Night Time Pond Bass Fishing: Tips and Techniques for Success in the Dark
Bass fishing at night in ponds can be a rewarding experience for anglers of all skill levels. As an avid pond fisherman myself, I can attest to the thrill of hearing the splash of a big bass breaking the water's surface in the middle of the night at my local pond (on a golf estate). Night fishing in ponds can also be a great way to beat the heat during the summer months when the water temperatures rise during the day. One of the benefits of fishing at night is that bass tend to be more active and aggressive during this time. They also tend to stay in shallower water, making the process of catching them a lot more fun and exciting. Additionally, you can often have the pond to yourself, as most anglers prefer to fish during the day.
Understanding How Bass Behave at Night
Bass fishing at night requires an understanding of how bass behave and this will directly benefit bait selection, as well as the way you fish. Bass are known to thrive in nocturnal hours, and this can make bass fishing at night a time for getting exhilarating bites as well as landing big fish. Here are some things I've learned about how bass behave at night:
- Bass feed aggressively at night: Bass are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any food source they can find. At night, especially in summer, water temperatures are more favorable for aggressive feeding behavior.
- Bass use their lateral line to detect prey: Bass have a lateral line that runs along their body, which they use to detect vibrations in the water. This makes them more effective at finding prey in low-light conditions. This make lure selection important, and anglers need to consider throwing baits with more noise and vibrations in order to catch the attention of bass in lower light conditions.
- Bass move to shallower water at night: During the day, especially in summer, bass will often stay in deeper water as its cooler and more oxygenated. At night, they move to shallower water due to more favorable water temperatures and to search for food in the form of baitfish or crawfish.
- Bass can still see reasonably well at night: Although their vision is impaired, bass can still spot prey in low-light conditions. For this reason, color selection is crucial when we’re selection a bait for night bass fishing. Darker colors and shock colors like chartreuse are the ideal choices. We’ve developed a lure color selection guide to help with these kinds of decisions!
Understanding how bass behave at night can help me catch more fish. By using lures that mimic their prey and taking advantage of their behavior, you can greatly increase your chances of landing more fish.
How Pond Fishing Differs to Normal Systems
When it comes to bass fishing, pond fishing is significantly different to fishing larger water systems. Here are some ways in which pond fishing differs from other systems:
1. Size of the Water Body
Ponds are obviously smaller bodies of water compared to larger lakes and rivers. For this reason, you’ll have less, but more obvious high-percentage zones to focus on. Dial into isolated cover and vegetation and make these areas your top priority. Chances are, you’ll have a few bass in the system holding these areas.
2. Water Clarity
The clarity of water in a pond is usually better than in other, large systems. This is because ponds are usually not exposed to as much runoff or sedimentation as other systems. This means that the bass in a pond can be more easily spooked by movement or noise. It’s worth noting that ponds can also be easily influenced by algae and/or pollution, meaning they can also become stained a lot faster.
3. Depth
Ponds are usually shallower than other systems. This means that the bass in a pond are more likely to be found in the shallower areas of the pond. However, there are still deeper areas in a pond where bass can be found, such as around drop-offs or submerged structures. These deeper areas will be high percentage areas during the colder winter months, as well as the hot summer days.
4. Vegetation
Ponds usually have more vegetation than other systems. This can provide cover for bass and their prey. Bass will often hide in the vegetation and ambush their prey. Bass will generally feel more comfortable when hugging cover/vegetation.
5. Water Temperature
The water temperature in a pond can be more stable than in other systems. This is because ponds are usually not as deep as other systems, which means that the water is more easily affected by changes in air temperature. This can make it easier to predict where bass will be located in a pond based on the time of day or season.
Best Bass Lures for Pond Bass Fishing at Night
When I go bass fishing at night in ponds, I always make sure to bring the right lures to attract those elusive bass. Here are some of the best bass lures for pond bass fishing at night that I have found to be effective:
1. Big Texas Rigged Worm
A big Texas rigged worm is a classic night fishing technique that is known to catch lunkers in the dark. A big 7-8 inch single tail plastic worm offers a big profile making it easy for bass to find in the dark.
The movement of the single, free-flowing tail emits minor vibrations making the bait more apparent to hunting bass. I like to rig the worm Texas-style with a 3/0 or 4/0 hook and a 3/8 or 1/4 ounce bullet weight depending on the depth of the pond or the zone you’re covering.
I cast the worm out as close to vegetation or other isolated cover as possible and let it fall to the bottom with a semi-slack line. Often, the bait will get smashed on the initial fall. Once the bottom is hit, give it one or two twitches with the rod tip. Rinse and repeat this process with a core focus on covering your high percentage areas.
2. Spinnerbaits
A spinnerbait is most likely the first bait I’ll throw when fishing a pond in the evening. They create a lot of vibration and flash, which can attract bass from a considerable distance. I like to use a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce spinnerbait with a Colorado blade, purely because these blades create more thump and vibration in the water. A junebug or black color is the optimal choice, purely for visibility in lower-light conditions.
I’m always looking for isolated cover with a spinnerbait. Whether it’s laydowns, brush piles, or perhaps a dock, I will try to cast my spinnerbait as close as possible to these cover points. A steady slow retrieve is my go-to for the spinnerbait, no matter where I’m fishing it. Any bump or deflection off a form of cover is a bonus.
3. Topwater Lures: Buzzbaits & Poppers
Most topwater lures make a lot of noise on the surface and this is easily detectable by nearby bass at night. For this reason, they’re a great option for eliciting aggressive reaction bites, and they can be a lot of fun. Buzzbaits are great options here because of the significant vibrations made by the blade. A 3/8oz size is a versatile choice, and you’ll want to again use a darker color pattern - as mentioned earlier, these colors are more visible to bass in lower light conditions.
Poppers also create a lot of wake and action of the surface, which is easily detectable by nearby bass. At night you can really fish poppers with an aggressive cadence, trying to create as much noise as you can on the surface.
These are just a few of the best bass lures for pond bass fishing at night. Remember to use darker colors and lures that create a lot of vibration to attract bass in low-light conditions. Experiment with different techniques and lures until you find what works best for you.
Conclusion
In my experience, bass fishing at night in ponds can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. While it may require some extra preparation and safety precautions, the potential for catching larger and more active fish can make it all worth it.
Some key takeaways from my research and personal experience include:
- Setting up a lantern or other light source to attract smaller prey and, in turn, larger bass.
- Targeting ambush locations such as points along the shoreline where bass are likely to be holding and preparing to ambush prey.
- Being patient and persistent, as bass may not always be as active or plentiful at night as they are during the day.
Overall, I would recommend giving night fishing for bass in a pond a try if you haven't already. With the right preparation and techniques, it can be really satisfying way to target bass. Often, these ponds are the systems we have the easiest access to, so understanding what works best for them means we can go for bass and be successful on a regular basis.
