Things To Consider While Night Fishing

There is something exciting and somewhat nostalgic about a nighttime fishing adventure. While nighttime catfishing has been a tradition in my family for many years, in the past few years there have been some valuable product inventions that make it even more enjoyable. If you’ve never experienced the wonders of night fishing, or aren’t sure what makes it different than fishing in the daylight (aside from the darkness), I’m here to help.

Let’s talk first about some of the items you will need. At the top of my list is the Whisker Seeker Ultra-Flood Headlamp; this headlamp produces a very wide, evenly distributed light that I find covers the majority of the boat. The newer version of the headlamp is now rechargeable (Pro-tip: it’s a good idea to keep the charger in the boat - just in case). This headlamp offers some really nice features including a red light option which, according to studies, doesn’t affect your night vision as much as a white light because white light constricts your pupils. It also doesn’t seem to attract as many bugs as a white light does.

The other color option for this particular headlamp is a blue light that has some pretty amazing effects on your florescent items. This effect has been very popular among catfish anglers, as the ability to see your lines and rod tip at night is important, especially when trying to discern subtle bites. On this subject, many people are achieving some of these benefits while using a UV light; however, I don’t recommend that as UV can be harmful to your eyes. I suggest the blue light as the safer option.  

Once you get to your honey hole, it’s time to rig up and drop those lines in the water. This brings us to my favorite nighttime fishing tool - the Whisker Seeker NiteStyx. If you aren’t familiar, this is an LED light that can be snapped onto your rod tip, which allows you to see exactly what is going on with your bait. The NiteStyx are available in green or orange LED lights (each package comes with both an orange and a green tip, as well as a replaceable 150-hour battery). This is nice for keeping track of your rods separate from your fishing buddy’s rods or your short lines from long lines. Each NiteStyx lasts approximately 150 hours and can be turned off and on by just turning the battery around inside the case. It’s truly a must-have for night catfishing!

Some catfish anglers prefer to use bobbers or floats. If you fall into this category, you can use the night floats which have this same technology on the top of the float. I can tell you first hand, nothing gets your heart going more than watching that night float disappear and go screaming under the water. Whisker Seeker Tackle makes these in both the EVA 3oz. as well as the LED NightStriker, and both have the same 150-hour battery life.

The last part of the tackle that you need to consider when planning your nighttime expedition is your fishing line. To get the most out of using the blue light at night, you’ll probably want to use the orange mono fishing line instead of the braided line. Braided fishing line can tend to show up dark and absorb the surrounding light, whereas the mono will glow like a diamond. The WST Mono Catfish Line comes in 150-yard and 300-yard spools and is available in test weights of 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50lbs. If you are set on the braided line, I recommend the WST Braided Catfish Line, which comes in the same size spools as the mono, and is available in test weights of 35, 60, and 85lbs.

Now that we’ve got your nighttime tackle covered, let’s talk about some basic items that will make your trip more enjoyable and safer. While some of this may be standard for the avid angler, the sport is growing by leaps and bounds, and someone new to this type of fishing will find these pointers beneficial.

• • • • • Don’t forget the bug repellents. I like to use a portable repeller called Thermacell to help keep the mosquitos at bay. I also use a spray to help keep other bugs away; there are several on             the market that will work well and are available at your local Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens.
        • Before you launch your boat:
          • • Have all your items set out and ready to go. This will keep you from needing to dig around the boat looking for what you need. As most catfish anglers use cut bait, it’s smart to put the knife back into the sheath as soon as you’re done using it - accidents happen more in the dark than in daylight.  
          • Make sure your navigation lights are working.  
          • Make sure your trailer lights are working as this will help you see backing up and loading; just aim between the trailer lights and you’ll be good to go.
• As for your path, it’s a good idea to head out looking at your chart plotter and following your track back to the dock. Things look different at night and this will help keep you from getting lost or turned around. If needed, you can turn the backlight down on your sonar screen to help your night vision.

If you haven’t given night fishing a try, I encourage you to plan ahead using this information and get out there for a memorable experience!