Night Fishing Tips — How to Fish After Dark

There's something primal about fishing after dark. The water is calm, the crowds are gone, and the fish — especially the big ones — feed more aggressively at night than any other time. Night fishing is one of the best-kept secrets in freshwater and saltwater angling.

Why Fish at Night?

• Bigger fish feed. Trophy bass, walleye, and catfish are largely nocturnal feeders. They feel safer moving into shallow water under cover of darkness.
• Less pressure. Boats are gone, jet skis are gone, and the fish have been left alone for hours. They're relaxed and looking for food.
• Summer relief. In July and August, daytime fishing can be brutal — 95°F and bluebird skies make for tough fishing. Night fishing in summer is often 10x more productive. More on timing →
• Unique experience. The sounds, the stillness, the anticipation of a strike you can only feel — night fishing is a completely different sport.

Best Species for Night Fishing

Bass

Largemouth bass are excellent night feeders, especially in summer. They move from deep daytime haunts into shallow flats, points, and weed edges. The best night bass fishing happens around the full moon when there's enough ambient light for bass to hunt effectively. Moon phase guide →

Catfish

Channel catfish and blue catfish are primarily nocturnal feeders. Night is genuinely the best time to target big catfish. They use their incredible sense of smell to locate food in total darkness, moving into shallower areas that they avoid during the day.

Walleye

Walleye have oversized eyes adapted for low light. They're at their most aggressive at night, especially on rocky shorelines and shallow reefs. The first 2-3 hours after dark and the hour before dawn are the hottest windows.

Striped Bass (Stripers)

Both landlocked and ocean stripers feed heavily at night. They push into shallower water to chase schools of shad or herring. Night striper fishing under bridges with lights is legendary on many reservoirs.

Snook and Tarpon (Saltwater)

These species famously feed around lighted docks and bridges at night. The lights attract baitfish, which attract predators. Casting into the shadow line (where light meets dark) is the technique.

Best Baits for Night Fishing

For Bass

• Black buzzbait: The #1 night fishing lure. The noise and vibration call fish from a distance. Cast parallel to the bank and reel slowly. You'll hear the strike before you feel it.
• Black spinnerbait (3/8 - 1/2oz): Colorado blade for maximum vibration. Slow-roll it over shallow flats and along weed edges.
• Dark-colored soft plastics: Black/blue jigs, Texas-rigged creature baits in junebug or black neon. The dark silhouette is visible against the lighter sky when fish look up.
• Large topwater: Jitterbugs, Whopper Ploppers, and prop baits. Anything that makes noise and creates a disturbance.

For Catfish

• Cut bait: Fresh-cut shad, bluegill, or skipjack. The blood and oils create a scent trail catfish follow.
• Chicken liver: Classic catfish bait. Thread it on a treble hook with a piece of pantyhose to keep it on.
• Stink bait: Commercial prepared baits like Catfish Charlie work well because scent is the primary sense catfish use at night.
• Live bait: Large nightcrawlers, live bluegill (where legal), or live shad on a slip sinker rig.

For Walleye

• Shallow-running crankbaits: #5 or #7 Rapala Original in silver or gold. Retrieve slowly over rocky shorelines.
• Live leeches: On a jig or slip bobber rig. Leeches are deadly for walleye at night.
• Blade baits: Bounced along rocky points and reefs.

Essential Night Fishing Gear

• Headlamp with red light mode: White light kills your night vision and spooks fish. Red light preserves your eyes and is less visible to fish. Use red for rigging, white only when necessary.
• Navigation lights: Required on boats after sunset. Even kayak anglers should carry a white 360° light.
• Bug spray: Non-negotiable. Mosquitoes are brutal near water after dark. DEET-based repellent works best.
• Heavier line: You can't see structure at night, so bump up your line strength. If you normally fish 12lb, go to 15-17lb. You'll snag more things and need the extra strength.
• Pliers and hook remover: Handling fish and hooks in the dark demands good tools. A light-up or glow-in-the-dark plier grip helps.

Night Fishing Techniques

Simplify Everything

Bring fewer rods and fewer baits. Retying and switching lures in the dark is slow and frustrating. Rig 2-3 rods before dark with your planned baits. Keep your tackle organized so you can find things by feel.

Fish Shallow

At night, predators move shallower than they'd ever be during the day. Fish within 10 feet of the bank, over shallow flats, and around shoreline structure. That 8-pound bass sitting in 25 feet of water at noon might be cruising 3 feet deep at midnight.

Slow Down

Fish your baits slower than you think you should. Sound and vibration travel well in water, and fish don't need to see the bait to find it — but they do need time to locate it. A slow, steady retrieve with a buzzbait or spinnerbait gives fish time to track and strike.

Use Your Ears

Night fishing sharpens your other senses. Listen for feeding fish — popping sounds near the bank, splashes in shallow water, and the subtle sound of baitfish being pushed. Cast toward the sounds.

Night Fishing Safety

• Fish familiar water. Your first night fishing trip should be somewhere you've fished during the day and know well. Hazards you can see in daylight become invisible at night.
• Tell someone your plan. Where you're going, when you expect to return.
• Bring a fully charged phone. In a waterproof case.
• Watch your footing. Banks, docks, and boat decks get dewy after dark. Wear shoes with good grip.
• Be aware of wildlife. Depending on your area — alligators, snakes, and other nocturnal animals are more active at night.