Night fishing

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seabass86
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2013/07/01 22:53:40 (permalink)

Night fishing

Planning on doing some night fishing this summer from the boat and I'm a little unsure of the regulations and tactics. I've bought two night blaster floating fishing lights. Planned on doing some jigging underneath those. Besides that I'm clueless. Someone told me I would need green and red marker lights. Any specific placement? Any tips guys I'll greatly appreciate. Thanks again
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    Eman89so
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/01 23:04:08 (permalink)
    green and red out the front. white light out the back, should already be hookups on your boat
    #2
    Chris Johnson
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/01 23:14:09 (permalink)

    A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't.
    ~Tom Waits



    #3
    slabdaddy
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/01 23:14:40 (permalink)
    Throw the lights in the water about an hour before full dark. Be anchored down somewhere that you suspect the fish to frequent. Anchor fore and aft so you don't swing. Fish the edges of the light, not right in the beam. You'll find the bigger ones closer to the bottom, usually. If you don't have a lot of baitfish under the lights within the first hour after full dark, MOVE. Small jigging spoons tipped with 1" chartruese Gulp Alive Minnows  slays crappie. I think that about covers it. Oh yeah, you don't need your red/green light on unless you are moving, but the white one in the back has to be on. Wear long sleeves and bring bug spray. Long sleeves/pants keep the bugs off of you. There will be bugs. Lots of bugs. :)
     

    “If you're in trouble, or hurt or in need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.”
    John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
    #4
    crappiefisher
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/02 11:25:16 (permalink)
      The fish attracting lights use to be unlawful in Pa. Not sure if they ever passed it to be legal or not for Pa.
     
    Thought maybe it passed awhile back but not %100000 sure
     
    crappy
    #5
    slabdaddy
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/02 12:09:35 (permalink)
    It's legal. No problems.

    “If you're in trouble, or hurt or in need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.”
    John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
    #6
    JEB
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/03 15:17:03 (permalink)
    Bring a head lamp, much easier than a flashlight. I like the ones that have the red light option the best.
    #7
    seabass86
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/03 17:01:51 (permalink)
    Thanks for the great info guys. Any clue what fish to be attracted of course that all depends what place but to just give me an idea
    #8
    slabdaddy
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/03 20:41:40 (permalink)
    All I use mine for is crappie, but I've called in a school of walleye at Lock 9 on the Allegheny once. That same night a 4ft gar came in. I tied on a J-9 rapala and it grabbed it. Unfortunately, it spit out the hook. Also, muskies tend to come in after the crappie.

    “If you're in trouble, or hurt or in need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.”
    John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
    #9
    Porktown
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/26 16:10:01 (permalink)
    Slabdaddy -
     
    Do you sink your lights down, or have them at the surface?  Anchored so they don't move?  Also, do you keep them away from your boat?  My father in law picked one up, and looking to give it a shot.  We held off using at Arthur, since the alewives came around on their own at night during their spawn...  Now that they are done with their business, we figured it would be a good time to give it a shot.  Do the fish usually end up close to the light, or higher & lower, or different each time?  Are they good in the Summer, or do you have better luck in Spring and Fall?  I'm guessing to have some slip bobbers handy?
     
    I've read to look for plankton in the water while it is still light, and look for structure around there that might hold baitfish.  Then set up shop around there.
     
    Thanks in advance.
     
    #10
    davef
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/26 16:57:12 (permalink)
    I've caught walleyes at night on Yough Dam under a light and all were at what appeared to be the edge of the lighted area.  I was throwing deep thundersticks off rock points.  There were a ton of shad/herrring ? circling the lighted area.
     
    I've also used them for crappie on Lake Somerset which is pretty dirty water.  For the crappie there I caught most right under the light but some at the edgs also.  For the crappies I just use twister tails.  Sometimes I use 2 at a time and just jig them like when ice fishing.
     
    A headlight does help.  I use one of the Optronic underwater lights and that helps keep the bugs away.  If I'm by myself I fish up front and only keep the white boat light on.  If under power the front light also must be on.
     
    I haven't tried it but on a fairly calm night if you don't know where the fish are I've often thought about just letting the wind or current move the boat to search for active fish.  Last night was slow for crappies on Lake Somerset but as soon as the moon came up it died.  I quit fishing around 11:00
    post edited by davef - 2013/07/26 21:15:25
    #11
    slabdaddy
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/26 19:43:48 (permalink)
    Porktown, pick a likely place for baitfish. Anchor fore and aft. My light sinks. I drop it right off the side of the boat, about 3-5 ft down. Plankton will make the water cloudy when it comes in. Next will be the baitfish. Smaller crappies will come in closer to the light. Big ones stay low and on the edges. Use it all summer long. Love it. Won't night fish without it.

    “If you're in trouble, or hurt or in need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.”
    John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
    #12
    wirenut45
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/28 08:43:06 (permalink)
    slabdaddy, what brand lite do you have? i,ve tried the floaters ,n, din,t have much luck. t.y.
    #13
    slabdaddy
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/28 12:13:05 (permalink)
    I don't remember the name, but I know that they don't make it any more. The company went out of business. However, I found these on Ebay and they are almost exactly like mine. Mine has 192 green LED bulbs. This one has 180. Just paste this item number into the Ebay search box: 181181287930

    “If you're in trouble, or hurt or in need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.”
    John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
    #14
    wirenut45
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/29 09:02:57 (permalink)
    slab, o.k. thanks
    #15
    slabfinder
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/29 09:47:38 (permalink)
    Alright some shed some light on this I have a 14 ft powerboat with a stern light? Do I need any additional lights to legal?
    #16
    woodnickle
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    Re:Night fishing 2013/07/29 09:57:02 (permalink)
    Night Operation & Lights
    Powerboat < 12 meters... 1, 2 or 3.........7 meters = 23'
    12 meters = 39’4"
    20 meters = 65’6"
    < = less than

    post edited by Mikastorm - 2013/07/29 10:16:24

    #17
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