Smallies At Night

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Smallies At Night

Take A ‘Bass On Steroids’ Lesson From Noted Dale Hollow Anglers By Dave Freeman

I reeled down, using my rod tip to lift the Punisher Hair Jig, before letting it drop to the next rock ledge.

As I walked it down into deeper water, lowering my rod tip I feel an ever-so-light bump.

Putting all my energy into my arms I set the hook.

In seconds a four-pound 20-inch bronzeback broke the surface of the calm night water.

The fight was on.

THE NIGHT BITE

With all the popularity of night fishing for smallmouth bass in area rivers and lakes, the staff of Ohio Valley Outdoors decided to visit the Mecca of nighttime smallmouth fishing, a destination Ohio Valley anglers often visit.

We joined the gurus of night fishing (and the now-famous float and fly method for taking cold water smallies) on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee, the reservoir that produced the world record 11 pound, 15 ounce smallie netted by D.L. Hayes in 1955.

Our goal was simply to fish with several different local fishing guides and legends, learn as much as we could about night fishing for smallmouth, and return to the Ohio Valley to put what we had learned in practice chasing local bronzebacks.

Our fishing partners for our two-day excursion into the nighttime world of the smallmouth were friend Bob Coan (a noted Dale Hollow fishing guide and Billy Westmoreland look-a-like), Ralph Sandfer (long-time friend of Bobs, and noted fishing guide), and Stephen Headrick (owner of Punisher Lures Inc.) – also known as the "smallmouth guru."

Marina owner and friend Jack Huddleston of Horse Creek Marina explained that night fishing has become increasingly popular both in the south and in the north for several reasons: During the hot summer the fish are more active at night, and anglers have the opportunity to fish in cooler, more pleasant conditions.

As local recreational lakes become besieged with pleasure boats and other watercraft it is harder for the fisherman to get around and find a place to fish during daylight hours. On the other hand, nighttime anglers enjoy light traffic and more aggressive smallies feeding closer to the surface.

We found that while Bob, Ralph, and Steve’s lure selection, fishing speed, type of rods and reels, and lure presentation varied somewhat, but the basics for night fishing for smallmouth was the same.

A BRONZEBACK BUFFET

Using a Punisher hair jig/plastic chunk bait combination we would fish within 40- or 50 feet of the rocky Dale Hollow shore. We would then cast as close to the shore as we could without getting hung up on some overhanging log or branch or getting caught up on some other type of shore debris (of course that never happened to us).

The jig is made from an acrylic fiber that is used to make troll dolls’ hair stand up, and this is what sets it apart from other hair jigs. Jigs made from other fibers tend to take on weight and lose performance, while this hair jig maintains its fish-grabbing action. The jig sizes vary from 1/16- to 1/2 weights and come in a variety of colors.

Inserted into the chunk bait was a Punisher rattle that imitates the action of a defensive crawfish. This rattle is designed to make a clicking sound (like crawfish make when fleeing predators) and its weight distribution allows it to perfectly imitate the movements of the smallmouth’s favorite source of protein.

The weight of the jig depends on the depths fished and colors are chosen depending on the colors crawfish become as they progress through their lifespan. All three guides use a spray on attractant in garlic or crawfish scent called "Fish Dope," and made by Punisher Lures.

TECHNIQUES

After casting we leave the spinning bale open to let the bait settle to the bottom before reeling in the slack. Using the feel of the rod tip we would raise the rod until we felt our bait leave the bottom, then lower the rod tip again as the lure dropped to the next rock ledge.

In addition to feel, we used 14-pound test, six-pound diameter FireWire to form a loop or elbow as Steve called it, which stopped when the lure hit bottom. The firline glowed under special-equipped black lights attached to the boat.

A smallmouth will take the bait into its mouth, and line elbow will stop and, sometimes but not always, create a very slight bumping sensation.

When this happens you have only micro-seconds to set the hook, and with the hard mouths of smallies you better set it real good.

Take it from someone who knows -- if your hook is not barbed to the barb old mister bronzeback will take the bait, run to the surface, and jump out of the night water while spitting it back at you.

If you see or feel the bump, set the hook immediately and set it good! The next 10 or so minutes are a pure adrenaline rush as the fish tailwalks across the black calm water.

The sound of a smallie breaking the surface is hard (if not impossible) to express in words. And on all but the darkest nights the sight of mister smallie performing to your rod orchestration is a thrill unequaled.

For those who haven’t tried this exciting alternative to hot summer daytime fishing our southern host had a few tips:

* First and foremost be safe. Night fishing offers additional boating challenges and regulations. Make sure you are obeying all the additional laws and regulations. Make sure night fishing is permitted in your area or on your favorite lake.

* A personal floatation device is a must, if not at all times at least anytime the boat is moving, but again check local and state regulations.

* Small clip-on lights that attach to your hat are a must when replacing or changing a lure.

* Bug spray is a definite.

Changing fronts will effect night feeding as much or more than day. When the moon rises and lights up the lake, fish will feed just like they do before dawn and at dusk.

Having plenty of cold drinks and warm clothes for the trip back (and an understanding family) will make night fishing fun, exciting and enjoyable. After all that is what you’re going to do anyway SLEEP.

Special thanks to guide Bob Coan, 866-233-2471; Ralph Sandfer, 877-214-9698; Steve Headrick, 931-243-6133 or e-mail (punisherjigs@punisherjigs.com web site www.punisherjigs.com); and our good friend and host Jack Huddleston at Horse Creek Marina, 931-243-2125.