One of my favorite ways to fish in the summer is nighttime fishing for crappie. I learned how to do it a few years ago from a seasoned veteran (thanks, Mac!) and since then, I try to get out at least a few times between the end of spring and mid-fall to do it. At the peak of summer, the surface temperature of our local lakes can get into the mid to upper 80s, which makes fishing during daylight hours a lot more challenging and uncomfortable. However, when night comes, the fish begin to feed again… and the action can be hot!
Set-up for night fishing is pretty basic. You need a green underwater light, a 12v battery to power it, a 5' section of PVC pipe (to keep the light away from the boat), and some minnows or jigs to fish with. I’ve had success in local lakes with healthy crappie populations and prefer to set-up on slopes or points in 14-18 feet of water, as the bigger crappie go to the deeper, cooler water during the heat of the day, then transition to shallower water to feed at night.
After getting to my spot, I drop two anchors (front / back) to keep the boat / kayak steady, turn on the light, and wait for the fish to start showing up. Once it’s dark, it typically takes 10-30 minutes for the crappie to start biting, depending on the area. I usually set the light about a foot under the water, and as you’ll see in the livescope footage, the baitfish congregate in a big school from the surface down to about 8 feet. Crappie, catfish, and other predatory fish tend to hang out under the school, which is where I try to position my minnow or jig for best results. Fishing this way, I average about 4-6 keepers per hour, with a bunch of smaller fish and missed fish in-between.
The temperature typically gets down to the lower 80s, upper 70s over the course of the evening, boat traffic is almost non-existent at night, at you get a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet while hanging out with friends or family. What’s not to like?
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Quick Links:
Set-up / Rig: • How to Night Fish for ...
Livescope Footage (Beginning): • How to Night Fish for ...
New Reel Falls Apart: • How to Night Fish for ...
First Fish: • How to Night Fish for ...
Disaster Strikes: • How to Night Fish for ...
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Livescope Footage (An Hour Later); • How to Night Fish for ...
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5 авг 2023
