Night Crappies using underwater lights

I was told that the N.C. Forums is the place to go to ask about night fishing Crappies using underwater lights. I live in Wisconsin but was just down there and stayed in Hickory for a month for work. Man the people sure are friendly! I've been reading all about fishing crappies at night and would really like to try my hand at it. The lake I fish is way over crowded during the summer so I just want to beat the crowds and go at night. The lake I fish has a max depth of 60' and after the spring crappie bite, the crappie seem to disappear ! I know they gotta be somewhere and I think night fishing with lights might be the way to get them! Should I try setting up on a deep weed edge or a drop off of some kind? The lake really doesn't have any fallen timber or submerged stumps of any kind. I do know of a few fish cribs at about 20'. Maybe start there? I hope you guys can give me a few ideas of how to go about picking a starting point. I've got my boat all rigged and lights ready to go. I installed a separate battery just for the lights just so I don't run outta juice. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading this and good fishing to all of you!

The point of the lights is to bring the fish to you. In my opinion, the weeds you have take place of the brushpiles we have here. So the starting points you mention will be good places to start. Perhaps find a weed line near a drop. I would set up near that over the deeper water and let the lights do their job...
Good luck!

What Redboat said.

There are a couple of good posts from night fishing over the weekend with good success. You'll have to experiment some on the lake and keep reading the NC Forum. A lot of the guys will move to night fishing now that hot weather is here.

You will not run out of juice using a Reel-Lite.......All LED's ..... very low amp draw and plenty of light. Come in all sizes all the way up to the 714 LED size

When I look for a good night fishing spot.... I'm more concerned with fish traffic than an area that might hold a few fish. I like setting up where I know there is going to be a lot of fish traffic. The light will get their attention and draw them in and hold them for some time. Usually a drop off on a main lake point is the place to be for me or a hump on a main creek/lake channel. I'll usually move around a little till I find the best spot with the most fish traffic. There is always a "sweet post" at any such location. Moving around as much a few dozen feet will make a difference. If you're not marking fish.... don't expect your light to draw that many fish to you. As it gets dark, the traffic may get heavier on a different spot on a point. I usually catch over a hundred most times I go. A dark night is the best. New moon or cloudy night. That way there's no competing light source. Bridges are always good. If its a big bridge... one post may get more traffic than another. Trust your depth finder. I've stopped fishing bridges because of all the boat traffic. At High Rock... even a week night will see most spots taken at any of the bridges and you have dozens of lights competing for the same fish. Just not worth it to me. I've had people pull up close enough to me to touch in another boat trying to catch the same fish I'm after. Bridges are great if there arn't to many people there. Just some thoughts.

How long do you give a spot with the lights to produce before moving?

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Originally Posted by roach1

How long do you give a spot with the lights to produce before moving?

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1 to 2 hours after it gets completely dark. A good spot will start producing good by that time. A really really good spot will produce a few before it starts getting completely dark. I usually like to setup about an hour before dark or I'll go late afternoon and try to catch a few stripes before I setup. Nothing like a calm evening as the sun goes down on a beautiful lake. The shad will start to come shallow and work the top of the water. You can see them all over the lake most "calm" evenings. Its really my favorite time to fish. If its possible.... it'll make you love fishing even more. :)

Yep, what the rest of them have posted. I do alot of nite fishing on lake Hickory and do just what they have said, so I can not give much more info, but if you are back down this way give me a hollar (pm) and we will try to get togeather and go out one nite.

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Originally Posted by roach1

How long do you give a spot with the lights to produce before moving?

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about 30 minutes

Here's my two cents worth. First of all don't try to compete with the moon. Darker nights usually work better. Secondly, technically the lights don't draw the crappie, they draw the bait fish and the crappie come after the bait fish. If you are fishing in a lake that has shad they will follow the light. How long should you leave the lights? That depends on the bait fish. You will see them in the water. On a good night they will swarm the boat. I fish below the bait swarm usually about 7'-10'. Why? because that is were I most consistently catch the larger crappie. You may also want to put out a catfish rod with some shad on it. The bait draws all kinds of fish. Where you live you may even catch some walleye. Last thing. When I am night fishing I always use minnows instead of jigs because of all the bait in the water. Good Luck my fishing friend!:cheers2