Hello All,

Wondering if any of you have experience fishing for bass at night in Washington Lakes.

Tomorrow night is a full moon, and with this warm weather, I was thinking about trying Lk. Washington for some night time fishing.

Guess I'm just hoping to get some top-water action going - I have the hardest time catching fish in that lake during the day...

Any tips or stories are greatly appreciated.

Thanks and tight lines.

Tom
Seattle

i used to night fish north lake in federal way. that was about 10 years ago and i dont know if there is all night access anymore, they may lock the gate at night. a night with a full moon is the best, especially this time of year when its so hot. you will get the best topwater action at night, the bass strike harder and are less shy.

what area of the state are you looking to fish?? maybe if you can narrow it down we could give you better advice on lakes

We used to do it all the time in Texas, but haven't tried it here yet. But you did get me thinking.

Top water plugs,poppers,chuggers cast tight to the bank. Let set until the ripples disappear, twitch once or twice, let set again. You're trying to generate noise/disturbance. The strikes are hard, noisey and darn near heart stopping.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Now if could just figure out how to rig a runninglight on my pontoon boat.

Bart from Texas hit it on the nose. Just about the time you think nothing is out there in the dark water...WHAM!!!
I picked up a beautiful bucketmouth out at Chapman Lake fishing a popper on a flyrod. It was completely dark, except for the starlight. I couldn't see the strike, but my rod sure reacted fast! He vaulted out of the water three times and I had to land him by flashlight. Bass cruise the shoreline in the evening looking for frogs, injured fish, ducklings, etc. They are ferocious hunters. The noise thing is really the key. Random twitches and pauses are important.
If you want to raise the excitement level a bit, find a lake that has Northern Pike in it and follow the same tactics. You may want to have an extra pair of shorts with you though.
Have fun and let us know how you made out.

Bass fanatics -
In the past I have night fish bass a fair amount. A couple observations. Night fish can some what hit or miss. Awesome at times and a bust the next. Average size of those fish caught typically larger than during the day.

Found clear lakes more consistent than stained water. The nights around the full or dark of the moon were the best, though it is easier to fish on the full (less problems). Best times were from an hour after dark until 1 or 2AM and again just before dawn (fish at dusk is also good but consider that to be daytime). Also sometimes a good bite at moon rise. Best lures were spinnerbatis, buzz baits, worms/jigs and surface plugs. Best color was black followed by black. A word of caution about surface plugs - use with care. While surface action is a hoot because the stike nearly always catches you by surprise the tendency is to set the hook HARD! This can result in an unseen plug with all its trebles flying towards you - can result in some really ugly injuries.

At night always fished water that I knew well (less problems), usually had only 1 rod rig (less problems), and found spinnerbaits and buzz baits the most consistent (less problems).

Also found that steady retrieves were better than erratic - easier for the fish to track and correctly zero in on the bait; result was more solid takes.
Tight lines
Smalma

I've found that when it's really hot, and I mean 90 or above, the big boys don't get too active until around dusk and then into the night. Best chances during the day are when it's cloudy, and even better right after the sun dips behind the clouds for awhile. But, a consistent evening/nighttime offering is the good 'ol white/grey tiger-striped jitterbug made by Arbogast. (black stripes) It's got a rattle and makes a real ruckus with it's butterfly type wings that are concave torwards the head of the lure. Let it settle, then a short 2 or 3 second retrieve and pause for about 5 seconds or so, then repeat the process. Usually around the second or third progression and WHAM! Fish on! After 4 or 5 progressions it's best to reel and try again.
I agree with the previous posters about the bass cruising the shallows at night. Ducklings, birds, frogs can be easy prey...While pond fishing in Stillwater, OK. in the early evening i've seen a 2 to 3 lb bass go airborne 2' into the air to snag a small sparrow on an overhanging branch. he didn't get the bird , but it was certainly amazing to watch him try!

remember dont set the hook till you feel them not at the sound. you will jerk it away from them.