You can catch many large bass by fly fishing at night. Bass feed heavily at night on flies. I find I have my best success with bugs and streamers which send out heavy vibrations as I strip them through the stream. The Shenandoah Chugger size 4 is very effective on the surface. The Murray’s Stonecat Streamer size 4 and the Murray’s Sculpin Marauder size 4 are great streamers because their large heads create a great commotion.
I wade downstream, well away from the riverbanks so I don’t catch tree limbs on my back casts. I cast down and across stream at a 20 degree angle. Then strip the fly ten inches every ten seconds with a firm, loud line-hand stripping action. I want to attract the bass’es attention and have him rush to grab my fly. I use my Folstaf wading stick to probe the streambottom ahead of me so I don’t step into deep areas. Just to play it safe, I wait until after the middle of June when the river is warm enough that I can wade wet (without waders). This is much safer than using waders.
I always select sections of the river that I’m familiar with so I know easy areas to get into and out of the river. I don’t want to run into barbed wire, itch weed and steep muddy banks.
Normally I cover 100 yards of river thoroughly in two hours by wading and fishing downstream by fanning my casts to both the right and left. If I even suspect I feel a bass’es strike I set the hook firmly with both my line hand and rod simultaneously.
I carry a small waterproof flashlight that hooks onto my hat or vest. In order to simplify my need to replace my leader tippet, I use my Bright Butt 9ft 0X Leader.
Fly fishing at night for bass is a great amount of fun. I usually have the river all to myself.