Pro tip · Crappie
Fish 1/16 oz jigs or minnows at the edge of the light cone, just below the bait — crappie hold at the edge, not in the middle.
Night Fishing for Bass: Lures, Underwater Lights and Safety
Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated
Night fishing for bass pays off in summer when daytime water climbs into the high 80s: fish black or dark blue lures that push water — a big Texas worm, a Colorado-blade spinnerbait or a black buzzbait — on points and shallow structure near deep water.
Night fishing lures
| Lure | Why it works at night | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| 10 in Texas-rigged worm (black, black/blue) | Big profile, slow — easy for bass to track | 3/8 oz weight, 5/0 hook, 17–20 lb fluoro |
| Spinnerbait, single #5–#7 Colorado blade | Thumping vibration bass find by feel | 1/2–3/4 oz, black, slow-rolled |
| Black buzzbait | Noise and surface disturbance | 3/8–1/2 oz, 40–50 lb braid |
| Black jig with craw trailer | Bottom contact on rock and points | 1/2 oz, 17–20 lb fluoro |
Underwater fishing lights
A submersible green light hung off a dock or the side of an anchored boat draws plankton, which draws baitfish, which draws crappie, white bass, catfish and sometimes bass. Green light carries furthest in fresh water. Give it 30–60 minutes to build up bait before you expect predators to show.
Run lights on a separate battery from your starting battery. Check the current ADCNR regulations for the water you fish before using lights or fishing at night.
Pro tip · Bass
Lighted docks are bass magnets. Cast a swimbait or Texas worm along the shadow line where the light ends.
Pro tip · Depth
Set the light 2–6 ft down. Deeper lights pull fish up from deeper water in summer.
Night fishing safety
- Run with navigation lights on — required for boats underway between sunset and sunrise.
- Learn the water in daylight first. Stumps, shallow humps and channel markers are hard to see after dark.
- Wear a life jacket and the kill-switch lanyard, and tell someone where you are fishing.
- Carry a headlamp with a red-light setting to keep your night vision.
Questions from the ramp
Sources
- — Bassmaster — technique and tackle archive
- — Major League Fishing — tournament technique coverage
- — ADCNR Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries — Alabama fishing
- — Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — Marine Patrol boating safety
Data last reviewed: 2026-11-05