I just returned from my first night-fishing trip of the year.  The Fishing Professor Jim McDonnell and I were in the Iowa Great Lakes region, an area noted for its clear water and big walleyes.  Typically, clear lakes are best for night-fishing.  In the fall, many bodies of water are clearer than usual, and clear water usually indicates that walleyes will be very active at night. That is what we found on this trip to the Iowa Great Lakes region.  However, almost everywhere across the Midwest there will be a good night-bite for walleyes if the water is clear.  The things that we did to catch walleyes in Iowa are applicable wherever old marble-eyes swims.

 We trolled spinners and crankbaits behind Off Shore in-line planer boards starting at about three in the afternoon with marginal success. Only a couple of short walleyes were fooled by our lures.  Then, just as the sun descended to the treetops, one of the boards surged back, indicating a strike.  A walleye in the seven pound range escaped us right at the net, but we didn’t have time to lament its loss.  Another board was flopping on the other side of the boat.  This one had a five pound walleye on it that we were able to net.  That’s the way it went for the rest of our time on the water.  The fish, all nice ones, got active just as the sun went down.

 Although the sun was down, the boards were still needed.  The fish in clear water can be extremely spooky, and the boards can be of great help.  They get the bait out away from the boat, reducing the spooking factor the boat creates.  The Off Shore boards have flags that an angler can attach a light to, making it easy to keep track of them when it’s dark. 

 Night-bite fish can be very color selective.  We had a variety of Frenzy crankbaits out, both the original medium diver Frenzy and the new Frenzy Minnow.  The walleyes didn’t care which Frenzy we used as long as it was the firetiger color.  We tried several color patterns, but firetiger was the only one they would hit.

 It seemed the action got even better when we shut the big outboard off and trolled with the 9.9 Mercury four stroke motor.  This little guy is really quiet, and it appeared that that made a difference.

 Organization is critical when night-fishing.  Landing nets, needle-nose pliers for removing hooks, flashlights, everything you may need must be in it’s own place where you can find it easily.

 Night-fishing might not be for everyone.  In fact, if the fish bit as good during the day as they sometimes do at night, I would prefer to fish during the day.  However, at times the walleyes, especially the big ones, just bite better after the sun goes down.  You can bet that my most recent night-fishing adventure won’t be my last one.

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