![]() ![]() There are always exceptions to the rule and opportunities may present themselves earlier or later during the trout season depending upon conditions. Peak times to target trout using this technique would be from July to September. FISHING IN THE DARK YEAR WINDOWSIf you love to hunt big fish and chasing trophy trout is a passion, mousing can provide the angler with one of the biggest windows of opportunity to cash in on Michigan’s big trout. The advantage of fishing in a boat is priceless, not to mention the safety factor, but the ability to cover water can, and on some nights will, make all the difference in the outcome of your trip. Fishing with a friend or a guide is a great way to increase your safety and knowledge of the water you will be fishing. Night fishing can be safe as long as you take the time to learn the water you are fishing before the lights go out. Many people are unsure about fishing in the dark and mousing is not for everyone. There are plenty of lunar charts on line and having a couple of your favorites bookmarked will aid you in planning your next night time adventure. FISHING IN THE DARK YEAR FULLDark nights tend to be more productive and knowing when the full and new moon cycles occur will help you to determine the best times to go. You want to keep the fish interested long enough to elicit a strike. ![]() Remember mousing is a game of cat and mouse. Another option is you can move it with a steady pace creating a constant wake behind the fly. You can move your fly with popping strips, let it drift and then move it again. Knocking on as many doors as you can night after night will definitely increase your success. It never hurts to have a few addresses as well. Fishing the outside and inside banks of the river will also help you locate areas fish might be utilizing in the dark. PresentationsĬasting tight to the bank is a must, remember that mousing is a searching technique and you want to cover the water thoroughly. Having an understanding of all four elements will dictate your outcome. Fly placement, casting angle, pace, and moon phase are all keys to success. As with most fly fishing techniques presentation is very important. It will often leave you on the edge of your seat. Fishing on rivers such as the Pere Marquette and Manistee River will allow the angler plenty of shots at trophy sized trout. Trust me when I say “the night time is the right time and mousing is a hair raising experience!” The technique is aggressive and explosive, and much like streamer fishing you are targeting the larger predatory trout in the river. In Michigan we need the night time to make it work with conviction. It has provided anglers with a plethora of species to target and different times of day to achieve success. This technique has been around since before my time. Mousing is a form of night fishing that has gained considerable popularity here in the Midwest over the last ten years. However, I still feel lthat mousing is your best shot at the largest trout of the year. I love the Hex hatch and the opportunities it provides an angler to cast at larger trout feeding on the surface. In addition we locate new fish that have not shown up on the radar as of yet. This is our second chance to seek out the larger trout we missed during the Hex hatch. The crowds are gone and food is limited making for some hungry predators roaming about in the dark. A technique we commonly refer to as “Mousing” provides us with the means to perform at night. In my opinion this is the time of year that the night fishing really begins to take off. ![]() They start breaking down their rods and reels and hanging their waders up until next year. As the Hex Hatch winds down a lot of folks will retire for the season. However the larger fish in our rivers still prefer to hunt during the darkest hours. Terrestrial fishing is beginning to heat up and our weather has shifted to warmer and more humid days and nights. By the middle of July the majority of our hatches have come and gone. Traditionally people start fishing after dark beginning in mid June with the onset of our Hex hatch. Night fishing for trout is a way of life here in Michigan. ![]()
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