Quest Outdoors

fish2much · Lunker Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 285 Location: Monroe, MI

Anyone who has experience catching steelhead at night, I need your opinions. Do you think glow baits outproduce non-glow presentations? The limited amount of night fishing I've done (Tippy & Ohio tribs) has seen equal success using glow baits vs. standard presentations such as straight spawn.

I've had steelhead paste a glowing wobble glo at the dam (Tippy). I've also had them ignore it on Conneaut, then lose the wobble glo, then hook up on my first cast without the wobble glo! I know the traditional black at night theory... what's everyone's experience?

Anyone ever drop back plugs at night? Was thinking about packaging taping glo sticks to my rods and getting an extra hour or so on the water before the booger eaters wake up.

P.S. - What about the theory that there's a dead time while the fishes eyes adjust to sunset and sunrise. You think there's any truth to that?

PSS. - Me looks at da radar... and me sees green!!!!!! BOO YA!

houston · Par Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 38 Location: toledo, ohio

fish2much,
i have benn fishing for steel at night for the past couple of years in ohio tribs and it can be very good at times, the only that i have found in my outings is that atlest on ohio tribs the glow stuff works good if not better in the harbor and marina's. up in the actual river i have found that using no glowing lures i.e. (wobble glows, spin'n glows) just the bait itself catches more fish. hope this is useful to you

is the huron starting up yet i was think of going after work

fish2much · Lunker Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 285 Location: Monroe, MI

Thanks for the input. That seems to be my observation also. I'm mainly interested in rivers.

Haven't heard of any steelhead in the Huron yet, though I'm sure they will come very soon. Usually they show up about the same time the shiners come in and the leaves come down. If you're twitching go hit the east side. They're trickling in.

Steel Shady · Fry Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 28

Yey, I stick to fresh roe since scant is a major factor when fishing at night. But then again you can't beat fresh roe at any time. I have done very well fishing for salmon and browns at night. Steelhead fishing can be just as good if the fish are there.

Snowmonkey · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:04 am Post subject: ...

In my experience, night fishing for steelhead can be excellent under the right conditions. I've done best (and had the most experience) night float fishing for steelhead early in the fall when fish come in, but water levels drop real low and clear and temps are pretty warm and fishing gets tough. I used a Fuji lighted float w/silicone sleeves added and usually something with a bit of glow in the dark quality that can be charged with a battery operated camera flasher every 3-10 drifts. I did particularly well with some small, soft glow in the dark rubber "beads" that Cabela's offers (each about the size of a trout egg). I would add one or two of these to the shank of a hook and then use a standard bait w/scent. I definitely did better with this rig than w/straight bait the majority of the time.

I also noticed that night fishing was most effective for me (most of my exp was on the Erie tribs, BTW) with a "run and gun" approach. Often, I would hook a fish or two my first drift or two through an area and that would often be it. I think this is partially due to the highly visible "novelty" of a glowing bait that curious fish jump on right away. The best example I can give was one year when early fall fishing got real tough...lots of guys out for a limited number of fish in low, clear water). A single hookup during daylight was getting tough. I fished prior to dark for an hour or so w/no action and took a short break before fishing again (w/glow rig outlined above). I was the only one there and immediately hooked two fish in three drift in the same area where I saw about 10 guys, myself included, hook NOTHING before dark. I continued to fish there for about 30 minutes w/no other action. I proceeded to hit some other high percentage area where I knew fish were there. I gave each spot only a handful of drifts before moving on, and hooked fish in just about EVERY one of them...albeit only one to two fish from each spot. In the end I hooked 15 fish in under two hours of night fishing. I've had similar results under similar conditions since that day many seasons ago.

One other important note: don't EVERY night fish and area that you are not inimately familar with...esp if there are any potetially dangerous wading conditions. Even a familiar area becomes quite unfamiliar in a nighttime setting. With that said, watching the frantic danceing of that small red light of your float in the darkness while fighting a hot fish is quite the surreal and cool experience that every steelheader should try at least once.

Mike

float4chrome · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

I have had great results at night with my drift, and float gear. Drifting/bottom bouncing glow corkies(with and without roe bags) for browns and bows in the fall, can be amazing(even the NOOKs smash it). I have had some succes with small glow jigs with my centrepin too. Even in the spring with the pin, the glow jigs work well.

~F4C~ Yes they love glowspoons

Snowmonkey · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:36 am Post subject: ...

Not surprising given kings senstivity to light. I know guys who use plugs or glow in the dark spoons for kings at night w/sometimes great success.

BTW, I failed to mention that there are currently a few glow in the dark fly fishing materials (yarn, etc) with much promise for this application.

Mike

pin4life · Adult Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 57 Location: Wisconsin

This summer I did really well fishing at night for salmon. I fished dead baitfish under a lighted float, anchored. I also did well floating cutbait at night with float gear for browns. In past seasons I have night fished for steel with straight bait and jibs, and always managed a few. I really want to try the blow beads. Sounds deadly!
Jordan >)))">

limige · Alevin Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 17 Location: detroit

wow, nice brown! i love night fishing, i've done well with glow KO wobbles/cleo's. never caught anything at night without the glow, yes i've tried some but never had luck.

if some of you could post some pics of rigs that would help as well! i'm a newbie with the fly fishing stuff, got a bunch of skain to use up this fall from some browns i caught last year. keep up the replies guys!

fish2much · Lunker Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 285 Location: Monroe, MI

O.k. lets take it a step further. I was specifically asking about steelhead, in rivers, and particulary in the fall. Do those of you with experience night fishing steelhead in the fall concentrate on specific water types or do you just fish your regular spots. For instance... fish are on the move at night so do you find better success targetting travel lanes or just fish your regular daytime drifts.

Sounds like the glow vs. Non-glow issue is a mixed bag. I've caught my share and haven't seen much a difference and it sounds like you all have experienced the same. Confidence thing like much of the rest I guess.

Tight lines and wiggling tips... and pray for rain & high wind. Get the flows up and leaves down. Later. Twisted Evil

Snowmonkey · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:19 pm Post subject: ...

No doubt glow works on my home tribs...key is to use it in moderation. A little glow goes a long way...

Heads of good holding pools are good steelie night water, in my experience, as well.

Mike

Ron matthews · Lunker Joined: 21 Sep 2004 Posts: 236 Location: mich.

Do it all the time, the warmer the water the better the night bite.
I use it in the summer early fall.
Lower water flows and sunny days seem to be the pattern.
esl in all black dressed large size 4 works well. that was the go too if glo wasn't the thing.

I Think imo it takes some time before the fish have settled in for the night. As it gets dark I believe they reposition in specific spots and tend to come above the structure as it gets darker. I've also suddenly have a bunch come out of nowhere, Like they where there the whole time? Most times you'll see fish porpose right at dark, but only for a short time then none and a little later you hook one.

Ron matthews · Lunker Joined: 21 Sep 2004 Posts: 236 Location: mich.

[quote="Hen_squeezer69"]Night time is the best time to fish! when all the fish come out on to the beds and start fanning. Lets put it this way fanning hens means there not paying atention to the fact they got a trebble commin there way[/quote

Your on the wrong site!

Kyle McNew · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject:

Yea buddy wrong forum.

Flyfishmich · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Night fishing Steelies.