Night Stalking

Float Tube Fishing Float Tubing General
1

I was at the local lake last evening for a nice tube outing and noticed that in my haste to get out the door and fish – that I had loaded up my night fishing “cat box” instead of my box-o-jigs…so I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and try out my first “night-time stealth tubing adventure.” – I was targeting Crappie’s earlier and had indented to play with them until just before dark , so I was trolling a bucket of minnows – so I figured that would do for the kitties.

As it got dark - I added a bobber with a glow stick and donned my headlamp…Flicked on the backlight to my fishfinder for the first time (and it worked) – and decided to see if the kitties would play. Got into some of them around 10:30 PM, and brought in 4 nice eaters over a span of about 45 minutes (although I did not keep them).

I thought it was a blast to tube at night – all alone under the stars. How about you old-timers, do you get out much at night?

2

Saberfish doesn’t like to be on the water at dark, I think that he’s CS, but that’s just my opinion. ha ha

3

Post: Saberfish doesn’t like to be on the water at dark, I think that he’s CS, but that’s just my opinion. ha ha
I am with you. It is just too weird of feeling even with a full moon. Plus fly fishing can get ugly at night[pirate]

4

I wouldn’t say ‘old timer’, but I love floating in the dark. I haven’t done it much and just started last year. But a clear sky is with a thousands of night lights is a great way to fish.

5

I would love to try tooning at night, But around Pittsburgh your lible to become BARGE BAIT.HAHA

KAZUALT

6

Back when I lived in UT, in the late 70s, we would float tube in the dark hours. Mostly from the pre-dawn into the sunrise time of day.

That was always productive for some good Kitties.:sunglasses:

Now that I’m in Cali, they don’t allow any type of craft on the water after dark except in the Ocean.[crazy]

7

Back when I was a kid and bait fished, I loved fishing at night. Now that I fly fish, it is a little tougher. You have no idea what your leader is doing and it is usually out of Head Lamp sight. We floated a couple of years ago and we did get into some BIG fish. Just a weird feeling. Put a lantern on shore to know where to take out.

8

I’ve wondered if there are rules for running lights and stuff, like with boats.

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Post: I’ve wondered if there are rules for running lights and stuff, like with boats.
Michael

I think it should be an unspoken word. If you are on a big lake with other boats, do all you can to be visible. Even the small lakes, a whistle/horn and headlamp, plus I carry a small LCD lantern.

10

I agree completly! I just was wondering if the light had to be a certain hiegth and brightness as well as a red and green lite like on a boat.

11

As far as I know, no regulations on float tubes or pontoons yet, but all the other laws are leaning towards having the same regs for thes smaller vessels as a regular boat, so I just say, get a jump on it and be saferererererr :laughing:

12

I haven’t tried that yet. I’ll bet you could really get some nice cats or walleye at night though. :sunglasses:

13

I have a white light on the back but they still won’t let me out at night. I can’t figure why.

14

In two years of fish at night now I have learned the following.

  1. Take a light with good batteries and a back up light isn’t a bad idea either.

  2. Your heart will start beating again after a large carp goes through you, your tube and your fins.

  3. Insect repellant is a must not a option on most waters.

  4. Bats will hit your line. Haven’t hit me yet.

  5. Beavers hate to share the lake! Luckily they are content to sneak up behind you and slap their tails. Then they go away until your heart starts again and you stop watching for them. Almost as bad as carp.

  6. Last but not least. Fish coming out of the water trying to spit a hook by moon light look really cool.

15

:sunglasses:**I have been a lifelong night fishing fan…fresh water and salt. As TN2 suggests, we have been night tubin’ for a whole lotta years. **

Many species are nocturnal feeders, especially during bright moonlit nights. Others are well know for their after dark dining. Largemouth, crappies, walleyes and kitties are some of the more noteworthy night biters. Stripers , white bass and wipers will also play with you after the sun goes down. And, a lot of folks never find out, but most species of trout can be caught at night too…especially big browns.

On some waters you will do better during the summer by fishing at night because there is a lot of boat traffic during the day that turns the fish off. And, for some species, you will catch more and bigger fish at night…especially walleyes and catfish.

In addition to some of the previous suggestions for lights, skeeter juice, etc. let me add my single greatest suggestion for newbie night tanglers. NEVER FISH AT NIGHT ON ANY WATER YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED WELL IN THE DAYLIGHT. You are at a double disadvantage (and risk) if you try to learn a new water after dark. Too tough…even to learn a new lake in the daylight. You need to know where you are going, and how you are going to fish it, before launching. And, even if you think you know the lake well, you will be surprised how different everything seems after dark.

Add to that DO NOT COVER LARGE DISTANCES AFTER DARK. Try to set up where you can do your fishing within reasonable distance of your launch spot. If you have picked your spot right, you shouldn’t have to go too far anyway. By staying close and within protective coves or bays, you will avoid the low-flying power squadron idiots who like to open it up and run across lakes after dark. You will also have an easier time getting back in if a sudden “breeze” comes up.

**Finally, try to have a fishing buddy along. I personally enjoy night fishing alone, for the solitude and watching the stars and just taking in the quiet of it all. But, I am very experienced and comfortable with night fishing. If you are still getting the hang of it, take another wacko with you, and stay in touch with walkie talkies. **

Dress appropriately to the weather and water temps. It is sometimes a good idea to take an extra top layer, in a waterproof bag or plastic container. No matter how warm it gets during the daytime, you can feel a chill if you have been out a while after the sun goes down.

16

Very good safety advice there TubeDude. Being on the water after dark is much different then durring the day.

17

[/reply]

Great advice (as usual) TD. I don’t know if I would try the “big waters” at night on a tube (the ones with boats) most of the places I tube don’t even have a boat ramp – and are small enough that I could throw a sinker and hit my car parked at the bank most of the time.:). The local 5 acre “kittie pool” in town seemed like a good place to hang out under the stars. Or at least I did not feel compelled to leave the water once the moon replaced the sun…like I usually do.

With all said above about bat’s and carp…That does not freak me out as much as this time of year being the start of mating season for our local friend the northern water snake

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Although not poisonous – it is often mistaken for a cottonmouth by those of us who do not like slimy and crawly things who make their homes in the “marsh” where we like to launch our tubes – and often go hunting in the water for the bluegills we like to use for bait, and can stay submerged for up to an hour and a half…yikes! (I know man up!!!) – the good news is that even though there are lot’s of these types of slimy crawly things in my neck of the woods…none of them are poisonous like the little floating pools of reptiles that would greet us at Lake Powell every summer when I was a kid.

18

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooooooooow!

Don’t forget to tell them about having a unique call sign to use with the fishing buddy in the dark.:sunglasses:

19

In Pennsylvania if you are on any public water after dusk you must have a light. It doesn’t matter what type of craft or wether or not it is motorized. I use a light in the front and one in the back.

KAZUALT

20

Now that I’m in Cali, they don’t allow any type of craft on the water after dark except in the Ocean.[crazy]

Really? No boating at night at all in any lakes out there? We used to go fishing at night up in Wisconsin but we would be back in at about 11 at night, that is as far as we went…
I wonder why the hard law? I wonder if all states follow it?