Fishin in the dark...

[Beave]

I haven't done any night fishing in forever. When I did we were bouncing crawlers on the bottom of Houghton lake for walleyes.

I'm a bit of a night owl though, and wouldn't mind a bit of night fishing. Any suggestions on how to fish panfish at night? I've seen those glowing bobbers they sell at Gander Mountian, and I can pretty much figure out how that works. Is it an effective method?

Suggestions?

[ringnecker]

I like to use my ultralight gear and a small topwater bait. You just can't beat that big splash before they try to jurk the rod out of your hands. Never tried the light -up bobber. All night fishing is a blast.

[Can't Touch This]

The only panfish you will catch at night are rock bass, and you'll get tons of em. Actually, i have caught a lil bit of gills, to, at night. Walleye and catfish are the top fish to catch at night.

[ficious]

Another option is to take a lantern to any of the places you would fish for panfish. Give them about a half hour to "wake up", just like your aquarium fish when you turn the light on. They will start to feed as the food chain warms up to the light. Bugs will move in and so will minnows. Try to stay away from the direct light as the shadows may spook the fish, stay a distance away and cast to the light. I have done well on crappies, gills, even the occasional perch. Has worked well for me ice fishing also. Drop me a PM if you want any more info.

ficious

[jeremy L]

leechs/small jig under a bobber works for smallmouth after dark. I would think rockbass/gills/sunfish would be the same. i have caught perch well after dark on the ice and have seen others get them after dark in the spring so maybe you could pick up a few of those too.

I suggest small shiners, leeches, crawler under a bobber with a small jig. you could get lucky and catch an eye or two also if you are fishing a lake eyes are located in.

[YPSIFLY]

Cork poppers in the smaller sizes have worked for me at or for a couple hours after sunset.

Other than that the lantern suggestion should work just fine.

[Auditor]

I have caught some really nice gills while fishing for walleyes under a lighted float at night. It's a slow bite, but these are some hog gills so it's worth it.

[Can't Touch This]

If your fishing the detroit river, trolling is the best at night, with hotntots, and other crank baits, long lining, and, man, you will get ur limit very wuick, and, you'll get bigger fish, some 8 or 9 pounds, even in summer, thats right./

[pikedevil]

guys!!!!!!......i cant believe u dint say anything bout crappies.....crappies bite great at night......down in the southern resevoirs night time is the time for taking limits of crappies.....hangin a lantern or a floating light on the water brings in baitfish and the crappies wont be far behind.......night time is also prime time for big wallyes......in clear lakes u almost have to fish at night......try really big stickbaits like a floating rapala or a husky jerk and instead of a twitching retrieve just reel them steady.....the wallyes will home in on them and wham!!!!!........On lakes that see a lot of powerboat traffic during the day really pu out a lot of bass after dark.....try topwaters over shallow weeds or red spinnerbaits.......and finnaly night time gives u the best chance at catching michigans toughest fish.....giant flatheads......the lower Grand, k-zoo, and st joe river all have sum giganto cats (30 lbs+)......and believe me if u've never caught a big cat before prepare to have ur arm wrenched outta the socket.....those cats aint ur average bullhead.....they pull hard........typical bait for the big boys is a good sized bluegill or a 12 inch sucker.....night fishing rocks!!!!!!