Favorite way to fish bass? My favorite way is to fish them at night. The more and more I fish, I find myself believing you can catch bigger and more numbers of fish, after the sun goes down.
I have forgotten, how much fun it is, to take out a small flat bottom boat, and a little motor, fishing for bass at night. You are the only boat on the lake, with the moonlight, and great friends. Throw in some big bass, and and it becomes addicting rather fast.
The bite most of the time is unmistakeable, others, is just a small tick, or more weight than normal. This is where a high quality graphite rod like a St. Croix does wonders for you. We have been using 6’6"-7′ St.Croix Legend Tournament Bass rods, in medium to medium heavy. Spooled up with 20 lbs test pink fireline. If you haven’t tried the new pink fireline, I would give it a shot, especially for night fishing. You can really see it great!
Above is Steve Lepic with his biggest bass to date, a 5.5 largemouth. Nice fish Steve!!
We have been targeting wood structure, any wood we can find, holds bass. Especially wood in eight feet of water.
We are using 1/16 BFT jigs, and ringworms, or texas rigging big ten inch powerworms. Casting them into the structure, banging them off the wood, and fishing them back extremely slow. It seems to us, in order to catch the big females, you must use at least a ten inch worm. I am really going to recommend to people this year, to try BIG baits. They work, and work well. I believe the bigger females will watch a five inch bait go by and not even think twice about it. When they see a ten inch, they think energy used/reward ratio. One big meal is easier to eat than five small ones. Give big baits a try this year! I was even throwing musky plastics.. On more thing I would like to mention, this type of fishing must be done very very quietly. Complete silence, is a must in the boat, especially when you are right over the fish.
Here is Andy with a bass that went six pounds. All of these fished were released. The bite is on guys here in Iowa!! Now is the best time to be out, especially out at night, and away from the crowds. I took my small flat bottom, that way, I didn’t have to worry about dinging anything up in the dark. It worked perfect.
Good luck, and we’ll see you on the water!
Thanks for the report and pics Luke. Sounds like alot of fun.
Thanks, Bill
Hey Luke! What do you have for water temps down there?
Those are nice fish, even for bass!
Here is one of those ugly fish you like..
Chris- I don’t have a temp gauge/sonar on my little boat, just the trusty LX-5
But, I know it is around 45-50, depending on which arm you are fishing in the lake. The warmer the better for me.
It is suppose to be in the 70’s all week. I can’t wait for the night trolling with the buzzbaits!!
Nice report Luke!
…but….
Way to go guys.I have really enjoyed all your reports from this spring.
Ryan Hale
Nice report Luke. Your reports are always very good!!!!
GREAT REPORT LUKE!!
Nice report again Luke. You’re doing a great job bud!
Brian Brian Brian…
I like it, because you can see it better at night!
Great report and fish!!
Nice report Luke
I gotta like you thoughts on big baits, but kinda reminds me of the old addage about what they won’t do for 10 inches
Keep ’em coming
dave
And that is why I love visiting my in-laws in Iowa. OK, one of the reasons
.
At least for me in Iowa, Farm pond big bass.
Well done luke on the lake you were on
Derek
Say Whaaaaaat? trolling buzzbaits….and let me guess, with pink Fireline
Just kiddin ya Luke, very well done on those Hawgz 
I night fish for bass myself, but I always waited til the summer months, now you have me heading out tonight!
Darrin
Luke,
Did you say night BuzzBaiting??????? NOW that got my attention. Keep those reports coming. 
Nice report.
Jack..
How did you do Darrin??
Tried the night buzzbaiting tonight Jack- didn’t work out so well. The water warmed up a bunch lately- 62 in the bays. My perfect temp for night time is 65- we are supposed to be warm tomorrow- but then next week, lows in the 30’s-40’s…Could get interesting..
I didn’t go
Darrin