Fishing at night during the hot summer months is the best way to beat the heat. Be on the water about an hour before total darkness to allow your eyes to adjust to the gathering darkness. The following are some proven tips to make your trip successful and safe.

Avoid clutter in the boat:
Pre-rig a couple of rods with different lures before total darkness settles in. If you have a problem, you can just put that rod aside and pick up a different one. If you’re prone to backlashes with bait-casting tackle, consider using spinning gear at night. When changing lures, keep them put away each time you change so there’s not a clutter underfoot to cause problems. A good idea, too, is to avoid standing up in the boat so you don’t get knocked off balance should you bump into something in the dark.

Light and no light:
Most anglers agree that if you use too much light at night to change lures or unhook bass, it can alter chances of a bass taking your lure. Using a pen light, or any small light can be better than a bigger light. There are numerous small flashlight type lights that can be attached to a hat, or worn around the head that provide hands free light. Be sure to keep your bow and stern lights on when moving from one spot to another.

Finding the bass:
Greatest concentration of fish will often be found along underwater structure in deeper water and usually off lake major points. Other anglers say that the same places you catch bass during the daylight hours will yield fish also at night. After dark settles in, think about arriving at an area and drifting awhile in complete silence while trying to catch bass.

Lures and presentation:
Ken Schultz wrote in “Bass in the Black” that slow presentations work well when using surface lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Spinnerbaits are a good nighttime lure because they’re fairly snag-free and produce good vibrations that help bass locate them. Work them as slowly as possible so you can feel the blades spinning around the shaft.

The less the light, the darker the lure you’ll want to use. Keep in mind also that scents and sounds may attract bass.

Topwaters lures worked in relatively shallow areas, especially those with good cover available, payoff in catches. Slowly worked chuggers and wobbling plugs are generally better than the faster-moving buzzbaits. Sometimes the bass want something that sits at rest for a long time and only moves slightly. Twitch a surface plug lightly; bass often suck it in quietly.

Plastic worms or lizards dragged slowly across the bottom allow the angler to cover territory while having pretty continuous contact with possible fish-holding habitat. Carolina-rigged worms and lizards are very popular bass baits for bottom fishing. When fishing the bottom, heavier test line is a good idea with a slip sinker and possibly a glass or plastic bead for a little extra noise. A leader about three feet long with your hook and worm or lizard at the end should work well. Some anglers prefer to bounce jigs with a plastic worm or other trailer along the bottom.

Beat the heat of summer and try your luck at night. The most important tip I can pass for night fishing is be safe. Move slower and safely whether moving around the boat, along the shoreline, or navigating your boat across the lake.