Turn you freaking lights OFF

[STREETFIGHT]

i've been on the bass the last 5 mornings right at false dawn/first light- they've been rooting sandeels in skinny water and i've been doing pretty well swinging the fly rod for them. this morning i get in the water at 0330 and the fish are right up on the beach when this kid home from school for the summer comes driving over checks my rig on the street and hits it w/ a 10,000 candle power spotlight walks all the way around it shining the light in it- then he hits me and the water w/ the lamp & starts walking down to me hitting me w/ the light the whole time- when i realized it wasnt a cop i almost unloaded on him. the catch was when he says "i take it your fishing?" what a schmuck...

[steve]

I agree with SEA Dangles. I always thought and was taught that lights atnight will spook stripers until I went fishing with the On The Water crew one evening one October night. Safe to say that with two camaras rolling there was alot of light shining on the surf right were we were casting. It didn't seem to bother the fish though as we had two big bass and some smaller ones. I couldn't believe it.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by steve

I agree with SEA Dangles. I always thought and was taught that lights atnight will spook stripers until I went fishing with the On The Water crew one evening one October night. Safe to say that with two camaras rolling there was alot of light shining on the surf right were we were casting. It didn't seem to bother the fish though as we had two big bass and some smaller ones. I couldn't believe it.

I pretty much agree. If the lights ruin the fishing, its only temporary at worst and the fish usually return shortly.
I agree with the hound to the point that its a distraction/pain in the butt. You feel exposed more than anything else.On the beach it used to piss me off because a lot of guys would light you up with their headlights just to see what was going on.I've caught plenty of large fish in the canal standing right under the lights though.
Which lights exactly I can't rememeber.

An enlightening topic nonetheless.

[FishermanTim]

Bright lights will temporarily spook the bass because they do not like bright lights. That's why they go deep during the day and come into the shallows at night. I have come across quite a few fishing with a lantern and will always give them the same comment: "You must be targeting blues, because the stripers don't like the light."
Then I explain that shining a light on the water in short bursts is ok, but to keep the light on constantly will drive the bass elsewhere.

I used to show people, a few years back, when the pogies were in Duxbury by shining a spotlight on the water to show the bait erupting on the surface. I would shut it off quickly and ask them to listen for the bass to come charging in and nailing the bait that had congregated at the surface. They were surprised, and were less likely to keep their lights on after that.

I would suggest that when you encounter someone with "Diogenes Syndrome" you may want to explain the error of their actions before chastising them. If they ignore you, then by all means, rip into them.

[zacs]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Bright lights will temporarily spook the bass because they do not like bright lights. That's why they go deep during the day and come into the shallows at night. I have come across quite a few fishing with a lantern and will always give them the same comment: "You must be targeting blues, because the stripers don't like the light."
Then I explain that shining a light on the water in short bursts is ok, but to keep the light on constantly will drive the bass elsewhere.

i respectfully disagree with most of your points.

A) Bass do not fear sunlight. I have personally seen/caught bass in shallow water in the day, especially early & late in the season. I would say that they do not like warm water, which drives them deep in the days of summer (i think).

B) Bass do not fear fixed artificial lights at night. I have personally seen/caught bass under the lights of the newport bridge, jamestown bridge, great island bridge, and several other fixed lights.

c) Sometimes bass fear moving lights (flashlight, car light) but sometimes not. I have been on a dock shining flashlight around the dock to find bass cruising, and then drifting worms to them and shining my light on the worm and watching them suck down the worms. a very cool sight, although cost prohibitive with the cost of worms now.

Anyway, i don't think it is a big deal, except for ruining your night vision.

JMHO.

[FishermanTim]

Originally Posted by zacs

i respectfully disagree with most of your points.

A) Bass do not fear sunlight. I have personally seen/caught bass in shallow water in the day, especially early & late in the season. I would say that they do not like warm water, which drives them deep in the days of summer (i think).

Bass do not like sunlight, as much as you would like staring at the sun. That being said, they will endure the discomfort in the pursuit of food. That is why you can catch good sized bass during the day in spring and fall, but not much during the summer. During the summer days the practice for big bass is "go deep", where they will wait until dark. Oh, and yes the water temps do play a part, but usually not until we hit the "dog days of summer".


B) Bass do not fear fixed artificial lights at night. I have personally seen/caught bass under the lights of the newport bridge, jamestown bridge, great island bridge, and several other fixed lights.

I agree, but if you flash a bright light on them, they will take off.
It may simply be a matter of them not wanting to lose their night vision as much as we do.


c) Sometimes bass fear moving lights (flashlight, car light) but sometimes not. I have been on a dock shining flashlight around the dock to find bass cruising, and then drifting worms to them and shining my light on the worm and watching them suck down the worms. a very cool sight, although cost prohibitive with the cost of worms now.

They will definitely attack a prey that is lit up, since they are primarily an ambush hunter. You light up the "prey/bait" and you've made it easy fior them to spot the bait. I would be surprised if they stayed in the light after hitting the target.

Anyway, i don't think it is a big deal, except for ruining your night vision.

JMHO.

You made valid points, and I just wanted to clarify what I meant in my original comments.

[Kierran]

The fellow with the lantern last night really put a damper on my outing too. I'm contemplating only fishing after midnight after the clowns go to bed.