Lotw

I keep reading different things here on no night bite? Are you guys hunkered down all day all night in the same spot?

I fish lotw often in the winter. And we always get our hogs after dark and many numbers to. But we arnt sitting in one spot we follow them as they move. This is why we fish in portables and leave the big shack in the day spot.
I cant imagine going up there to get 12 inch fish all day just to give up and leave for the night. At least not when I drive 4.5 hours. What are you guys doing or not to say the night bite is dead? I’m confused. We sometimes have to go a half mile to 2 miles but thats nothing compared to 5 hours of driving to get there. I would rather snooze from 3 am to 9 am and then do it all over rather then miss the night out there

Most resorts just run day houses and bring you in just before dark. So I don’t think as many people stay out past dark. I’m sure plenty do and do fairly well. It is known more for a day time bite and most catch plenty of fish that they don’t feel the need to fish at night.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I keep reading different things here on no night bite? Are you guys hunkered down all day all night in the same spot?

I fish lotw often in the winter. And we always get our hogs after dark and many numbers to. But we arnt sitting in one spot we follow them as they move. This is why we fish in portables and leave the big shack in the day spot.
I cant imagine going up there to get 12 inch fish all day just to give up and leave for the night. At least not when I drive 4.5 hours. What are you guys doing or not to say the night bite is dead? I’m confused. We sometimes have to go a half mile to 2 miles but thats nothing compared to 5 hours of driving to get there. I would rather snooze from 3 am to 9 am and then do it all over rather then miss the night out there

you have caught fish out there at night? i’ve stayed in a sleeper once out there and we didn’t catch anything after dark. so never spent the money to do a sleeper again.

What kind of structure do you target after dark, bearcat? Shallow(er) flats? Top edge of a break? I’ve never fished LOTW and never really had much luck ice fishing after dark in general.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I keep reading different things here on no night bite? Are you guys hunkered down all day all night in the same spot?

I fish lotw often in the winter. And we always get our hogs after dark and many numbers to. But we arnt sitting in one spot we follow them as they move. This is why we fish in portables and leave the big shack in the day spot.
I cant imagine going up there to get 12 inch fish all day just to give up and leave for the night. At least not when I drive 4.5 hours. What are you guys doing or not to say the night bite is dead? I’m confused. We sometimes have to go a half mile to 2 miles but thats nothing compared to 5 hours of driving to get there. I would rather snooze from 3 am to 9 am and then do it all over rather then miss the night out there

Bearcat! The people that own all the bars up there are very keen to maintain the notion that fish don’t bite after dark on Lake of the Woods. Just sayin’.

13 to 16 ft has always been our target depth after the sun goes down. One caveat is early in the season to have a good night bite the lake needs to lock up with good water clarity. Meaning, there’s no huge blows that dirty up the water right before ice up. I have never caught fish after dark out in deep water but if you’re willing to make a move shallow the quality of the fish will surprise you. Everyone that fishes LOTW owes Bearcat a beer.

well, james and bearcat. you both just got me very excited to try some fishing at night up there. thank you for the info!

Bearcat89 wrote:

But we arnt sitting in one spot we follow them as they move. This is why we fish in portables and leave the big shack in the day spot.

This is the main difference in the success you may be having compared to everyone else. You move around and stay on fish. Everyone I know that fishes there parks in one spot and stays there regardless of whether they are on fish or dead water.

James Holst wrote:

if you’re willing to make a move shallow the quality of the fish will surprise you.

Bingo!

But we also put some time in out deeper usually one night chasing burbot. Always a blast when with a crew that is willing to put in a little effort.

My goal this winter is to get the wheelhouse up there on a deeper reef for the day bite and then use the ATV and flip over at night to head shallow.

I brought this up last winter and had a chat with a few guys here. My next time up (I spent 26 days there in 2019) we did well after dark. I’d take my wheelhouse up there for 4-5 days at a time, once I’m there the clock becomes non existent. Have a couple drinks and watch the sunrise then hit the hay.

belletaine wrote:

I brought this up last winter and had a chat with a few guys here. My next time up (I spent 26 days there in 2019) we did well after dark. I’d take my wheelhouse up there for 4-5 days at a time, once I’m there the clock becomes non existent. Have a couple drinks and watch the sunrise then hit the hay.

so would you set up in shallower water or deeper water when you were doing this?

Thanks for chipping in James. I think some guys thought I was yanking there chains

We typically run shallow after 6 pm. And also some days do what jamin said and chase burbot deeper.
I also have the same thought process as beltaine and don’t pay attention to time.

I learned these tricks from Steve up at his bait ahop and its paid off ten fold on the lake and the river both through ice

tanner voeller wrote:

well, james and bearcat. you both just got me very excited to try some fishing at night up there. thank you for the info!

If you get a sleeper then I would for sure pull a sled or atv and portable to mobilize after dark. Just be sure to know where you are. Its a easy one to get lost on or turned around in the dark. The garmin has helped us huge in the past.

As for structure we target, that all depends on alot of different things. Weather, wind, the fish of course. Not every night is a success. But for us it has paid off more times then not. Every fish I’ve seen 30 plus on that lake has been after dark.
I’m still stuck at 29.75 4 times now. But maybe this will be the year for a 30. Or even 31 like bmans buddy earlier this year

James Holst wrote:

Bearcat! The people that own all the bars up there are very keen to maintain the notion that fish don’t bite after dark on Lake of the Woods. Just sayin’.

Bingo…this is as good or better reason than any.

One cannot underestimate the profits collected in the resort bars at the end of the day with groups of folks on a fishing vacation.

And don’t assume the resorts are doing them any disservice. Plenty, and I mean plenty of guests are perfectly content with that. For many of those sorts, catching fish is secondary.

A good reason to get away from the wife and kids for the weekend. There are plenty of “those guys”…

I could see moving shallower but generally on my end I’ve had luck being mobile for panfish for walleye I’ve tried to get on specific structure and hoped for the best. Would you say the clarity makes it a much less of a short prime time window as a regular lake?