Twilight Time

By Richard Ziert
 
“Heavenly shades of night are falling – It’s twilight time”.             – Circa 1944 
 
This endearing melody has been recorded again and again by such as The Platters, Anne Murray, and Andy Williams. It is a love song. Its lyrics give support to those who fish late afternoon into evening. The song speaks of the mist of evening with purple curtains, deepening shadows, a rendezvous beneath the blue. Hum along with me as we grow nostalgic; as we see ourselves at these times.
 
There’s something here that goes beyond face value and into the night. Common knowledge tells us both the break of day and the approach of night are twilight time, and prove productive times to fish. The nuances of such conditions can further our catch.
 
WW2 - Bomber Command was tasked with the night bombing of Germany , and wore red-lenses in goggles for about an hour before flying a mission to provide night adaptation of vision. Submariners switch to red light before opening the hatch at night. Because white light briefly degrades night vision, these goggles or lights are designed to reduce the adaptation time from light to dark.
 
But what of this transition period for fish? Most experienced anglers notice a complete bite shut down after twilight for about an hour? Coincidence? Not hardly. These fish are adapting to their own form of night vision and are temporarily vision impaired. Timing and our place in the moment is everything in life. So it is with fish and fishing. For greatest percentage bets, fish shallow initially at twilight. Then as the black of night approaches, fish somewhat deeper, or  more shaded areas. These fish who were never shallow and have the foraging advantage of less light penetration, have already adapted to the light change. After about an hour, go shallow again if you wish.
 
“Together at last at twilight time.”

Comments

[Pup]

This is so true of my own personal experience with the shallow water bass bite shutting down for about an hour after dusk. Now I have a theory as to the why. Thanks.

"Workin on our night moves...
In the summertime...
In the sweet, summertime..." - Bob Seger

[richard ziert]

Hey Pup, Thanks. "Night Moves" is also a love song, or maybe a prelude. :>)

Rich