Are you tired of sweating through summer days on your favorite California lake while fending off water skiers, jet skiers, recreational boaters, and other anglers trying to compete with you for the same fishing spots? Then night fly fishing could be just the ticket for you. During hot weather, there’s plenty of fly-fishing action to be had on California’s lakes and ponds during the night.
There’s also good angling to be found on streams at night, but fishing moving water in darkness can be dangerous, so this article focuses on still waters.
An excellent reason to try fishing at night during the summer is the increased chance of catching a sizable fish on a fly, whether it is a bass, crappie, trout, or other stillwater denizen. That’s because in hot weather during the day, fish often go deep to find comfort and security, making them more difficult to catch. At night, fish typically will move higher in the water column. Granted, night fishing is more difficult to do than fishing when the sun is shining. However, the practice is becoming increasingly popular, and with a few pointers, you can make your nocturnal fishing outings productive and enjoyable.
The lake on which you choose to fish at night will affect your success and can also be a factor in your safety. Pick a lake you know how to fish when the sun is shining and that you have fished many times in the past. If you can catch a largemouth bass at high noon on your favorite lake, you can most likely catch one after darkness has fallen. And for safety’s sake, it’s important to know the location of man-made structures and other obstacles.
Fishing for bass is a common type of night fishing, and since bass seldom travel great distances, you should be able to find them at the same locations where they are found during the day. Bass also seek spots near man-made structures where baitfish swim, so docks are a great location for finding largemouth bass. Smaller fish are attracted to lighted docks, bringing larger predators in to check out the situation. Work the channels surrounding docks, because they are prime cruising lanes for bass.
Lakes that are fished heavily during the day can become excellent nighttime fishing spots. The influx of anglers may turn fish off during the day, and those same fish will be more prone to feed actively once the sun goes down, giving you access to untapped angling possibilities. Likewise, the most productive nights often occur at the end of a long, sunny day, when the fish are feeding after staying hidden from predators during the daylight hours.
Choose a lake that has access points close to the areas you intend to fish. Launch ramps with only a short run to your destination on the lake are best, for both the ease and the safety they provide. For night fishing, clear water is better than dirty or stained, because the fish can locate your fly more easily, even though bass have excellent low-light vision. Stock your fly box with water-moving patterns and noise-producing flies.
Along with bass, panfish will also often lurk in typical “day spots” during the night, and they may also at times move into shallower water. Weed and sand flats are great choices for bass and panfish, especially if the vegetation has open areas and passages. Trout, conversely, will likely be cruising for food. If you listen carefully, you may hear these fish when they’re taking insects at the surface or are in pursuit of something larger. You might even see them if there’s adequate light. Use the moon to help you, especially a full moon.
The moon’s illumination will enhance your ability to see, which at the very least creates a safety benefit. That said, many anglers are divided about the efficacy of night fishing in the moonlight. I’ve fished on both moonless nights and nights with a full moon and have found there are few differences in terms of the number of fish caught. However, be advised: the night atmosphere is so different, the pattern of light and shadows so varied, that you may lose your bearings in the moonlight.
Thankfully, however, the brilliance of a full moon lights up calm waters so that you sometimes can actually spot fish in the shadows in the water. Cast a fly into those shadows, and don’t be too surprised if you haul in a lunker. And although during nights with a new moon there obviously isn’t much light, fish may come up in the darkness to sample a fly.
A key lesson to learn when fishing at night is to pay attention to the moon’s reflection on the water’s surface. On bright, moonlit nights, I like to fish spots where shadows are dense. On other nights, sidle up to your favorite nighttime spot and cast a fly. What happens then may exceed your expectations.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do not venture out at night on unfamiliar water. In addition to knowing the location of natural and man-made obstructions, you should be familiar with the shoreline surroundings and skyline so that you can find your way back to the landing from which you departed. It’s easy to get lost on the water at night. The shoreline all looks much the same at night, and many familiar landmarks that you can see during the day are hard to make out after it gets dark.
Likewise, you need to avoid being an obstacle to others. Make sure your boat’s running lights are visible. And because night vision is vitally important, make sure that any source of illumination you use has a red filter for preserving the vision of eyes that have become accustomed to the dark.
If you’re wade-fishing rather than using a boat, wade quietly. Anytime you set foot in the water when night fishing, you indicate your whereabouts to fish. Splashing into the water hurriedly to get to a spot that you know holds lots of fish will likely drive fish to different holding areas.
Also, if you wade, move slowly and cautiously. You likely won’t be able to see changes in the slope and character of a lake’s bottom. Many lakes are bounded by a shallow, wadeable shelf that descends quickly into deeper water. A wading staff used as a probe can help you find this dropoff, and can also help you find changes other impediments. Your wisest tack, however, might be to wade as little as possible.
If there’s nighttime motor-boating occurring in an area you want to fish from a float tube or pontoon boat, you’d be wiser staying off the water. Unless you somehow illuminate yourself, you’ll be invisible to boaters.
Do everything possible to minimize potential problems. An organized boat is a must. Take along only the minimum tackle you will actually need for night fishing and have a place for everything where it is out of the way, but where you will be able to get it in the dark should the need arise. Make it a point to put away all rods, reels, tackle, and accessories that are not being used.
Before you go fishing at night, improve your feel for your casting stroke by practicing casting during the day and when it’s dark. The darker the night, the more you’ll need to rely on that feel to place the fly where you want it to go.
When preparing for your night-fishing trip, check the weather. You don’t want to get caught in rain or a heavy fog, when visibility is even more limited. You also need to make sure that your boat is in good working order.
In the Still of the Night
There’s no telling how many great songs have been inspired by the nocturnal world. There’s something about the rhythm of the night that evokes an aura of expectation and excitement The cooler air, lower temperatures, and absence of day traffic make a nighttime fishing trip an altogether different thrill. If you enjoy new experiences, give night fishing a try, but remember always to be careful.
If You Go…
Not all waters are open to night fishing. Wherever you go, be sure to check the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=117095&inline. Most waters in Mono County, for example, are closed to fishing at night. And you can fish at night in Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen, and Tehama Counties, but not for trout.
One prime night-fishing destination for California fly fishers is Clear Lake, north of San Francisco. Clear Lake has been designated by professional bass-fishing organizations as America’s number-one bass-fishing lake, and I have had many enjoyable experiences when angling for both bass and crappies there. The entrance to Clear Lake State Park is 3.5 miles northeast of Kelseyville on Soda Bay Road. Although the largemouth bass fishery is what has made Clear Lake famous in fishing circles, crappie fishing there can be good in the spring, winter, and fall.
— Joe Zentner
