Well now, if you’re looking to catch those Pikeminnows at night, let me tell you, it ain’t all that hard if you know what you’re doin’. Now, Pikeminnows, they’re a funny fish. They don’t much care for the daylight, but come nightfall, they sure get busy. You see, them fish like it when it’s dark and quiet. Just like folks do when they’re off to bed, Pikeminnows come out to eat when the world slows down.
Now, from what I’ve heard from the old-timers, the best time to go is from about 3 in the morning ’til the sun starts comin’ up. That’s when the Pikeminnows are most active. Ain’t no sense in wastin’ your time before then, ’cause they ain’t gonna bite. You can go ahead and try, but I bet you won’t catch nothin’.
What you need for bait? Well, it’s simple enough. Smelt and lamprey. That’s the kind of bait that’ll get them fish in a hurry. You don’t need no fancy lures or gadgets. Just keep it simple with deadbait rig. But, if you ain’t had no luck after an hour or so, you might wanna pop up that bait a bit, just to make it look livelier in the water.
One thing I’ve learned, though, is that dark nights are best for fishin’ near lights. That’s right, lights. It seems like the fish can’t resist ’em, so you wanna be fishin’ near lighted piers, boat houses, and marinas if you can. Look for the ones that are always lit up. And if they happen to be on or near a point or a breakline, well, that’s even better.
If you’re fishin’ in shallow water, don’t expect much. I’ve tried it, and it’s always a letdown. But if you find yourself near one of them spots with deep water, or somewhere with a good current, you might just strike gold. Don’t forget to check near the rocks or the edges of the riverbed, especially where the current is fast. That’s where them Pikeminnows like to hide.
Now, some folks say that you can find Pikeminnows at certain spots around Hayden Island. They like to hang around places with about 20 feet of water. I reckon that’s a good spot if you’re just starting out. But if you want the real action, you need to be fishin’ around the dams, stream mouths, or anyplace with pilings or ledges.
When’s the best time to fish for Pikeminnow? From May to June, when the water’s warmin’ up. That’s when the fish start to bite real good. Come late June, though, they’re at their peak. So if you’re lookin’ for the best time to go fishin’, that’s when you want to be out there.
Don’t forget now, it’s legal to fish for Pikeminnows at night in many places. You can even use them lighted lures, which helps a lot in the dark. But don’t go messin’ around with them submersible lights unless you know it’s okay. Some folks are still askin’ if it’s allowed or not, but best to check first.
So, if you’re headin’ out for a night of Pikeminnow fishin’, just remember: keep it simple. Use them right baits, get yourself to the right spots, and wait for them fish to start bitin’. You’ll be reelin’ in those fish before you know it.
Tags：[Pikeminnow Fishing, Night Fishing, Pikeminnow Bait, Fishing Tips, Pike Fishing, Northern Pikeminnow]
