planer board light solution

[Inbred]

Not sure if anybody ever thought of it before or not, but I finally came up with the ultimate solution (for me at least) for lighting in-lines at night. I've gone through years of messing around with bobber lights, reflective tape, etc.

My final solution? Glow bracelets. They are 8" long, and rather thin (about the size of a thin soda straw). They are the perfect length for most planer boards, so balance is not affected, and are light enough to not affect float. Lay the bracelet flat on the top edge of the board. A rubber band on the front end, and one on the back, and the entire length of the top of the board is lit up. It's beautiful. From the boat, it looks as if the entire board is lit, but I imagine it's not even visible from below, since it's riding on the top edge of the board. I don't know if the rubber band method would work with tattle flags or not; I don't use them.

Best thing of all, the bracelets are CHEAP. Going price is about 10 cents a piece (100 for $10). Cheaper if you buy in bulk.

Enjoy.

[Boatnut]

you have a source for these?
Mike (aka Boatnut)

"Many fish bites if you got good bait. I'm a goin' fishin', yes, I'm a going' fishin' and my baby's goin' fishin' too" Taj Mahal, "fishing blues"

[Inbred]

I originally found mine on ebay, but now that I'm noticing them, there all over the place. Google "glow bracelet".

I was at Bass Pro the other week, and my girlfriend was looking at the other junk while I was looking at boat stuff. She mentioned that she saw my stupid glow bracelets there.

A fishing partner of mine I just turned on to the idea said his wife just came home from the dollar store with a pack of 10 for a buck.

You can find them about anywhere; just not anywhere near fishing stuff.

[JerryA]

Great idea.

[Smithwick]

We have been using glow sticks as well for a couple of years. Have tried other "solutions" but keep coming back to the tried and true glow sticks. We run them straight up the flags and it works great. Simply put two wire ties on them underneath the flag on the "pole" part. Once you have them sized cut off the tag ends of the wire tie and you can just leave the rest of the tie there. When night comes just crack and glow stick and slide it down inside the wire ties. Works awesome and is simple and cheap. We find on big water and longer trips we like the bigger size straight stick rather than the bracelet. They are brighter so they are easier to see on the outside boards and will last all night long.

[Modog]

I agree with Smithwick. The glowsticks are quite a bit brighter than the bracelets. I had a hard time seeing the bracelets from a distance. Also, if the lake is busy at night, it's much easier for other boaters to pick out your boards with the glowsticks.

[Backwater Eddy]

Good ideas! I like it! You see them bracelets at convenience and dollar stores all the time. They may work on market buoys too?

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson
"ED on the RED"
><,sUMo,>

"I would rather go fishing and think of GOD, Then go to church, and think of FISHING"
*Grandpa Art Carlson*

[SS2]

I've used the bracelets off and on from two different sources. Couple of opinions - the std green seem best overall when compared to other colors.

I kinda agree with a few of the other comments about them not being as visible as some other options. If your on a dark lake, they seem OK but if you have a significant shoreline "background" lighting, they are not so good esp on the shoreward side - at least in cold weather/water. I'm not sure whether it's the cold or the background lighting or some combination... I kinda remember a bunch of moonlight affects their visibility too.

They do work very well with tattle flags & zip ties or elect tape but I'm switching back to the little disposable replacement bobber lights (Thill?) for late fall/winter.

Search Glow Sticks if you buy on-line and shop around. Pricing and minimum orders vary substantially. Note all glow stick products have a shelf life. Last ones I bought were in the bargin bin at an Ace Hardware @ 6/$1. They still stock them.

IMO, they are definitely worth a try if you haven't settled on anything and fish in dark places. I'd suggest a pass if you fish somewhere like most areas on the south shore of erie in maybe? the fall/winter. Definitely pass if you fish someplace like inside or outside near Cleveland, OH any season. I think I've had better results on some partially developed inland lakes but remember relying on the reflective tape & headlamp at least a few times when using the bracelets.

Good Luck,
Silentsixty

[Wables]

+1 on the glow sticks. I hit Walmart at 6:00 am on November 1st about 4 years ago and bought 2 cases of the Halloween light sticks at about a 75% discount. I must still have 100 of them. I like them because they are a bit smaller than the standard size, so they don't tip over my Offshore boards.