Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 23

that feeding forays will happen when the bait is easy to
capture and in large numbers. My theory is that to escape
the keen eyesight of Walleyes and other predators, the
bait moves into the shallows at night. But, as day breaks,
the bait faces an assault from aerial predators and needs
to get back into the deep water to hide. It is at this point
that the opportunistic styles of the Walleye come into
play. Its unique eyes are adapted to feeding primarily in
low light conditions and make the perfect tool for the
ambush of minnows.

How

My basic rig for this fishing is a 7-foot, medium heavy
fast action spinning rod with a 4000 reel spooled with
8-pound monofilament line and a 15-pound fluorocarbon
leader. The heavier action rod is needed when the big fish
come out to play. You need quite a lot of force driving a
1/16-ounce jig head into the toothy mouth of an 8-pound
Walleye. On that front, I am primarily using scented
swimbaits, ringed or smooth paddle tails. I prefer the
smooth, slender profile of paddle tails paired with a 1/16
or 1/8 jig head. The lighter rig allows for maximum time in
the strike zone, often a slow and steady retrieve is needed.
For me, there has to be silver or orange flecks in the soft
plastic. Jigs and soft plastics are cheap in comparison to
stickbaits and crankbaits. Removing a single jig hook out
of a fish's mouth in the dark is a lot easier than removing
trebles as well.
While fishing at night, snags are inevitable. Tree
branches may be lower than anticipated when casting
into tight spots along with sunken logs and large
boulders that will damage your gear. The retrieval speed
is critical. The running depth, and even size and color,
can make the differences between a few fish or a dozen.
Pay attention to where you are casting. Let the lure sink
before beginning a retrieve. I count how long it has been
sinking before I start my retrieve. Keep your mind sharp,
and pay attention to the details. I try to retrieve as slowly
as possible without hitting bottom. Smaller, aggressive
fish are typical early in the season, but I have caught
fish over 5-pounds in late September. By mid-October
to early November, when the water is below 50 degrees
F, you should be ready for bigger fish. In December, the
giants show up. When cold snaps hit, big fish bite. Do not
let high, muddy water deter your efforts. I have fished
a creek mouth at flood stage, and I caught 10 or more
Walleyes all over 24 inches. How they can locate such
relatively small lures in zero visibility conditions is credit
to their senses. Another factor is the moon. If I look
back at my historic data, all of my "big fish" nights have
come on new moon cycles or extremely cloudy evenings.
The darker the better. The Ohio River has no shortage
of artificial light. Walleyes use any available light to its
advantage. I advise keeping your headlamp off. Giant
Walleyes have made it through a lot to attain this size.
Treat these Walleyes as you would hunting a wary old
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When night Walleye fishing in the fall and winter, dress for
the elements. Wear layers.

buck. You are stepping into their domain. Conditions
have to be ideal for Walleyes to roam the shallows looking
for dinner.

Elements and safety

Fishing at night in the colder months presents
challenges. First and foremost, dress for the elements-
wear layers. Use a line conditioner as freezing fishing
line and guides is a battle in the cold. I keep 2 or 3 rods
on hand to have one "thawing" on the shore, so I can
continue fishing. Another important tool is a headlamp.
I always have two headlamps. You never know when one
will stop working. When it is extremely cold, I wear a
pair of wool gloves with a slip-over mitten. Tying knots
in the dark with cold fingers can be tedious without
having your fingers exposed. Wool also can get wet while
maintaining its thermal properties. Fish with a partner,
or at minimum, let someone know where you are fishing
and when you expect to return.

Follow up

Night fishing can be a viable option for many anglers
who are at work during these short days. Give it a try,
and you may turn nocturnal for most of your river
fishing trips.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2019

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019

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