Everyones opinion on using black lights to bass fish

[Schleprock]

Going to hit up Center Hill at night this week, fishing with a buddy on his boat that has a black light set up, never fished with black lights and just bought a couple for my own boat, after reading up on it some pros say not to use them as the unnatural light spooks the fish

What are everyones thoughts and any suggestions are appreciated

[XxthejuicexX]

I've fished for years at night and always use black lights. I don't think you scare the fish, if you don't use them you are handicapping yourself. I've had nights where we caught 40+ fish, shallow. I've used white light on my kayak at night to light the bank and caught plenty of fish. Make sure you use fluorescent line with the black lights.

[Alphahawk]

You're not going to spook any fish with black lights. If you fish at night with a jig and you are not using black lights....and fluorescent line....you are going to be missing out on a lot of bites.


Regards

[skillet]

Like they said, use fluorescent line. Under the black lights, it'll look like it's the size of a stringer rope!! And the bats may attack your line!! Lol


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[Texas_Rig]

I don't use them in my boat and I night fish a lot in the summer. I've fished with other people that use them. I do not believe there is any negative in using them. I just don't prefer fluorescent line. Don't like it. I like not being able to see anything because I'm sooo much more aware of what's going on at the end of my line when I can't see it. I'm just more in tune, and I don't think it causes me to miss bites at all by not having any light. If you like it then go for it. If you don't have it then don't let that be the reason you stay home. Night fishing is so much fun so get out there and get after it. To me, the most important things you need at night is a spotlight and a good mapping chip in your electronics.

[Schleprock]

Originally Posted by Texas_Rig

I don't use them in my boat and I night fish a lot in the summer. I've fished with other people that use them. I do not believe there is any negative in using them. I just don't prefer fluorescent line. Don't like it. I like not being able to see anything because I'm sooo much more aware of what's going on at the end of my line when I can't see it. I'm just more in tune, and I don't think it causes me to miss bites at all by not having any light. If you like it then go for it. If you don't have it then don't let that be the reason you stay home. Night fishing is so much fun so get out there and get after it. To me, the most important things you need at night is a spotlight and a good mapping chip in your electronics.

Fished at Dale Hollow and Center Hill at night last summer and I can say that I felt lost in the darkness, at times felt blind, maybe if someone else is controlling the boat i could concentrate on fishing in the dark lol

So pretty much the consensus is black lights do not impede catching fish, really appreciate the feedback

[Halli]

I have caught more large Bass at night using Black lights than any other
time.
The best part is you see your line twitch and run sideways way easier than you do during the day. How many times have you felt your bait get sluggish and wonder if a fish could have picked it up, well at night using black lights it's easy to see the line go slack or make strange movement.

I fish a Black worm at night mostly and also use glass rattles in them.

One thing about Blacklites are it needs to be pitch black out no moon is best as you lose your night vision when the moon is bright.

I'll never be with out them as long as I can get my hands on them.

[tkwalker]

Night time is great especially for the Bass and other nocturnal feeders ... my Late Friend Dillon Mitchener and myself use to schedule our trips to Fla for night time bass in March ( water temps 70's)... and from the 1970's we have caught a 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 15 pounder through 1984....

Night time fishing is not for the weak hearted in Fla. ... Spring... be prepared to spend the night do to fog (can't find your way back to the ramp) or rain ... cold dampness etc ... Summertime isn't to bad but the sandman somehow arrives during the night ...

It boils down to not, when is the best time to catch fish, but the creature comforts of the fisherman ... The best time to go night fishing is the week before, of and the week after the full moon .. try not to use any unnatural lighting except when you may have to retie a line ... Your eyes will adjust to the natural night light for casting and also use your ears and listen for surface activity ... ... Now there are a few exceptions..

I threw a cast one night in Lake Russo and never heard it hit the water ... Curious I threw on the Mega candle power and saw where my worm had ended up in an Osprey nest ... Didn't know the tree was even there ??? ... And in Fla. in the spring the Gators will let you know if you get to close to a nest by soaking you when they ramp their tail against the water right next to the boat. (Note: ALL OF THE SOAKING MAY NOT BE FROM THE WATER!) We made our own worms .. Hefty 16 inches long using 10/0 Messler hooks that we would bend our on twist in to them for rotation.

Now in the swamps of Fla. We didn't have to worry about Anchor lights etc. Locally here in Tennessee we would use the same tactic except we would take electrical tape and wrap the anchor light lens from the bottom to the top only leaving about 3/4 of an inch showing and raise it as high as you can get it. This does two things .. It keeps the bugs away from you and also prevents excessive light in the boat. ... Hope this helps .. Be safe... <'TK><

[notorious]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

...take electrical tape and wrap the anchor light lens from the bottom to the top only leaving about 3/4 of an inch showing and raise it as high as you can get it. This does two things .. It keeps the bugs away from you and also prevents excessive light in the boat.

Great wisdom in this statement...

[thehick176]

Your buddy in the back will appreciate that piece of advice. Or you can get a short anchor light instead of the tall one which saves your buddy from being blinded all night and hitting it with his lure every other cast lol. As for blacklights, I don't go without them.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by thehick176

Your buddy in the back will appreciate that piece of advice. Or you can get a short anchor light instead of the tall one which saves your buddy from being blinded all night and hitting it with his lure every other cast lol. As for blacklights, I don't go without them.

How do you figure a light below your line of sight, glaring up at you is not going to blind you ??? Think about it.. or draw bugs below you.... Above your line of sight it won't... Now as far as the 4 foot obstacle behind you, that is a give and take ... you have to discipline yourself for a casting radius ... There is 360 degrees to cast ... Surely you can adjust for 5 degrees if you are proficient in casting ... As far as Black Lights I have used and own them and have no problems with them ... I just stated my experience in night fishing and my preference ... <'TK><

[thehick176]

Couple strips of electrical tape over the top of the light blocks it out. I usually try to fish my spots on the opposite side of the boat from the light to avoid any light issues. Or if I'm in a cove by myself I will just turn them off.

[Schleprock]

Appreciate the advice, def going to cover the anchor light since i'm going to be in the back of the boat