Night Fishing for Bass: Tips, Gear, and Best Lures
Quick Reference: Night Fishing for Bass
- Best season: high summer, when warm evening water makes fish sluggish and less skittish.
- Why it works: bass never stop feeding, and darkness gives them an ambush advantage.
- Safety first: running lights, a loud horn or air can, a bright flashlight, known water, and a fishing buddy.
- Gear: a red headlamp, used only to tie knots, change a lure, or release a fish, never on the water.
- Lures: skip the glow. Use white to start, dark colors deep, and baits that ride high in the water.
- Plan by the Moon: the Almanac Fishing Calendar marks the best days to fish for your area.
There are real benefits to night fishing for bass, especially through the summer months. Warm water in the evening hours makes fish sluggish, so they are less skittish and more inclined to take your bait. Another advantage to fishing at night is that you usually have the water all to yourself, and after dark in high summer is often the only time that is possible. Fishing at night may seem intimidating if you have never done it, but it is simple and easy once you get going. Ahead, you will find expert tips from angler Jerry Audet, who shares the safety basics along with a few tricks for the best success after dark.
Why Go Fishing At Night?
Many anglers are surprised to learn that bass can be caught easily at night, but the truth is that bass really never stop feeding, provided water temperatures are warm enough for their metabolism. They may be more or less aggressive depending on a range of factors, but they are always looking for a meal, especially once the Sun goes down.
Bass have keen senses that reach well beyond vision, and the night gives them an ambush advantage, so they are more inclined to do their own fishing in the dark. Even in daylight, bass do not rely on sight as their primary sense. Instead, they pick up vibrations and sounds to zero in on their prey, and they save their eyes for the very end of the hunt. That makes them fine nocturnal hunters, because they do not have to see a meal to chase it down.
Safety Is Important
Safety matters, especially if you are in a kayak or a boat. Carry night fishing lights, called running lights, a loud horn or air can in case of an emergency, and a very bright light you can flash at a boater who may not be paying attention. Fish water that you know well so you do not get turned around. Do not explore at night, and save that for during the day. Always go out with a fishing buddy, too. Night fishing is simple and easy once you settle into it, but if you are nervous, start by fishing from shore, which is far less complicated.
- Before you pick a night, check the Almanac Fishing Calendar for the best days to fish in your area.
- The Best Days Calendar ties your outing to the phase of the Moon, the same rhythm that pulls bass into the shallows after dark.
Any Special Gear?
No special gear is needed to fish at night, except a headlamp. Do not use it while you are fishing, only when you need to change a lure, tie a knot, or release a fish. Keep the light off the water, since it can spook fish. Jerry Audet likes a red headlamp for that reason. A red beam helps preserve your night vision, while white lights are blinding once your eyes adjust to the dark.
How About Lures And Bait?
As far as lures go, many anglers think a glowing lure is important so the bass can see it. That simply is not true, and a glow may even act as a deterrent because it looks unnatural. Color matters a lot less at night, since bass track your lure by sound and vibration rather than sight.
Fish actually have an easier time seeing a dark colored lure at night, because the contrast with dark water or sky is easier for them to detect. The best nighttime colors vary based on what you are doing, how dark the night is, and how deep your lure rides. The higher up in the water column your lure sits, the lighter its belly should be. This simulates nature.
Most fish and frogs have white bellies, and a bass is usually looking up at your lure from beneath it. If you are mid-column or down deep, reach for a dark green, black, or purple lure. If you are just starting out at night, though, white is a perfectly fine color. It is easier for you to see and work with, in and out of the water, and it will catch bass the vast majority of the time, day and night.
At night, use lures that ride high in the water. Fish slide into the shallows after dark looking for food, because they are less afraid of being spotted by predators, and working those skinny waters means you are more likely to get a snag. A lure that stays near the surface really helps prevent that.
Something that throws a wake on the surface really draws a fish’s attention after dark. Some of the best night fishing lures include wake baits and slow-sink weightless soft-plastics, usually jerk-bait style, but subtle poppers, walk-the-dog lures, and shallow-running crank baits all work great. Chances are your favorite daytime lure will work great at night too. It is just up to you to give it a shot.
Where To Fish After Dark
Stick to water you already know in daylight, then let the bass tell you where to cast. After sundown they move shallow and tuck against structure: weed edges, dock pilings, rocky points, and the seams where moving water meets still water. Fan your casts along those edges and work them slowly, since the fish are hunting by feel and a steady, noisy retrieve gives them something to home in on.
Local rules and access change from state to state, so it is worth a quick read before you head out after dark. Many state wildlife agencies publish their freshwater fishing regulations online, such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual fishing guide, which covers licenses, limits, and where night fishing is allowed. Confirm your own state’s rules, then build the trip around a good night. If you would rather chase saltwater fish, our guide on how to catch striped bass from shore covers another after-dark favorite.
Good luck night fishing.
Night Fishing: Frequently Asked Questions
Is night fishing for bass really worth it?
Yes, especially in summer. Warm evening water makes bass sluggish and less skittish, so they take a bait more readily, and you usually have the water to yourself. Bass never stop feeding when water temperatures are warm enough, and darkness gives them an ambush advantage, so they hunt actively after the Sun goes down.
What gear do I need to go night fishing?
Less than you might think. A headlamp is the one extra, used only to change a lure, tie a knot, or release a fish, never aimed at the water. A red beam is better than white because it preserves your night vision. In a boat or kayak, add running lights, a loud horn or air can, and a bright flashlight to signal other boaters.
What color lure is best for night fishing?
Skip the glowing lures, which can look unnatural and put fish off. Bass track a lure by sound and vibration, so dark colors like black, green, or purple show better contrast against the water when fished mid-column or deep. Up near the surface, a lighter belly mimics a frog or baitfish. If you are new to it, white is easy to see and catches bass day or night.
Is night fishing safe?
It is, with a little planning. Fish water you know well, go out with a buddy, and avoid exploring new spots after dark. In a boat or kayak, carry running lights, a loud horn or air can, and a very bright light to flash at other boaters. If you are nervous, start by fishing from shore, which is far simpler than working from a boat at night.
When is the best night to go fishing?
Pick a warm summer night and check the Farmers’ Almanac Fishing Calendar and Best Days Calendar, which mark the best days to fish by the Moon for your area. Bass slide into the shallows after dark, and timing your trip to a favorable Moon phase stacks the odds in your favor alongside good water and the right lure.
What kind of lures work best after dark?
Use lures that ride high in the water so you snag less in the shallows where fish feed at night. Wake baits and slow-sink weightless soft-plastics, usually jerk-bait style, are among the best, and subtle poppers, walk-the-dog lures, and shallow-running crank baits all work too. A bait that throws a wake on the surface draws extra attention in the dark.
Join The Discussion
Have you ever been fishing at night? Did you have much success? Share your experience with your community here in the comments below.
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Jerry Audet
Jerry Audet is a writer, photographer, and lifelong outdoorsman currently residing in Massachusetts. He is well known in the angling world for his dedication to shore-based striped bass fishing and back-country trout and bass fishing. Jerry is the managing editor of Surfcasters Journal. He also writes for Anglers Journal, Field and Stream, and Strung.
- Jerry Audet
Loads of Nice information. Right here ! FR FR