the woods after dark, do not start trying to find your way out, you’ll most likely get even more lost. Stop where you are, find a place to sleep and the woods will look different in the morning.
As for what to fish, I’m not an expert on high elevation lakes so I won’t even go there.
This is going to be an interesting thread. I’m mainly interested in how people untangle their line when they get a mess in the middle of the night. I’m thinking cut and run, but …
Jeff
I’ve never done it. I don’t like the unknown factors like the tangled line issue. I have done night fishing for catfish with a spinning rod, but that’s simpler. I would feel comfortable if my boat or tube was in close proximity to my Camp spot.
The Regs are another issue.
Think about the irony of fishing during a Full Moon!! 
Doug
Check the regs before you go. Some states and Provinces have a night fishing ban.
Ps. bears and other critters can see you better than you can see them in the dark.
Better to thouroughly check out the waters in the daylight before your night foray.
Leave a light on shore so you can keep better track of where you are.
Dave…
everyone made some really points…
- Carry flashlight… a headlamp (LED)… and a couple of back-up batteries
- Fish with partner or be sure folks know where you are (carry cell phone or 2 way radio).
- The Regs are another issue. make sure you state does allow it
- (the best one of all!!)… thouroughly check out the waters in the daylight before your night foray… Know the water like the back of your hand
here is a list from me…
Know your surrounding… know the you can find your way out in the fog where your cant see 10 feet in front of you… Landmark, Big Rock (boulders), falling trees, the change in the lake (areas of small water, big water, narrow channels… ect
You flashlight will “cut” through the fog better then an LED… think of an LED light like brights on a car… they wont penatrate the fog… but the regular flashlight will… Make sense?
Know you access… your ins and outs…
like all tailwater they will generate water… make sure you can get out quickly… and Never travel that far from you car… it’ll be a long walk back!!
Know about you friendly little critters… beavers, bears, muskrat,snakes, ect…
(we really only have beaver here… but the has been a few black bears seen)…
Like GBF said… Very important…KNOW YOUR WATER!!! that has to be the big of all
last… when fishing still water… NEVER step into the without making a few cast close in… you’ll find some big fish hugging the banks at night in still water
…
next the moon phases…
LOL… yes I laugh at that… after many years… and alot of night on the water… IT DOESN’T MATTER!!
75 % of my biggest fish was caught under a full moon… the guys the say go in total darkness are full of (edit… add your own word here).
…
Flies…
you want flies the cover top to bottom…
unweight streamers… small beaded flies, and flies you can get to the bottom with…
color… start with the basic… white, black, olive… then go tan, dark with flash… list could go on…
sizes of flies… anywhere between sizes 2 down to a 10… if you nymph at night… try them in size 8-14… upsize these flies at so they can be easier seen…
here is some flies to think about:
streamers… hair-wing, zonkers, woolies, sculpins
nymphs… PTN, scuds ,sowbug, eggs (size 10 works best in thses to start with)
dont forget a few drys… BIG… 4-8… hoppers, stimis… ect…
…
Although there isn’t much still water on Taneycomo near the dam. I still find a pocket or two that has produced some realy nice fish…
How to fish still water at night??
Id start be looking and listen for surface activity.
then I would start fishing with a size 6-10 streamer (like a pine squirrel or a hair-wing about 1-3in long) and unweighted if I noticed alot of activity. I would begin fishing it really slow almost letting it set dead still. after letting it set for about 5-10 seconds or so, I’d put about 8-12 really fast 1/2in strips on it and then stop it quick (trying to keep the slack tight). Id fished that for about 5-10 minutes, then pick up the speed. Every few cast doing a different strip to try to draw a strike… If that didnt work I start fishing it really slow barely moving it…
Next: I do believe Id go with a sculpin. start by fishing it slow and remember where and how I got the strike.
for instance: If I was stripping it 3-5 short strips and stopped it, as soon as it stopped and the strike happened. Well then that would tell me there are watching for movement and to be ready for the strike as soon as it come to a rest.
I spent some time watching sculpin and how they swim… they swim it “sperts”. they start off with short quick jolts and stop… then when they feel in danger they make about a 1 foot dart… so I fish it with a few 1in strips and then rest it for a couple of seconds and then do a nice and easy slow -to- medium strip and let it rest there for a few seconds.
hope this helps…
Leonard
I’m going to echo others on this…nothing I can add really…
Night angler1,
That was a fantastic post! Best of the week.
Night Angler1,
Thanks for the great post! Your comments about the moon phase got me thinking about what I have always thought or had superstitions about. I found this Link about fishing according to moon phase.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Fishing-By-Mo … h&id=71934
What do you think of this information??
Thanks,
Doug
While I haven’t done alot of fly fishing at night, I have done my share of chasing bass and cats with a spinning outfit once the sun goes down. Everybody makes a very good point about safety. But…Don’t get that maybe I shouldn’t , because what if feeling. Find a way to do it safely and then do it. There will always be an element of danger involved, if only for the simple fact that most of us just aren’t 100% comfortable in the dark, plain and simple. The moon, use it to your advantage. I always try to have at least a half of a moon and relatively clear skies so that I can see as much as possible without the use of my headlamp. I want to use artificial light as little as possible. In my opinion and full moon and clear skies are the best. The fish still know its night time and the big ones still hunt and know there’s less chance of getting preyed on at night, plus it makes it that much easier for them to see your offering, not to mention should you get tangled or hook yourself. Most importantly, in my opinion, though, is that you’ll be a more efficient angler if you can see better. Trust me, if there’s no moon and you’re far from enough from any city, when it gets dark, it gets D A R K. Great for watching shooting stars, but not so great for seeing where your cast lands or even having a target should you want one. And to go along with Night Angler, I’ve caught more and bigger fish with a moon than without.
Tight lines
Another thing, When you turn on your headlamp to change flies or whatever…When you trn it off again it will be pitch black temporarily until your eyes adjust again. So try to limit the times you turn on the headlamp.
I’m not sure if this has been said yet…
man that guuy is really full of himself!!
Well, Another fantastic and very informative post!
some people also believe that if you turn you back while changing your fly, it doesnt scare the fish…
Ive notice no different… when the fish are ON… their ON!!
Me? or someone else?
Not you Chris…
the guy who wrote the article that DShock posted…
I agree with maybe 10% of what he wrote…
I have an old army trick that may help with the night blindness that happens when you turn on the head lamp to change flies, prior to turning on the light close you weakest eye usually the left for the right handed, and visa versa, for all you lefties , and keep it closed while you change the fly then when you turn off the light OPEN the left eye and low and behold it will be like you never turned on the light, even better if you then close the right your fly attaching eye, and shortly open it again and all is good… used this for going out on fire piquet or patrols at night after coming out of the HQ tent…
I’m not sure about high mountain lakes, but for LMB we use big, black, topwater flies for night fishing. I like using a black light during the new moon so I can see at least a little, and, of course, no light needed during full moon. I’ve had better fishing during the 3 days before and after a full moon. The idea of having a light on shore is a great one!
If you’re night fishing high mountain lakes here’s what I’d say. Do it! You will catch fish and if you’re fishing water that has a good number of browns you’ll probably catch more big ones at night than during the day.
Head out in the tube or toon or canoe or whatever and like others have said, don’t do it alone. Stick with streamers and nymphs. You won’t be able to see the dry fly take anyway unless you’re fishing a full moon and you’ve casted directly into the moon’s reflection on the water. Stick with an LED headlamp. Not only do they not penetrate fog (as has been mentioned) they don’t penetrate water as well either. It is a good idea to switch the light on when you’ve got a fish on so you can see where they’re going and adjust the fight on em.
I had a buddy and his dad who fished Daniel’s Reservoir in S. Idaho a few weeks back at night from tubes and toons. There were 4 or 5 guys in the group and they’d fished it before. I believe they were fishing primarily rabbit zonkers (don’t know what color or size). Sounds like they had an absolute ball. Fish after fish for them and the smallest I think was 18" with some in the mid 20’s. I believe they were all Cutts and Bows. Bottom line is, you’re gonna catch fish if you fish at night.
absolutely true wild one!!!
if there is fish in the water they can be caught at night… and there isn’t that many people who comes out at night…
Although… make sure somewhere else knows where you are fishing
and know the bottom of the water… watch for the rocks…and take a change of clothes with you… cause you never know!!
I have a head lamp that has red led, white led and a small, adjustable flash light. Your eyes build up a chemical called Night Vision Purple (N.V.P.). White light quickly destroys nvp. Use of a red or green led slows down the destruction of nvp and helps you to maintain your night vision. Green is the best color for this but it is easier to make maps red light readable. This is why the military uses red light for nighttime illumination.
If you must use a white light then keep one eye closed. Plays heck with your depth perception but, with practice, you will be able to accomplish most tasks this way.
Nighthawk…
Thank you… I didnt know that…
Now I see why you are call “NightHawk”
I like to hear more about N.V.P. as often as im fishing at night… I my want to know something about it…
Thanks
Leonard