I am curious how many others here have collected at night. I have found it to be the easiest way to find and net all the species I have in my tank, which are all about 3 inches. I go out after dark with my headlight and my dip net and just wade around along the shore in water no higher than my knees. The fish arent attracted to the light, but I find them all just sleeping, staying still, and as long as I dont make any sudden moves I can practically just shoo them right into the net no problem. Im sure this wouldnt work everywhere, but in a lake I think its the best way. Trying to dip net in the day is practically impossible. Even if you can find them in the shallows, they sure arent staying still. Does anyone else favor going at night? Does anyone have any other nighttime techniques to share?
Collecting at Night
Started by
Guest_TonsOfFun5_*
, Sep 09 2009 05:49 PM
9 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_UncleWillie_*
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Posted 09 September 2009 - 06:52 PM
I really enjoy going out at night. Not only for the fish, but you get to see all the other stuff like herps and crayfish. In streams, the sluggish areas are often scattered with minnows and darters (depending on location) and crayfish are out in full force. I have noticed that the sunnies stay closer to the undercut banks.
Sitting ducks if you ask me. It almost isn't even fair. If you are are unable to have a seining partener during the day, being alone with a dipnet at night is perfect - especially when wanting only a few particular specimens for your tank.
Sitting ducks if you ask me. It almost isn't even fair. If you are are unable to have a seining partener during the day, being alone with a dipnet at night is perfect - especially when wanting only a few particular specimens for your tank.
#4
Guest_TonsOfFun5_*
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Posted 09 September 2009 - 08:56 PM
Haha thats true there really arent any predators to be wary of here in CT. Gotta watch the toes for the occaisonal snapping turtle I guess. So do most people usually just seine with a partner during the day when they collect?
#5
Guest_fundulus_*
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Posted 09 September 2009 - 09:11 PM
A seine operated by two or more people is usually the most efficient way to collect fish in streams and ponds. A third or fourth person can be good in a stream to help chase fish into a net, either a stationary net or a moving net, sometimes called "darter dancing" or kick seining.
#6
Guest_CATfishTONY_*
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Posted 09 September 2009 - 09:14 PM
TonsOfFun5, hi we do from 4:01 am on, but it is unsafe.due to rocks and water flow.I am curious how many others here have collected at night. I have found it to be the easiest way to find and net all the species I have in my tank, which are all about 3 inches. I go out after dark with my headlight and my dip net and just wade around along the shore in water no higher than my knees. The fish arent attracted to the light, but I find them all just sleeping, staying still, and as long as I dont make any sudden moves I can practically just shoo them right into the net no problem. Im sure this wouldnt work everywhere, but in a lake I think its the best way. Trying to dip net in the day is practically impossible. Even if you can find them in the shallows, they sure arent staying still. Does anyone else favor going at night? Does anyone have any other nighttime techniques to share?
some fish such as the FORAGE FISH in ohio are fun to look @ others are better viewed in day.
#7
Guest_rjmtx_*
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Posted 10 September 2009 - 12:22 AM
Night time is the right time... to catch fish. Some of my best seining experiences went into the wee hours of the morning. It's amazing what you can seine up after dark. We usually pull nets by moonlight and flip our headlamps on (often to red to avoid bugs) when we pull the net up. Red lights are good for pulling nets, too. I don't like to haul nets with a white light because I'm not a big fan of eating flying bugs.
#8
Guest_gzeiger_*
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Posted 10 September 2009 - 12:49 AM
I find that I get a fairly different collection of fish at night than I do during the day. At one favorite location a typical daytime search will produce bluefin killifish, Gambusia, golden topminnows, bluegill, brook silversides, least killifish and fiddler crabs. A night search of the same area has produced American eels, bullhead catfish, juvenile bass, Macrobrachium shrimp, menhaden, one unidentified snake and more than my share of alligators. While Gambusia and bluefin killies can be taken day or night, there is little overlap in the other species. I've occasionally seen eels during the day, and I see the bass too but could never get close enough in daylight to ID them.
In summary, (1) it's probably worth a look at the same location during the day, and (2) down south here there are some places you just don't go at night by yourself.
In summary, (1) it's probably worth a look at the same location during the day, and (2) down south here there are some places you just don't go at night by yourself.
#9
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 10 September 2009 - 04:19 PM
Sure, whatever works. In New England you have the advantage of no poisonous snakes to speak of.
Hey that's a DIS-advantage! I constantly lament the lack of exciting venomous snakes in my area.
FWIW, Connecticut is the one New England state that has half way decent populations of copperheads and timber rattlers. Neither would be an issue to a night time adventure as they only move at night in very hot weather. Probably no more than a couple - few nights per season, if that. Plus neither would likely be right down in the water the way the cottonmouths are further south.
I do alot of night fishing in both salt and freshwater and occasionally break out the dipnet at night. I really like shining a bright light down among dock pilings or jetty rocks. You'll see creatures you never knew existed! You can also catch stuff sleeping that are difficult to catch awake.
BTW, the red light does more than deter bugs. Apparently the red light does not disturb nocturnal critters that shy from bright lights. I can vouch for the truth of the theory as I have kept numerous nocturnal lizards and snakes that display normal behavoir under the red light but hide from regular light.
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