Updated 5/2/2007
As the summer temperatures begin to climb, a lot of fly fishers consider fishing at night. It is a great way to beat the heat. There are certainly fewer anglers on the stream after dark so it is a great way to obtain a little solitude on even the most popular stretches of water. The most important consideration is that this is when the big brown trout are the most active. These trout are pretty much nocturnal. The thirty eight pound seven ounce world record brown landed on the Norfork in 1988 was caught at night. They are just not that active in bright sunlight and generally do not get active till after dark. Rainbows, Cutthroat and Brook trout will also feed at night.
The best nights are cloudy and moonless. I t is best to start fairly late say ten o'clock and then fish until sunrise. That way, you are also in position for some great fishing very early in the day. Do this only when there is no generation.
The idea is to fish in a location that you are intimately familiar with. If it is new to you, visit it during the day and study the lay of the land. You want to know the places that would be the most likely feeding zones. You want to know of any potentially dangerous spots like deep water or heavy currents that should be avoided. You want to know where the best spots are to land a big fish and the safest places to wade. Finally, you need to know how to get out of there if the water comes up. My favorite places to night fish are below Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. That way if they decide to run water, you can hear the horn and get out of the river before the water comes up.
Since you cannot see an indicator or dry fly in the dark, you should concentrate on tight line techniques. This way you will feel the strikes rather than see them. You should fish streamers or soft hackles. With both techniques the angler faces down stream and casts toward the bank at a forty-five degree angle. With the streamer, strip the fly back toward you, in short bursts, after it has finished swinging in the current and is directly below you. Vary the speed of the strip until you figure out what the trout want. With the soft hackle, strip the fly as soon as it lands on the surface to put it in the surface film and then allow it to swing in the current. I prefer big flies especially streamers like woolly buggers, sculpins, and large soft hackles.
Since you will be casting big flies and hopefully landing large trout, use a stiff seven weight rod with a fighting butt. You should couple it with a matching reel that has a disc drag. I use big tippets, 3X on the streamers and 4X on the soft hackles. Always carry a big net and a camera with a flash. A thermos full of coffee and a snack or two is also a good idea.
I carry a variety of light sources. You can't land them if you can't see them. Wear a head light so that you can have hands free assistance in landing fish. I clip to my vest a small flash light with a flexible shaft and a red lens so that I can tie on flies or adjust gear without spooking fish or screwing up my night vision. Carry a cyalume stick to drop at the trail head so that you can maintain your orientation in the dark and always see your escape route. Then, just to be totally obsessive compulsive, carry a back up flashlight. Check all the batteries before you leave the house.
You should always fish at night with another angler. That way, there is someone available to help land big fish and get the photo. You can do the same for them. I also appreciate a little company on a dark moonless night. It can get a little spooky out there.
I completely rig up at the car where I have good light and will not spook fish. I carefully walk to the access and slowly and carefully make my way out to my predetermined fishing spot. I wait a few minutes before I start casting. I listen for any surface activity as I acquire my night vision. I have a fly line that I have marked the optimal amount of line that I can cast with a drop of super glue. I find that spot and begin slowly working the water. Both techniques I use are searching techniques. I quickly set the hook whenever I feel any action. I only turn on my headlight when I have a fish on.
Most of my big browns have been caught at night. If you feel up to the challenge, give night fishing a try.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has fished the local streams for over twenty five years. He can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or
http://www.berrybrothersguides.com .
The best nights are cloudy and moonless. I t is best to start fairly late say ten o'clock and then fish until sunrise. That way, you are also in position for some great fishing very early in the day. Do this only when there is no generation.
The idea is to fish in a location that you are intimately familiar with. If it is new to you, visit it during the day and study the lay of the land. You want to know the places that would be the most likely feeding zones. You want to know of any potentially dangerous spots like deep water or heavy currents that should be avoided. You want to know where the best spots are to land a big fish and the safest places to wade. Finally, you need to know how to get out of there if the water comes up. My favorite places to night fish are below Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. That way if they decide to run water, you can hear the horn and get out of the river before the water comes up.
Since you cannot see an indicator or dry fly in the dark, you should concentrate on tight line techniques. This way you will feel the strikes rather than see them. You should fish streamers or soft hackles. With both techniques the angler faces down stream and casts toward the bank at a forty-five degree angle. With the streamer, strip the fly back toward you, in short bursts, after it has finished swinging in the current and is directly below you. Vary the speed of the strip until you figure out what the trout want. With the soft hackle, strip the fly as soon as it lands on the surface to put it in the surface film and then allow it to swing in the current. I prefer big flies especially streamers like woolly buggers, sculpins, and large soft hackles.
Since you will be casting big flies and hopefully landing large trout, use a stiff seven weight rod with a fighting butt. You should couple it with a matching reel that has a disc drag. I use big tippets, 3X on the streamers and 4X on the soft hackles. Always carry a big net and a camera with a flash. A thermos full of coffee and a snack or two is also a good idea.
I carry a variety of light sources. You can't land them if you can't see them. Wear a head light so that you can have hands free assistance in landing fish. I clip to my vest a small flash light with a flexible shaft and a red lens so that I can tie on flies or adjust gear without spooking fish or screwing up my night vision. Carry a cyalume stick to drop at the trail head so that you can maintain your orientation in the dark and always see your escape route. Then, just to be totally obsessive compulsive, carry a back up flashlight. Check all the batteries before you leave the house.
You should always fish at night with another angler. That way, there is someone available to help land big fish and get the photo. You can do the same for them. I also appreciate a little company on a dark moonless night. It can get a little spooky out there.
I completely rig up at the car where I have good light and will not spook fish. I carefully walk to the access and slowly and carefully make my way out to my predetermined fishing spot. I wait a few minutes before I start casting. I listen for any surface activity as I acquire my night vision. I have a fly line that I have marked the optimal amount of line that I can cast with a drop of super glue. I find that spot and begin slowly working the water. Both techniques I use are searching techniques. I quickly set the hook whenever I feel any action. I only turn on my headlight when I have a fish on.
Most of my big browns have been caught at night. If you feel up to the challenge, give night fishing a try.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has fished the local streams for over twenty five years. He can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or
http://www.berrybrothersguides.com .
Night Fishing