Night Fishing for Eyes

[whateverisbiting]

I get up very early for work so I have not done a lot of night fishing.  Thinking I might try to get out for eyes this year.  Looking for tips on trolling shallow water like 5-10' inside weed line (that's where most boats seem to be at night).

 

1) Is a gas motor ok or does it need to be electric?

 

2) Live bait or plugs?

 

3) Long lining or short lining matter?

 

4) go to plugs to try (color, type and size)

 

 

 

[Borch]

Well I night fish eyes about 1/2 of my walleye outings.  I mostly pull cranks and in 3-12 fow.  I'll try answer your questions 

1) Gas motor will work fine as long as it will troll down to speed.  I rarely troll cranks slower than 1.7 mph.  Usually 2 mph give or take will get you bit.  But vary speeds and through some "S" turns in to see if they want if faster or slower.  Trolling motor is nice when casting to specific spots fish are holding.

2)  For me its 90% cranks.  Live bait early in the evening on the edge with a jig or lighted float can be deadly.  Can be good shallow if the fish are holding in a specific shallow spot, (weeds/rock).

3) Depends.   I usually start out with 75 feet back to start and adjust.  Some nights the guy running shortest gets the fish first.  Other nights you need 200 feet of line out to get bit.

4) Man thats a tough one.  I have two crank boxes in my boat, one each for short and long baits.  Each box holds 120 baits and I have another 20 or do in other boxes. I probably own 400 cranks and should down size. My favorite skinny water baits(4 fow or less) are (ssr5)shallow shad rap 5, shallow floating rattlin rogues, yozuri crystal minnows.  Then shallow(4-7 fow) would be 11 floating raps, ssr7, husky jerk 10, shallow flicker shad 7, xrap 10, jointed 11 rapala.  The for more than 7 fow husky jerk 12, suspending rogues, thundrrsticks, 5 or 7 shad rap, flicker shad 5 or 7.  Colors, hard to go wrong with perch,  fire tiger, gold/black on darker nights.  On moon lit nights, clown, chrome, silver are good options.   Starting out its good to hd ave some natural/dark and flashy/bright options for each depth range.

[whateverisbiting]

Thanks very helpful!  My new bible of night fishing to get started!

[ANYFISH2]

Wow, that's some great information!

[Borch]

Just scratching the surface of what I think I know. 

 

The fish and other fishermen keep teaching me new things. 

[KidMoe]

With that detail Borch I could spend all summer trying the different suggestions and combos! Very well done sir! 
 

I might have to venture away from Pool 4 to try out some clearer water for night time eyes!