1st night fishing session

[wireforever]

i am taking my two sons (12 and 10) for our first night fishing session later this month and would like some help on stuff to take, (for fishing and comfort) and tips on tactics or 'how to's' would be more than welcome.
i have spoke to the owner of the place and got tips on what bait works there, but any 'generic' advice would be greatly recieved!!
we are only beginners so don't have the extent of kit that i read most of you chatting about as we're at the stage where i guess most of you were at once, (the first set of kit before you started upgrading )
we've all caught up to 9lbish but where we're going has up to mid 20's i believe and we'd just be happy to get that 1st elusive double

[ringo]

a couple of torch"s is a must, hot drinks,make sure you have what you will need to hand ie bait,torch,scales nothing worse than having a fish on the bank while your searching for something.make up some pva bags or net before dark and if you can tie up some rigs so you can change easier if you catch.

[kermit]

The essentials items to take:

• A torch.
• Another torch.
• A spare torch.
• A big pack of batteries for all aforementioned torches (you get the message!)
• Plenty of food and drink and a camping stove for knocking up something warm
• Plenty of warm clothes (+ spares). Even in summer, it can get surprisingly chilly. Wooly hats are good for when you are in your sleeping bag.
• The best form of shelter you have available to you. If you're just starting out and a family tent is the best option for keeping you all warm and dry, don't let anyone's silly 'Argos carper' comments put you off taking it. You're out to enjoy yourself and stay warm, you are not entering a fashion parade. Be aware that some venues don't allow 'camping tents' though.
• Freezer bags and loo roll (I'll let you work out what this is for!)
• A camera with a flash (nothing to do with the above bullet point mind)

As for general tips, stick with methods and tactics you are used to and are comfortable with. The middle of your first night is not the time to try to learn new things! Have plenty of spare rigs ready to go and keep your camp as organised as you can so everything can be found in the dark (it is never easy when you're on a high after a fish). With all items, try to get into the habit of having somewhere that everything lives - and try to put it back in its place when you've used it. In particular, make sure your scales, unhooking mat, landing net and camera are all readily available to ensure the fish is cared for as well as possible.

Worth checking the weather forecast before you go too. Plenty of stormy weather around at the moment and (I'll get shot down for this) dealing with monsoon conditions on your first ever night may just put you off.

Knowing how the attention span of young kids can work, consider getting a few floats with night lights in (Drennan ones work well for this). If there are plenty of fish in the venue, floatfishing for a the first few hours of darkness could be a good way of easing the boredom of waiting for an alarm to go off. Plus, floatfishing at night is hugely entertaining!

Above all, the most important thing to ensure is that you all enjoy yourselves! Good luck and let us know how you get on. I look forward to seeing all 3 of you holding doubles

Mike.

[Chesh]

floats with night lights are superb for kids i remember watching them as a junior.. the eager anticipation as it starts to dip.... then having to re-adjust your eyes lol

i would go somewhere pretty safe too.. not steep banks or objects that could be tripped over in the swims etc... pretty much most of the above is spot on, warm clothes, plenty of tea making equiptment or hot orange making (kids dont like tea that much lol) and some torches for the kids and head torch for you

i think for kids that age and if they are into their carping then its all about enjoying that first experience of night fishing, listening for the sounds of the nocturnal animals, seeing the ripples of a rolling fish and thinking hhmmm where did that come from.. awesome

Enjoy it matey... you will never forget it

[Blue]

Excellent advice there Kermit, anyone would think you've been night fishing before..

In all seriousness though, as the scouts say 'Be Prepared' is the best advice I can give Just make sure your all going to be warm enough, have spares just incase one of you runs into the lake or something silly, have plenty of food and drink etc, and you'll be fine.

The tightest of lines bud, and let us know how you get on

p.s Don't be watching films like Dog Soldiers, Blair witch, Korda Underwater, Jacko's Thriller Video etc the night before you go either, simple things like the noise of a shrew eating a seed are magically transformed into a 9ft monster eating the bloke in the next peg down in your mind if your not careful.....

[ChrisKnapper]

Originally Posted by Blue

simple things like the noise of a shrew eating a seed are magically transformed into a 9ft monster eating the bloke in the next peg down in your mind if your not careful.....

FPMSL Blue

Chris

[kgleeson]

Keep the kids warm, it still goes cold early morning. So as above best shelter(s) you can get warm clothes / sleeping bag and a stove for hot drinks. don't let the kids near the stove

Spare set of clothes in the car just in case of any accidents and spare footwear. If they are anything like mine one will end up in a mess some how or other.

Get your spots marked out in the day time. Find good markers on the far bank such as trees, building etc that you know you can see in the dark.

Walk your leads out don't rely on line markers. So when you have that first double you can walk your rig back out, clip up and get another.

Torch and spare batteries, make sure your buzzers have good batteries or you have spares and don't forget the camera for the photoshoot.

Good luck.

[wireforever]

this is all good and i'm taking notes on notes it's weird how daunting something is when it is unknown to you, it's all probably second nature to you guys now. thanks for all replies received (and still to receive hopefully ) and thanks for the p.m's you know who you are! all tips are making it seem that little bit less daunting

Originally Posted by kgleeson

Walk your leads out don't rely on line markers. So when you have that first double you can walk your rig back out, clip up and get another.

can u explain what walk your leads out means please, ta

[the bear]

you will all have a top time blue,let us all know how you get on

[kgleeson]

Hi m8

When you have cast to your spots and are happy clip up and reel in. Lay your rod on the ground by a marker so you know where it is. Put your baitrunner on etc.. then walk down the path or bank with your rig. When you hit your clip mark the spot with a peg or bankside marker. usefull to pace it out as well and write it in your diary.

Then at night when you have had a fish do the same put your rod down on your marker and walk the rig out to your marker. Go back to rod put line in clip cast back out to spot happy days

Don't forget to take the line out hte clip though. You don't want to lose any rods in the night.

Kev

[Lee Clarke]

Originally Posted by kgleeson

Hi m8

When you have cast to your spots and are happy clip up and reel in. Lay your rod on the ground by a marker so you know where it is. Put your baitrunner on etc.. then walk down the path or bank with your rig.

Kev

Line twists???

[kermit]

Originally Posted by Lee Clarke

Line twists???

Since this one is in the 'beginners' forum, here's a bit of info for those that don't know. If you run line off your reel via the baitrunner (or clutch), the line is constantly being twisted as it peels off the rotating spool. This results in lots of lovely tangles when you let your line go slack(have a play and try it if you don't believe me!).

If you want to run line off you reel (for marking your distances, threading line through your rod, tying on a hook etc.) it is far batter to open the bail arm and allow the line to spill off the lip of the spool, or allow the reel to backwind. Both these methods will significantly reduce the twist in your line.

Mike.

[kgleeson]

I use a rig doctor regularly so dont have this problem

Update
Open your bailarm and don't use bait runner or clutch.

[kermit]

Have you been on your trip yet Wireforever? If so, how did you get on?

Mike.

[wireforever]

Originally Posted by kermit

Have you been on your trip yet Wireforever? If so, how did you get on?

Mike.

not yet mate, it's me lads birthday on the 30th, so was looking for that weekend, then a show at haydock was advertised for the same weekend (he's also been after goin to one of these) so might be a midweek overnighter (should be quieter too hopefully!)
and i'll be sure to let ya's know how well (or bad) we did.

p.s all tips have been processed so if we do crap, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULTS!!

but really, thanks guys!