I have had both great night bites on Sawyer and no bite nights as well. One of the best topwater nights I have ever had (Next to lake Wapatoad a few weeks ago with Baker) was on Sawyer. Launched around 9:30 and did not get a fish until about 12:15 then it was pure pandamonium. Throwing a 5 inch perch pattern jointed floating Rapala. At one point I had a fish in my hand and pitched the Rapala over the side of the boat after I unhooked the fish. Then about a second later SMASH!!!!  Right next to the boat and my rod is heading into the lake. I hand the fish of to my dad and said hold this I am busy as I cranked in another fish. It was crazy like that for about 2 hours. For a while it was a fish on almost every cast you made. They were mostly decent fish as well..... You know what the no bite nights were like ..... We have all had them.

Went out again last night from 7-10:30 with my buddy and I boated a 1lb and 3lb smallie and 2 2lb largies.  This morning took another friend and fishing was much slower except for some dinks.  Then we went to one of my favorite spots and boated a nice 5lb largemouth.  Minutes later my buddy, who is a new to bass fishing, hooked a nice 3-4lb fish.  He had it all the way to the boat and put a little too much pressure on it and broke the 6lb line.

Went out yesterday around 6:30-10pm and only landed 2 in the 1-1.5lb range along with some dinks.  Lost a nice largemouth that was around 3lbs at the boat.

Sawyer is good on flats and around the docks across from the launch...the point with the deep water docks.
Heddon torpedoes in black with white stripes and chug-bugs work well too...i might have to get over there also.

My buddy Dan and I went last night around 7-10 and boated some fish.  I caught a 1lber and one around 2-2.5lbs smallie and Dan landed a 2.5lb largemouth along with a number of dinks.  I missed a huge hit that nearly took the rod out of my hands.   I don't know what it is lately, but I've been losing a lot of fishes lately. 

Black is definately the color of choice. Put  bead on texas rigged worms or rattles in your tubes to help.

Jdub, everything thrown at night should be black, or so I've read over the years.  I haven't had much luck at night, but I'll definetly be night fishing the next full moon it if falls close to a weekend.

I have had good luck in the past using a Black Spinnerbait with a large colorado blade.  Throwing at the bank and slow rolling it back to the boat.  They just hammer it.

BillB

I guess I am going to have to pay closer attention to where you are fishing next time Says.    

I was throwing a white spinner around one of the islands after it got really dark.  Seemed like a possibility at the time, but to no avail.  Where is the most likely spot once it gets dark?  Points?  Drop offs?  Maybe the problem is, I don't change my thinking between fishing during the daytime and fishing at night.  ???

-jw

Rob,
That is true about taking 1-2 hours before they start biting. I've seen it happen at every lake I've ever fished at night. I usually fish for something else or get out well after dark. It's like the fish have to change gears or move to where they are more easily catchable.

I've noticed when fishing at night that they don't bite well right after it gets dark. Usaully takes about two hours before they will start to bite again. This has seemed to be true on different lakes and ponds here and when I was in California. Maybe it's just me not figuring them out for a few hours, but that's what I have noticed. The best bet is probably a noisy bait, like a crank or even topwater.

That's weird because I catch most of my nice fish after it's pitch black.  I've only had one night that I didn't get one bite at night.  I'll be back out there next sunday with the full moon.   I like to go when it's really hot out and all the skiiers and boaters are out forcing the fish into deeper water.  Then when it cools they'll be out feeding.

Jwalzer,

I don't believe you are doing anything wrong. I to have fished there several times after dark with little to no success. I just believe it is one of those lakes that shuts off after dark.
Russ

I too was out there Sunday night.  Only managed 3 fish.  My girlfriend caught a small LM and I caught a SM dink and one that went about 2.5 to 3 pounds..  While he wasn't all that big he put up one hell of a fight.

We didn't catch a thing after it got really dark.  I have to admit that I haven't had much luck at all on this lake after dark.  Not sure what I am doing wrong, but I just can't seem to manage much after it gets really dark.

-jw

Went out to Sawyer again last night and nailed a 2lber or so along with a few 1-1.5lb fish.  Lost two nice size fish at the boat.