When it comes to fishing, the tug on the other end of that line can be a rush like no other.

It’s also a great way to find some much-needed solitude.

But, maybe you want to take the challenge of fishing to a whole new level and of solitude?

Well, then there’s night fishing.

Night fishing can be a great way to get away from the crowds and find and even more peaceful setting than daytime fishing offers.

And, what better freshwater species to night fish for than America’s most popular freshwater species… bass!

Night fishing for bass can be difficult for inexperienced and beginner anglers. Let’s cover several tips to help you make the most of your night fishing trips for bass.  

Bring The Right Equipment 

Bass can be a challenging fish to catch, and especially at night. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you bring the right fishing tools when you head out for a night fishing trip.

Get a good-quality fishing rod and reel. Bass are known for being strong fighters, so you’ll need a rod to handle their weight and power. 

Since you’ll be fishing in low light conditions, you’ll want a reel with a smooth drag system to avoid any line breaks.

A baitcasting reel can be a good option for night fishing, as it will give you more accuracy when casting. Spinning reels can also be used, but your casting accuracy may be decreased.

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It may seem obvious, but lighting is a must for doing bass night fighting. For starters, a high-quality rechargeable flashlight is essential for seeing your lure and line and spotting any fish that may be lurking in the shadows. Another good lighting option is a headlamp as it frees up your hands and allows you to move around more easily. 

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There are a few other helpful tools you can take on your night fishing adventure. A pair of pliers or sharp utility knives is another must-have, as they come in handy for removing hooks from fish mouths and cutting lines.

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Pick An Optimal Fishing Spot 

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of reeling in a big one under the stars. However, finding the right spot to fish at night can also be challenging. Here are a few tips to help you choose an optimal fishing spot when night fishing for bass:

• Look for areas with lots of structure, such as docks, piers, and submerged logs or rocks. Bass love to hide in these areas.
• Scout for areas with plenty of baitfish. Bass are predators, so they’ll be inclined to spend time in areas where there’s plenty of food.
• Avoid locations with high boat traffic, as the noise can scare fish away.
• In windy conditions, bass may chase baitfish into calmer, protected areas. However always use extreme caution if fishing in windy conditions from a boat, especially in the dark. If there are high winds, it may be best to stay home.

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Choose The Right Light 

Suppose you want to increase your chances of success when night fishing for bass. It’s essential to pick the appropriate light device. Many anglers use a powerful spotlight to illuminate the water, but this can have a negative effect on your catch rate. The bright light can scare off fish, making it difficult to see your line. 

A better option is to use a dim red light. This will allow you to see just enough to keep track of your line without disturbing the fish.

You can also try using a black lights or night fishing LEDs for your boat, which will cause your lure as well as monofilament line to glow in the dark, helping you attract fish without a bright light.

Whichever light you choose, make sure you keep it on a low illumination setting, so as not to scare away the fish. 

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Fish Under The “Right” Weather Conditions 

Night fishing for bass can be incredibly productive if the conditions are right.

Fish are notoriously sensitive to changes in barometric pressure. They tend to bite best when the pressure is falling. So, just before a front moves through can really get the fish feeding.

Stable barometric pressure can also produce good results, while high barometric pressure is less desirable.

High winds can create waves that make it challenging to keep your boat stable. Low light/darkness compounds the risk. So, if there are high winds, consider staying at home.

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Use The Correct Kind Of Lure 

When it comes to night fishing for bass, it’s essential to use the right kind of lure. Of course, live bait like shad are always a good option.

Artificial lures that mimic the appearance and movement of small fish or insects can be effective as well.  

One type of lure that can be particularly effective for night fishing is a jigging spoon. Jigging spoons are designed for swimming in a jerky motion that imitates the movements of a wounded baitfish.

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Another good option is a swimming minnow lure, which can be worked similarly to create a lifelike presentation. 

Darker lures can create a more defined outline against the light of a night sky. Also, lures with glitter or reflective material can be beneficial in giving a lure a life-like reflection from a moonlit sky.

Large plastic worms and buzz baits can also be a good choice for night fishing as well.

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Stay Focused 

With the darkness of the night adding another challenging component to bass fishing, it’s a must to always have a good head on your shoulders. So, avoid distractions and stay focused and safe from the minute the boat goes in the water until you get home.

Don’t let your mind wander while you’re waiting for that next bite. Keep a laser-target focus on your line to spot signs that a bass has taken bait/lure so you can put a hook N1!

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Final Thoughts On Nighttime Bass Fishing 

Night fishing for bass can be a great way to catch big bass. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of success.

Fishing is also about learning, so be sure to check with anglers in your area to get any tips you can regarding fishing local waters. Advice from locals can be invaluable and save you tons of time figuring out what someone with experience in that area may be able to tell you.

We hope you put a hook N1!  

If you’re just getting started lake fishing, a rod and reel, line, weights and hooks are a must.

But, then what? After all, fishing is fun, but catching fish is even better!

Let’s cover some things you’ll want to consider and be aware of as you choose the best bait for your next lake fishing adventure!

• Types of Bait
• ID your target fish
• Location, location, location
• Weather
• Seasons
• Check state fishing regulations

Knowing some key factors is important to setting yourself up for the best chance possible to put a hook N1…

1. Know The Different Types Of Bait

Generally, baits for freshwater fish are classified into two groups, these are:

• Live Baits

Some anglers prefer live baits over artificial ones because they’re free (if you can catch your own) and contain the smell and texture that most freshwater fish species are already familiar with. Some ordinary, cheap, and easy-to-find live baits are worms, leeches, grubs, and mealworms.

These live baits may include clams and mussels, crayfish, eels, insects (caterpillars, crickets, and bugs), shad and other types of minnows.

• Artificial Baits

Artificial baits are ideal for catching bigger fish and are safer to use. Some of the standard artificial baits are crankbaits, jigs, flies, and spoons.

You may also use unique lures and tubes, such as abalone shell types. You may explore more types of artificial lures at a variety of websites, like https://www.meltontackle.com/ and others.

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2. Identify The Fish You’re Planning To Catch

Before you grab your fishing rod and gear and head to the lake, you need to determine what type of fish you will be targeting, as this will help determine the main type of live bait or lure to use.

Here are some of the common freshwater fish types and the lures and baits they are typically attracted to:

Walleye

Walleye will likely be attracted by shiner and flathead minnows. For a larger catch, you may use 4 to 6-inch minnows.

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Bluegill

Bluegill will feast on a variety of live baits, such as worms, crickets, grasshoppers, meal worms or night crawlers. When baiting the hook, you may want to consider covering the entire hook with the bait’s body.

Even pieces of bread, rolled up into balls and put on a hook can entice bluegill to bite.

Artificial lures like a beetle spin, rooster tail, or (if you’re fly fishing) artificial flies can all be effective for catching bluegill.

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Trout

Trout preys on both live and artificial baits. Because of this, you may use a crayfish, worms, night crawlers salmon eggs, and artificial lures.

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Catfish

There are many types of catfish. But, typically, catfish will eat many different things they can find in the water, including nightcrawlers, leeches, dead and live minnows, and even leftover food (they’ll even bite your hand!) Baits that stink are attractive to many catfish, including flatheads.

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Bass

Your can be very successful at bass fishing using both live and artificial baits.

Largemouth bass prefer shad, shiners, and minnows. If you use artificial baits, you may need to pick those resembling live baits that bass feed on.

Plastic worms, swim baits and other soft baits, as well as crankbaits are a some top choices of bass fisherman.

You may also use bladed baits like spinner baits and buzz baits, jigs, and topwater lures for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.

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Crappie

Minnows, insects, and crayfish are all baits that a crappie will eat. In some cases, anglers will add a live bait to a jig for a dual presentation to get a crappie to strike. They will even feed on other immature game fish like walleye, bluegill, pike, etc.

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Pike

This fish feeds on baits with a strong smell, such as chubs, alewives, and smelt. They will often strike dead baits as well.

Salmon

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3. Consider The Location

Freshwater fish, especially the larger ones, are often attracted to artificial baits. In addition, the deeper the location is, the more likely a fish will be after artificial bait.

If you’re after deep-water bass and similar fish, you may consider using baits ideal for drop shots, such as swimbaits. An excellent alternative live bait for this option is a worm.

You may opt to compact jigs, squarebill crankbaits, and spinnerbaits for shallow lake areas. On the other hand, panfish and worms are the natural baits for this space.

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4. Think About The Weather

Weather affects your bait selection because of the barometric pressure associated with it.

Typically, hotter weather is the perfect time for freshwater fish to hunt for food. Because of this, you may need to use fast-running artificial baits.

On the other hand, fish tend to be sluggish during cooler weather, so you may prefer slow-running jigs and crankbaits.

However, an exemption to this generalization is the bass population. In many cases, bass like to move and feed when there’s an approaching storm. Because of this, you may consider the baits you can aggressively use during this time.

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5. Consider The Season

Worms may work any time of the year, but this isn’t always the case for other baits.

Different seasons may require various types of bait. For example, spinnerbaits work well during the morning and the evening in the summertime.

Crankbaits, on the other hand, are suitable for deep-water summertime fishing. In the Springtime, finesse worms and suspended crankbaits may provide better resulsts. You may also combine lures and baits with jig baits and crayfish.

Many freshwater fish swim in shallower water during autumn. Because of this, you may need to use shallow-running crankbaits.

The ideal live baits for this season are minnows, bluegills, and shad. Winter fishing could be challenging because of the inclement weather.

In addition, live baits can be harder to find during this season. Many anglers will use shad raps and hair jigs during this time of the year.

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6. Check The State’s Fishing Regulations

Every state has different fishing regulations when it comes to baits.

Most states identify worms, vegetable materials, and artificial baits as legal baits. However, some states don’t allow the use of some baits. For example, in California, anglers are prohibited from using bluegills as baits. Live fish, shrimps, frogs, and leeches aren’t allowed in Idaho.

To avoid using illegal baits in your state, you may need to be familiar with your state’s fishing regulations. In most cases, you’ll find rules regarding this matter on the Fisheries and Wildlife Department’s website of the lake you plan to fish.

Generally, these rules may also contain a list of legal and illegal baits and the legitimate ways of fishing and storing baitfish.

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Closing Thoughts on Best Baits For Lake Fishing

Lakes are some of the best spots for freshwater fishing. They’re home to some of the best freshwater fish, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, blue catfish, and Northern pike.

However, for the best chance for fishing success, anglers need to do their homework and be familiar with the above sections before wetting a line.

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Of course, for more ideas of what baits are ideal for a particular fish, lake depth, and time, it’s always a good idea to ask local and seasoned anglers about their fishing hacks.

Additionally, fishing forums and groups can also provide helpful information about current angling practices, including the recent and cost-effective lures and baits you may need in a particular body of water

Happy fishing and we hope you put a hook N1!