[Bluecat]

The night fishing is starting to pick up on Beaver. White Bass and Crappie can be caught under lights around bluffs or tie under the Hwy 12 Bridge. Ive fished liked that for over 20 years and Ive probably caught more white bass doin that than you could pile in a semi trailer. Just Kidding, but Really Ive caught thousands of them. Ive caught so many that the live wells in my Bass Cat would be literally full of fish piled up and spilling all over the boat. I dont even know the exact number of fish that Ive caught on these trips because I just didnt really keep up with it. I know one time I took a guy out there and he said he wanted to keep every single White Bass we caught for a fish fry. I told him he didnt know what he was getting into, but he insisted he would clean every single one. So we started throwing them in the live well. I had already thrown back at least 10. About 1 am when the white bass could no longer fit in the live wells and they were just laying all over floor in my boat, I guess he decided he was ready to head to the house. See I wanted to keep fishing, but he thought we had enough fish. So we left I wound up having to help him clean the fish. We didnt count them, all I know is when we got done we had over half of a five gallon bucket of just fillets. More like 2/3 of a Five gallon Bucket. I think he had enough for his fish fry.
But anyway I wanted to give some tips that Ive learned in just over 20 years experience of fishing that way. Also Ive literally worn out probably 6 or 7 reels Catching white bass with lights at night.
Right now one of my biggest gripes is these green lights everyong is using. Years ago we just had a piece of foam with a headlight in it. We would catch more fish than you could emagine. Now everyone thinks brighter is better. I do use a brighter light now, but it is of the white type. i had a green light because I thought they were the bomb, but for some reason I cant hardly catch a fish while using a green light. And if someone in another boat is nearby I cant hardly catch any fish either. I dont know why it is. Ive had people say well thats because all the fish has gone under their boat. No thats not it remember I had a green light. and if the fish is under their boat how come they catch very few if any.
A few night ago I went. We pulled up set every thing up and waited. Nothing for a long time then the guy tied about 30 feet away decided to leave he had green lights. As soon as he left I started catching fish. I caught 18 Whites in about 30 minutes the guy that was with me caught one. Then here comes somebody and sees me catching some fish so they pull right up by us and tie up and throw a green light in the water and they caught one as soon as they got there and that was it. The fish just quit instantly. We sat there for several hours and maybe caught 2 more. Then someone else with a green light put in on the other side of us. I caught more fish myself than all the people combined around me they all had green lights Just in about a 30 minute time span that no green lights were around me.
Ive figured out in the last few years that when there is green lights around me I dont catch much, but they dont either. If they are using live shad they will catch some fish, but not alot.
Ive used every thing that can be used to fish this way and my favorite bait is a Lindy Fuzzy Grub The ones that are white bodied with a white and pink tail. I also like Yellow and White Jigs. Ive used every color you can think of. Ive used minnows Ive used Shad. But I like jigs the best. You dont have to fool with live bait or catching shad and I will usually catch more fish off jigs than anyone around me. If the fishing is really slow live bait might beat me by a few, But when the bite gets to goin really good, no live bait will hold a candle to the jigs I use. i will admit though it is easier to hook the fish when using live bait. Using a jig like that under lights is a little bit difficult. You will hardly feel anything as far as a bite. usually just a slight bump on the line and you have to set the hook very quickly. Ive fished with people who just could not get it down. I could catch 80 or more fish and they would catch 1 or 2 But there are also several people that can do it just fine. the guy that was with me the other night is a good fisherman and he was having trouble, but he will get it down.
Now as far as crappie goes I think minnows would be the thing. I do catch them on jigs at night, but the jigs probably wouldnt beat minnows. But I still think a white light will beat the green lights.
I am convinced about the green lights. From now on Im going to go somewhere else to fish to get away from all the traffic under 12 bridge. 20 years ago on weeknights not one person would be out there. On weekends there would only be 3 or 4 boats . Ive seen it in recent times where you couldnt even get under the bridge hardly for the boats tied under it. They would be tied from one end to the other.

 

[reel_mccoy]

I've been wanting to try this but it is all new to me. What kind of light should I get? What do you look for in an area to fish? Is it a deep water thing? Does the moon make any difference? I am guessing its not a quick thing but takes time to get fish going? I will be fishing in the sidewalk hole or blue springs area. Sorry for rambling but I really want to give it a try while the jugs area soaking.
Thanks,

 

[Bluecat]

I've been wanting to try this but it is all new to me. What kind of light should I get? What do you look for in an area to fish? Is it a deep water thing? Does the moon make any difference? I am guessing its not a quick thing but takes time to get fish going? I will be fishing in the sidewalk hole or blue springs area. Sorry for rambling but I really want to give it a try while the jugs area soaking.
Thanks,

I like to fish with a light sometimes myself when the jugs are soaking. I like to fish with a light in at least 30 feet of water. I slayed the whites before sitting in 18 feet of water, but I recommend deeper water. In the hot summer the thermocline in Beaver may be as deep as 40 or 45 feet, but more like 30 to 40. When that time of the year gets here you want to be fishing in at least that depth of water. Up in the areas you are talking about fishing it may not even be 30 feet deep at the deepest area. The sidewalk hole is in War Eagle and I know most of war eagle is not 30 foot deep. It might be at the sidewalk hole. the sidewalk hole is in war eagle in that 180 degree bend in the river where the dirt boat ramp is? Is that right? I dont think the water up in the rivers developes a thermocline like the deep end of the lake. If it does it might be only 10 to 12 foot deep. Some good fish finders will show you the thermocline when you get the settings right. If you are fishing with a light and you get out over deep water you can see at what depth the fish are on a fish finder. I think Dark of the moon is best for fishing under lights. But The full moon is the best for catching catfish. I always catch the bigger cats during the full moon.
Ive always thought about fishing with a light in Blue Springs Right under the bridge Ive just never done. One time I went under the old 412 bridge that was there and i was doing pretty well, but I had the ole lady with me, and she got in a bad mood so you probably know how the rest of the story went. LOL I didnt get to stay out there as long as I would have liked. I do think you will probably catch mostly crappie in those areas. I would think the whites would be farther on down the channel. Ive always wanted to try it right in the mouth of war eagle right on the point on the east side of the mouth of War Eagle. Or at the mouth of Piney Creek Cove on that main point on the left looking into Piney Creek.
And as far as lights goes I prefer the white lights. Just the regular white lights. There is this big thing now about green lights. Ive tried them and I dont like them. They do draw fish, but catching them under the green lights is more difficult. When I first seen them I thought I should run and get me one. Well It took me awhile to figure it out, but I went from just catching more white bass than anyone could imaging to wondering what the heck was going on. Well it took me awhile to figure out it was that light. Now I dont use live bait I use jigs, and people who do use live bait do catch some fish with green lights. The way I see it, why fool with live bait when I can use jigs and catch just as many or more fish than they are. But if your fishing with the kids live bait makes it alot easier to actually set the hook. Most of the time the fish will just hook themselves. Fishing with jigs is fairly hard under lights at night the fish spit the jig very quickly and they bite really light. So you barely feel the fish and then if you dont set the hook instantly hes gone. The white lights will work best I think for all around use. There are alot of people out there that would disagree with me on that, but Ive been fishing under lights in Beaver for over 20 years. And I feel like ive got it figured out pretty well. In the waters I fish the white lights are better there is no doubt in my mind.

 

[Smellycat]

Lots of good info Shannon, Ive been hearing a lot about the virtues of the white lights vs the color lights. I hate to hear it, since I have invested so much in several of the green ones, but I do have one of those old car headlight ones set in foam that I bought at a yardsale for 2:00 that I can dig out of the garage.
Thanks

 

[belliott]

Personally I like the floating headlights. I bought a submersible last year at the Wally world. It's a cheap white light made by Berkley. I would say it works ok. I prefer the floating light because it helps light the area around the boat which makes it easier to see your line if using muiltiple rods.
I fish for crappie while the jugs are soaking. I'll fish 2 or 3 rods with minnows and fish one rod with a black jig. I catch as many on the jig as I do the minnows. I fish the War Eagle and Hickory Creeek areas. I'll be out there Friday night. I hope to catch a quick limit and then go do some rod fishing off the channel at Hickory Creek.

I've been wanting to try a spot there for quite awhile, It's sorta across from the old Hwy 264 boat ramp. Bluffs on one side and a point that swings out into the channel. We did some trolling in there a couple of weeks ago and got a couple small blues and some guys jug fishing caught a 30 plus pound flathead.

 

[sink r swim]

I like to fish with a light sometimes myself when the jugs are soaking. I like to fish with a light in at least 30 feet of water. I slayed the whites before sitting in 18 feet of water, but I recommend deeper water. In the hot summer the thermocline in Beaver may be as deep as 40 or 45 feet, but more like 30 to 40. When that time of the year gets here you want to be fishing in at least that depth of water. Up in the areas you are talking about fishing it may not even be 30 feet deep at the deepest area. The sidewalk hole is in War Eagle and I know most of war eagle is not 30 foot deep. It might be at the sidewalk hole. the sidewalk hole is in war eagle in that 180 degree bend in the river where the dirt boat ramp is? Is that right? I dont think the water up in the rivers developes a thermocline like the deep end of the lake. If it does it might be only 10 to 12 foot deep. Some good fish finders will show you the thermocline when you get the settings right. If you are fishing with a light and you get out over deep water you can see at what depth the fish are on a fish finder. I think Dark of the moon is best for fishing under lights. But The full moon is the best for catching catfish. I always catch the bigger cats during the full moon.
Ive always thought about fishing with a light in Blue Springs Right under the bridge Ive just never done. One time I went under the old 412 bridge that was there and i was doing pretty well, but I had the ole lady with me, and she got in a bad mood so you probably know how the rest of the story went. LOL I didnt get to stay out there as long as I would have liked. I do think you will probably catch mostly crappie in those areas. I would think the whites would be farther on down the channel. Ive always wanted to try it right in the mouth of war eagle right on the point on the east side of the mouth of War Eagle. Or at the mouth of Piney Creek Cove on that main point on the left looking into Piney Creek.
And as far as lights goes I prefer the white lights. Just the regular white lights. There is this big thing now about green lights. Ive tried them and I dont like them. They do draw fish, but catching them under the green lights is more difficult. When I first seen them I thought I should run and get me one. Well It took me awhile to figure it out, but I went from just catching more white bass than anyone could imaging to wondering what the heck was going on. Well it took me awhile to figure out it was that light. Now I dont use live bait I use jigs, and people who do use live bait do catch some fish with green lights. The way I see it, why fool with live bait when I can use jigs and catch just as many or more fish than they are. But if your fishing with the kids live bait makes it alot easier to actually set the hook. Most of the time the fish will just hook themselves. Fishing with jigs is fairly hard under lights at night the fish spit the jig very quickly and they bite really light. So you barely feel the fish and then if you dont set the hook instantly hes gone. The white lights will work best I think for all around use. There are alot of people out there that would disagree with me on that, but Ive been fishing under lights in Beaver for over 20 years. And I feel like ive got it figured out pretty well. In the waters I fish the white lights are better there is no doubt in my mind.

I just wondered how you fished the jigs? Do you just drop them down and lift and drop again while reeling in a bit or cast them out and bring them back slow? Or what? I've tried some night fishing with a white light but the only ones I've caught were with minnows. Thanks

 

[sink r swim]

bump

 

[belliott]

I live up the road from the old 264 launch ramp. I have a friend that does alot of trolling in the area you are talking about and the Nelson Hollow cove. He catches some really nice crappie in there. I need to fish down there more. I usually pull the boat over to War Eagle and crappie fish over there. I seen some guys that caught a 42 lb. flathead out of the small cove you are talking about earlier this summer on a jug. I've thinking about baiting a hole around that point and channel, to have a place to take the kids to catch cats.

When I fish under lights I use minnows, and I'll throw some black jigs just to keep from getting board and I'll also just jig them around the light.

 

[Bluecat]

I just wondered how you fished the jigs? Do you just drop them down and lift and drop again while reeling in a bit or cast them out and bring them back slow? Or what? I've tried some night fishing with a white light but the only ones I've caught were with minnows. Thanks

Its been so long since you asked this question I dont even know if You will get it. Man how time flies.
I like to use 1/8 oz. jig heads at the minimum. 1/4 at the biggest. If there is alot of wave action and wind you might have to use 1/4oz head to stay in contact with the jig. You could use a White crappied jig with a black body and red head it will catch some fish. Ive also caught them on pearl and yellow road runners with the turbo tails. My favorite is a Lindy Fuzz E Grub in a pink and white. Just use a round ball jig head to match.
How I fish a jig? first find the depth the fish are at. One way is to cast your line out to the side of the boat about 20 to 40 feet. Depending on how deep the fish are. Then just let the jig fall the whole time keeping a tight line waiting to feel just the slightest peck, then set the hook quick.
Another way is to let your line straight down 2 or 3 feet at a time. If you use a spinning reel open the bail let the jig down and when you feel it hit the end of the 2 or 3 feet drop then kinda lift your rod tip up letting line out at the same time then hold the line and drop your rod tip letting the jig down another 2 or 3 feet. After doin this for awhile you will get to know the timing of how long it takes to feel the jigs weight every time you let out 2 or 3 feet. The fish will hit on the drop and you wont feel it, but after you have the timing down when you drop your rod tip and you dont feel your jig in the amount of time it takes to usually feel it set the hook.
Then when you get your jig down to the depth the fish are at just slowly, very slowly reel a little then maybe give it a little twitch then just sit it still for a few seconds then reel it just a little bit more very slow. The whole time waiting to feel just the slighest peck. It will feel alot lighter than a perch bite sometimes but when you set the hook on it and its a 3 or 4 pound white That is when the drag squealin starts. LOL.
Sometimes if there are some waves rockin the boat you can just get it down to the right depth and let the waves make all the action and the fish will hit it.
After getting the hang of it you can let 6 to 8 feet of line off at one time, but get your rod tip down and wait to feel your jig because that way you will be ready to set the hook.
The trick to this is setting the hook instantly when you feel the the light tap. Set the hook with a straight up jerk and dont be afraid to do it Like you mean business. Alot of people when they first try this will feel the tap, but they will not react quick enough you have to be concentrating and ready to instantly set it.
Its so strange how A big white bass will just tear a rod out of your hands in the daytime when they strike, but at night they bite light as a feather. Sometimes they will give you a good tap. Get you some white lights and stay away from the people with the green lights and if you are in the right spot and you get good shad under your lights you can slaughter the whites and I do mean slaughter.
A slow night for me used to be 30 to 50 whites. A normal night was usually above 80 fish. Ive had nights where we would leave by midnight or 1 am and it dont get dark until 9pm and we would have maybe up to 150 fish.

 

[sink r swim]

Its been so long since you asked this question I dont even know if You will get it. Man how time flies.
I like to use 1/8 oz. jig heads at the minimum. 1/4 at the biggest. If there is alot of wave action and wind you might have to use 1/4oz head to stay in contact with the jig. You could use a White crappied jig with a black body and red head it will catch some fish. Ive also caught them on pearl and yellow road runners with the turbo tails. My favorite is a Lindy Fuzz E Grub in a pink and white. Just use a round ball jig head to match.
How I fish a jig? first find the depth the fish are at. One way is to cast your line out to the side of the boat about 20 to 40 feet. Depending on how deep the fish are. Then just let the jig fall the whole time keeping a tight line waiting to feel just the slightest peck, then set the hook quick.
Another way is to let your line straight down 2 or 3 feet at a time. If you use a spinning reel open the bail let the jig down and when you feel it hit the end of the 2 or 3 feet drop then kinda lift your rod tip up letting line out at the same time then hold the line and drop your rod tip letting the jig down another 2 or 3 feet. After doin this for awhile you will get to know the timing of how long it takes to feel the jigs weight every time you let out 2 or 3 feet. The fish will hit on the drop and you wont feel it, but after you have the timing down when you drop your rod tip and you dont feel your jig in the amount of time it takes to usually feel it set the hook.
Then when you get your jig down to the depth the fish are at just slowly, very slowly reel a little then maybe give it a little twitch then just sit it still for a few seconds then reel it just a little bit more very slow. The whole time waiting to feel just the slighest peck. It will feel alot lighter than a perch bite sometimes but when you set the hook on it and its a 3 or 4 pound white That is when the drag squealin starts. LOL.
Sometimes if there are some waves rockin the boat you can just get it down to the right depth and let the waves make all the action and the fish will hit it.
After getting the hang of it you can let 6 to 8 feet of line off at one time, but get your rod tip down and wait to feel your jig because that way you will be ready to set the hook.
The trick to this is setting the hook instantly when you feel the the light tap. Set the hook with a straight up jerk and dont be afraid to do it Like you mean business. Alot of people when they first try this will feel the tap, but they will not react quick enough you have to be concentrating and ready to instantly set it.
Its so strange how A big white bass will just tear a rod out of your hands in the daytime when they strike, but at night they bite light as a feather. Sometimes they will give you a good tap. Get you some white lights and stay away from the people with the green lights and if you are in the right spot and you get good shad under your lights you can slaughter the whites and I do mean slaughter.
A slow night for me used to be 30 to 50 whites. A normal night was usually above 80 fish. Ive had nights where we would leave by midnight or 1 am and it dont get dark until 9pm and we would have maybe up to 150 fish.

Wow! I was trying some nightfishing back in the summer of 2010 and asked that question. I didn't see an answer and then forgot about this forum. Just now I was actually looking for a completely different subject (How to catch the big shad on Beaver Lake with a cast net...which I didn't find an answer to yet) and came across this post. Then I remembered it from the past. Thanks for eventually answering and in good detail. I don't know that I fully grasp it but look forward to trying it when it warms up.

 

[arky]

On the shad you can see them topping on the surface at dawn and dusk and cast in them areas. During the day and night you can see them on the depthfinder and throw the net out. Sometimes on Bull Shoals I have to add rope so the net can sink deep enough to reach the sad as they may be 30 ft down. I use a 10 ft net..