Bass Fishing after dark

[Joe C]

s on lures have sessions well after dark




Bass fishing is meant to be very effective at Dusk, and some say it's all over when the light has gone.
I often read, other's catch them on lures well after dark.

I would like to hear your views on this.

Reg,

Joe.

[JimH]

Probably the best time to target them - especially if you're looking for a bigger fish

[KERRY1]

Personally, I prefer fishing for Bass when it's dark, they feed more at this time and therefore you stand a slightly better chance of catching one, espicially the bigger ones compared to during the day when it's brighter. Bait fishing at night is very effective but equally plugging/lure fishing can be too. Surface poppers/plugs can be very good at night, the noise of the lure or plug splashing on top of the water creating noise and commotion attracts bass to your lure and hopefully they will come up and attack it. Bass feeding at night are often more aggressive. If there is a bright moon shining on the water or just when the light is fading, this can be a great time to use the lures, the reflection can attract the fish to your lure in this instance. Jointed lures can be very good too at night as well as the plugs that create a rattle when being worked in the water, again because the fish can hear the noise you are causing when working your lure and they will think it's either injured prey or bait fish and will hopefully come up and hit it.

[carp angler]

i would guess fishing for bass is easy, just set up your rigs or lures and away ya go. . .but the problem i have is knowing where the fish are. i think they hide when i come to catch them lol

dawn and dusk seems to be the order of the day tho

[saving private brian]

i bought me self a surface popper last week and was told i cudnt use them at nite.now after reading this topic it seems u can.id say a moon lite nite wud be good for those poppers 2/am i correct

[shamieboy]

i would guess fishing for Bass is easy, just set up your rigs or lures and away ya go. . .but the problem i have is knowing where the fish are. i think they hide when i come to catch them lol

dawn anusk seems to be the order of the day tho

d d
spot on carp angler,no mystery about it.....its all about where and when...and for what its worth, most of my big fish have come in daylight....4 specimen fish in daylight(a few years ago now) none at night....all fell to plugs, all c+r...and i would say 80% of my fishing is night time.

[carp angler]

plugs and lures work at all times of day and nite. . .again, the fish need to be there for ya to catch them. . .

[Danshane]

Gave it a couple of hours in Malahide tonight after dusk/dark.
No luck but very enjoyable. I found you tend to pay more attention to your lure in the dark.

A seal pup nearly frightening the life out of me as I was walking along the waters edge. He was on the sand and decided to run when he saw me.
He spent the next ten minutes looking at me from about 30 ft .

[Joe C]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I have been thrashing a mark in all conditions with fly and lure over the past few months -not much success. On the last full moon I just brought
the fly-rod and started fishing from 20.00. At around 21.10, I hooked something small and lost it, then after about ten minutes or so, a decent fish on, this fish was giving a fair tug on the rod and stripping some line - but to my frustration the tippet snapped -probably because it was only 6lb Berkly. I fished on for for 45 mins to no avail, and the fact that I didn't get to see what was on the end of the line, tormented me for a few days after. It might have been a Bass, or maybe a Pollock, I will never know.

I went back the following two nights and stayed on much longer, hoping the fish were still there. No joy, this made me think that they go off the feed, and would I be wasting my time.I have only ever caught one Bass, about five years ago - while out checking my first ever mark. I was driving along the east coast to different spots when I got a tip-off, the previous night one chap had landed 3 Bass, so I decided to check this mark out, not knowing the what way the tide was, I did however, bring a rod, thinking 1 in a million chance - but was I lucky, 1st and only to date. 8lb.1 caught on a chug bug.This fish was witnessed by my young son, as we let her slip very gently back on her way - that was the best part. I sometimes wonder, has this fish ever been caught again.

[carp angler]

at least ya have caught one,
myself, captaink and another mate went to wexford after reading about the bass being caught, all we got were 20 doggies between 3 of us. . .obviously the fish got a tip off that i was coming down. . . .and they all went to the next beach, or maybe the pub, who knows lol