Avid anglers know that the fishing can really turn on after the sun sets, when predators like bass and pike move shallow to hunt.
Hugging the depths by day to escape the heat, avoid detection, and dodge fish pressure, darkness can draw real monsters into the shallows, where they’re easier to locate and catch.
Especially in the warmer months, when kayak fishing is at its most enjoyable, you’ll see an explosion of activity at night.
Learning the ins and outs of kayak fishing after dark is well worth the trouble, and if you’ve wanted to try your hand at night fishing, we’re here to help.
So keep reading!
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Safety First
The most important aspect of kayak fishing at night is safety.
Kayaks are low to the water and very hard to see for power boaters. And when big boats are running for a launch in the dark, it can get downright dangerous for kayakers.
Moonlight magic
At night, the moon governs the sky – and the fishing.
When you see a moon like this, hit the water!
I think about six moments on the water, planning my fishing around these times:
- Sundown – I want to be on the water no less than an hour or two before sunset, taking advantage of the dying light. Fish really turn on now, and for species like pike, this is as good as it gets.
- Moonrise – Predatory fish sense the moonrise, and it causes them to turn on their feeding like they do at sunup. Know when the moon will start to peak over your local lake, pond, or river, and be ready!
- Overhead – This is another key moment that fish respond to for reasons that science is only just starting to understand.
- Underfoot – Like an overhead moon, fish turn on at this time for reasons that are poorly understood but well-verified.
- Moonset – Like sundown, as the moon sets, night predators will become more aggressive feeders, and the really big ones will be moving.
- Dawn – I doubt you can find an angler who doesn’t know how good the fishing is in the hours around sunrise.
A full or absent moon is typically better for fishing than a waning or waxing stage. I’m not sure why, but I’m far from the only fisherman to have noted this.
Use a good headlamp
Headlamps are essential equipment for night fishing on your kayak, and you’ll use them every time you tie a knot, net a fish, or remove a hook.
Headlamps are night fishing essentials.
They’ll also help you be more visible in the dark, adding one more piece to your night fishing safety system.
We’ve discussed this topic before. For our full reviews, check out this article.
Our top pick is Vont’s Spark LED. It’s very bright, cycles quickly through seven light settings and is comfortable to wear. Battery life is excellent, too.
Final Thoughts
Night fishing from your kayak is a great way to catch the fish of a lifetime, and your odds of landing a trophy improve dramatically after sundown.
But success in the dark takes preparation, and you want to have the gear necessary to stay safe.
We hope that you’ve learned something from this article, and we’d like to remind you that we’re always here to answer any questions you might have.
We’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below.
Source: usangler.com