by Will Stolski |
Flambeau's innovative tackle storage allows you to stay organized when the sun goes down and the bite heats up.
Few bass fishing techniques are more fun than top-water baits. Heck, I’ve even been guilty of hitting the water and only throwing top water when I know others might work better . . . It’s just that much fun.
Now, imagine all the excitement of the top-water game exponentially amplified. “How?” you may ask . . . but, just wait until the sun goes down. One of the most fun ways to fish for bass is by targeting them at night - not only is it a complete riot, it can also be extremely effective as well.
Some of my earliest memories of bass fishing involved a small paddleboat and my favorite buzzbait. I’d wait anxiously for the sun to set so I could quietly comb shallow-water pockets, where big largemouth were chasing baitfish. The moment I caught my first night fish I was hooked, both literally and figuratively. In the dark, the playing field is leveled in a sense as you have to rely on feel and your ears for the “blow up” of a bite.
I have since upgraded from the small paddleboat of my younger years to a much fancier bass boat, but my night fishing techniques have not changed. Stealth is important, so I rely on using an outboard motor as little as possible. When pulling up to a spot, I use the trolling motor only to position the boat. Once situated, an anchor line is dropped and the fun begins. Oftentimes I’ll fish a spot thoroughly (20 to 30 minutes) before pulling the anchor and moving. It’s vital to get as much out of each anchor set as possible.
Night fishing is certainly not limited to fishing from a boat. Do you a favorite bank spot? Give it a shot after dark.
Some of the best night-time fishing spots are the ones that produce during the daylight as well. Bass will still roam the same kind of structure as their day-time haunts but will usually push up a bit shallower. I prefer to fish shallow-water spots with some kind of natural vegetation like reeds, lily pads or submerged brush.
The best top water baits for after-dark activities make a racket on the surface. Buzzbaits, poppers, and prop-style baits are all great options for enticing big bucketmouths to bite, as they all make a good deal of noise and cause some kind of water displacement.
Generally, I start out with a buzzbait (dark in color) and will move on to baits that I can pause and work slower if I can’t trigger a strike with the quick moving buzzbait.
With night fishing, organization is major key to success on the water. Having your baits properly organized ultimately results in more time spent fishing and (hopefully) more fish in the boat.
For my buzzbait organization, I rely on the Flambeau Large Big Mouth Spinnerbait Box. Featuring four compartments, this box can hold a pile of buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. The best part is that the box keeps baits free of tangles and neatly organized. On top of that, the three anti-corrosion Zerust dividers protect your baits (or investments as I like to call them) from rust and corrosion.
Zerust-infused plastics emit an odorless, harmless vapor in a contained area to naturally form a protective layer around exposed, clean metl surfaces to prevent oxidation-reduction and stop rust and corrosion. If you’re like me, odds are you already spend a lot on tackle, so having high quality storage is essential.
As far as the other top-water baits go, I like to use the Flambeau Ultimate Tuff Tainer in the 4005 size. This box provides up to 16 different compartments and can be tailored to your own specs with 11 Zerust dividers.
These two boxes hold all of the options I could ever need for late-night bassin’ and eliminates a lot of hassle when trying to find a specific bait in the dark.
The next time you’re hankering for some big bass blowups, wait until the sun fades away. You won’t regret it.