Nightfishing Question?

This is for you regular night fisherman. I can’t seem to catch any decent fish during daylight hours so I’m working on getting over the “chicken sh*t” factor and thinking of taking my boat out at night. I read crappiekilla’s post and will heed the advice of PFD’s and idling. Is nightfishing done at the dam – seems like a long ride at idle speeds? I am stocked on moxies and pulse R’s and since I can’t get them to work during the day, night is my only other option. I want to make my attempt at nightfishing successful and even moreso SAFE! I have headlamps and GPS locator for navigation. Beyond frustrated with the daytime action so here I am, asking for help. I know this rubs many the wrong way but spending hour after hour of no action isn’t proving to be a good learning tool. Feel free to PM me and thanks for any help.

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Is nightfishing done at the dam – seems like a long ride at idle speeds?

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From where? From Evert’s to the dam is not far at all.

To make it much safer launch from everett’s and stay in the main channel. I try to always remember to bring a spotlight with to and a fishing partner to watch for bouys, with this spring water being mild u shouldn’t have to worry and large floating debris. Good luck!

Spotlight is a must. I fish at night quite a bit and usually get a better bite. BTW we run wide open at night whether it be walleye fishing or duck hunting always with at least one spotlight if not two.

Once you decide to fish at night, you should create a check list of stuff you should have on board. I like to have redundant systems for my lights. my boat lights, my head lamps, my spot light. A good gps system will help you navigate but don’t rely on it exclusively. A cell phone is required on my boat at night and letting someone know where you are. Fishing the dam or the Y on pool 4 is the easiest night fishing I’ve come across. The dam and the resort are lit up like christmas trees. Knowing the water you are fishing during the day really helps at night. go slow until you are comfortable going faster.

Besides the pfd’s, organize your boat. Have the absolute least amount of equipment out as possible. Interior lighting – I use Optronics Fishing Black Light with a cigarette lighter plug connected to the sealed batteries from my vexilar/marcums. Headlamp also.

A lot of guys use plastics. I do a lot better on cranks.
Which pool are you on?

Get on the water before dark and pick some spots you want to try. Fish them before dark and get your presentation down so when you come back later you know exactly what you want to do and how to do it.

Many evenings I take my time getting back to the landing. There is nothing to be in a hurry for to get back there. Its a good time to kick back and get in a little BSing with the guys in the boat. One of my 1st night trips out on pool 4 years ago I was trying to see the cones coming down river and wondering if anyone ever hits one. That was about the time I hit the green cone. Yes it happens.

A BIGGY is watch for fog rolling in. Many moons ago before GPS I was on the river at night only half mile from the landing got so turned around, I found a shoreline wasn`t even sure which side of the river I was on, waited until the fog was gone ..next morning. It is difficult even to this day to totally trust my GPS but it has got me home at least. Issue is not seeing other boats out there.

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got so turned around, I found a shoreline wasn`t even sure which side of the river I was on,

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Always remember, the river flows down stream.

I said that tongue in cheek, but I’ve been in the same situation as Tom….so I guess it’s not that funny.

Fog…..I hate it more than almost any other weather.
Very, very disorienting, even in daylight.

Hey Randy, do you use the black light to light up your line? How much “spread” do you get with the Optronics light?

Record a track on your gps during the day and then go the speed you feel comfortable with on the way back in the dark using the spotlight to check for bouys. Go as slow as you need to go to be safe. From Everts to the dam you will be fine

Thanks for the tips guys. Good to hear all the advice and will put it to good use. Keeping my boat in order will be a must. I can have it looking brand new and by the end of the day it looks like a bomb went off in my boat. Too many hazards laying around for night fishing! I’m thinking for my first trip I will have a very short leash attached to Everts. Plan of attack is to pitch my stock of moxies into shallow water and hope for the best.

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Hey Randy, do you use the black light to light up your line? How much “spread” do you get with the Optronics light?

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Depending on bugs, will determine how long I run it. One for the rear deck and one for the front. Back when Trilene Solor had their original formula out, it lit up like fiber optics – cool stuff. I prefer to have the boat as dark as possible, and the light on my 1197 dimmed way down. Helps on the eyes. Having bright lights on and your eyes adjusting frequently from dark to lught causes a lot of fatigue

If you can swing it get the lake master chip. It shows the wing dams as bigh black lines on the gps. Sure is nice to help stay away from them.

Saw some mentions of fog…if you do get caught and have to anchor make sure you get off the channel, period. Barges are quieter than one might imagine.

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Saw some mentions of fog…if you do get caught and have to anchor make sure you get off the channel, period. Barges are quieter than one might imagine.

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Curmudgeon right On that is why I like to find a shoreline.

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got so turned around, I found a shoreline wasn`t even sure which side of the river I was on,

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Always remember, the river flows down stream.

I said that tongue in cheek, but I’ve been in the same situation as Tom….so I guess it’s not that funny.

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The water was low that year and the fog so thick I didn`t even know I hit shore until I felt the boat stop. It has to be one of the most intimidating times I have ever experienced.

One more important thing to do:

On your way up to the damn, clearly mark the channel boueys on your gps. (Red & Green cans)

It can make a big difference when coming back to Evert’s in the dark.

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On your way up to the damn, clearly mark the channel boueys on your gps. (Red & Green cans)

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Keeping in mind that the channel markers move from high water, barge “hits” ect.

But, by doing what Joel suggests, at least you know where they should be.

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Plan of attack is to pitch my stock of moxies into shallow water and hope for the best.

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You might want to consider dragging rather than pitching if you aren’t used to fishing in the dark. It takes a while to get used to doing everything without seeing very well and dragging is a lot easier. Like said before, dim your locator all the way down. Also, keep your headlamp off unless you are unhooking a fish or tying jigs. The more you turn on lights, the less your eyes will adjust. I think I read somewhere it takes like 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark.

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On your way up to the damn, clearly mark the channel boueys on your gps. (Red & Green cans)

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Keeping in mind that the channel markers move from high water, barge “hits” ect.

But, by doing what Joel suggests, at least you know where they should be.

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Good point BK! Never really thought of that myself.

Also a good reason to check your gps bouey locations the next time you head up to the dam. Especially if you plan on staying after night fall.

I also 2nd what John is saying above. To many lights on in the boat only make things worse when trying to fish at night. Learn to do with as little light as possible. (while remaining legal of course) Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark and you will be much better off than trying to light everything up.

What? My sonar/gps has a DAYLIGHT setting?

I have the Lowrance set to night mode 95% of the time, when it gets dark, it gets turned down to 2 (out of 10) for brightness.

I’m not sure if they (the CG) replaced the can in front of the Vermilion the other day or not. I know the barge with the crane on the front was working her way up river last Sunday. Also, there’s a red nun in front of Everts that has slid down stream a couple hundred yards. When this one gets moved back it’s right in the area that a person would turn towards the Everts dock.

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I’m not sure if they (the CG) replaced the can in front of the Vermilion the other day or not. I know the barge with the crane on the front was working her way up river last Sunday.

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We saw that tug too in the morning. It keep going and locked through to Pool 3. I am not sure if they came back and placed it but I did not see it before we left on Sunday at 5.

Hey Brian, any idea what those grey bag/floats are just up river from Everts on the Wisconside side? They are out a little ways from shore, almost like they are marking something?

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Also, there’s a red nun in front of Everts that has slid down stream a couple hundred yards. When this one gets moved back it’s right in the area that a person would turn towards the Everts dock.

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Definitely watch out for the red nun. Hitting a nun with a boat will surely result in a one way ticket to the land down under in the afterlife, even if it is a communist nun.

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Also, there’s a red nun in front of Everts that has slid down stream a couple hundred yards.

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I went to a Catholic school for the first few years my grade school education. Nuns scared the crap out of me back then and I never even saw a red one.
I sure as heck wouldn’t get anywhere near that red nun with my boat!

Never want to get too close to a red nun!

I try to stay away from the can while in my boat as well.

Alright, what’s a red nun?

Red Nun