After dark the torrid heat abates -- unlike the appetite of the bass in the reservoir! Photo by Charles Johnson.

As the sizzling summer sun slips below the horizon, many boaters head for home after a long hot day on the water. The sultry heat fades to an increasingly tolerable level as night falls on Logan Martin Lake, and the water grows ever calmer. Most anglers are putting the rods and lures away -- but others are just beginning to get theirs ready.

Summer nights offer reduced boat traffic and more-comfortable temperatures for those out to fool old Mr. Bass on this Coosa River impoundment. "It is a lot cooler," said David Austin of Munford, a regular on Logan Martin night-fishing trips, "and less boats are on the water at night."

It also doesn't hurt that when the water temperature falls after dark, bass tend to move in shallower to feed.

In recent years, night-fishing for summer bass has grown increasingly popular at this impoundment. Some marinas on Logan Martin even hold weekly tournaments at night during the summer months. As many as 30 boats participate in these after-dark events.

What areas of the lake are apt to be profitable at night? "Fish the same areas you would normally fish during the day," Austin advised. He also suggested that you consider points leading to shallow flats, areas over weedbeds or lighted piers as likely places to search for night-time bass on Logan Martin. Humps are also worth checking out, as bass move up shallow in search of food.

Weedbeds are prime choices for after-dark bass, too. The fish move up along the weed edges searching for baitfish or other forage. Most weeds on Logan Martin are along shallow banks or points, but you should direct special attention to the larger weedbeds near deep water.

How about lure selections for nighttime angling? "When night-fishing for bass, it is hard to go wrong with a black or dark-colored bait," offered Weaver angler Greg Davie, who has fished at night on Logan Martin for many years. "I prefer a black spinner bait in the 3/8- to 1/2-ounce range."

Both Austin and Davie agree that the No. 1 choice for nighttime bass is a dark-colored spinnerbait. These lures should have a single large Colorado-style blade to give off plenty of the vibration that attracts hungry bass. Some spinnerbaits have rattles, which can make the lure even more enticing to the fish.

It may seem odd that black is an effective color for night-fishing lures. How can fish see a black lure in the dark? "The bass are underneath the water," Davie explained, "looking up to a dimly lit sky. The lure is silhouetted against the sky, making it easier for the bass to see."

"Go ahead and take the time to super-glue a plastic trailer or grub to your spinnerbait," said Austin. "This will save time, and prevent you from having to adjust the trailer in the dark every few casts, or after catching a fish."

Austin prefers a blue twin-tail grub to enhance the silhouette of the spinnerbait. "A surefire technique is to fish heavier spinnerbaits, around 5/8 ounce, near bluff walls on the river bank," he added. "Retrieve the bait very slowly back to the boat -- just enough to keep the blades turning."

With the commotion that they create on the water's surface, noisy topwater lures like buzzbaits or prop baits are also smart choices for attracting bass after dark. When working these, keep the retrieve steady to allow the bass to home in on the sound.

Dark-colored jigs also work on after-dark bigmouths. Tip the jig with a soft plastic or a pork trailer to give it a larger profile. Fish them around brush, weeds or rocks to simulate a crawfish, one of the bass' favorite meals.

Large soft-plastic worms, also in dark colors, are savvy picks for nighttime bass anglers. Curlytail or ribbon-tail worms alert the bass to their presence through vibration. Eight- to 10- inch worms work well for big bass and -- a big plus -- are virtually weedless.

Don't be concerned about line size for nighttime bassin'. Heavier pound-test lines won't be detected in lightless waters, and often prevent breakoffs when a hooked bass gets into cover or structure.