Night Fishing

[Sneaky Duck]

I've never caught a fish in the dark.  Since it's dark so early, and I have a way to stay warm now... I've started thinking about it.  What species (other then just walleye) are active after dark in the winter and what lures/bait should I use to catch them?  It'd be great to be able to hit the ice after work for a few hours.  Also, should I keep my Fish Trap dark inside or is it ok to have lights on while fishing?

 

Thanks!

[ontherise]

Glow jigs will get em all at night

[Guidewayneo]

I fish for bluegills sunnies and crappies at night along with walleye. I use a head lamp or a battery lantern in the shanty. Friends of mine set up lighting systems with led light strips for cars.

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[bosco]

I often get out of work and head to Honeoye Lake and get set up at last light. Crappie by lantern light has been very effective for me most nights. A lantern in your shanty will attract Crappie and an occassional Bluegill. For Walleye set up tip-ups (with reflective tape on the flags) way far away from where your hut is and check them frequently with a flash light.  

Edited January 8, 2014 by bosco

[Sneaky Duck]

Thanks guys!  Are fished with small jigs and spoons like perch are?  What type of bait do you tip the hooks with?

[bosco]

I usually set up three tipdowns with fathead minnows on them in a semi-circle a few feet in front of me in front of my jigging hole and lantern. I set up four jigging rods with various glow in the dark jigs. my experience is that it doesn't matter what I start with. I usually catch three or four fish and they stop biting so I switch to another lure or I switch from minnows to grubs or vice versa all the while picking up a few extra fish on the tip downs. I usually do pretty well like this but I did get blanked the last time I went out