Lights for night fishing

[Don..SD]

I fish the Missouri river system and I am planning my first night fishing trip. On a night without moonlight what should I use for navagation so I don't end up in the rocks. I have a hand held unit but that seems like alot to hold on and fish at the same time.

Any pointers would be great.!!!!!

[Hans]

Go out before dark and mark the hazards on your GPS, then avoid those spots in the dark. My GPS allows you to put "Hazard Icons" (instead of "waypoints") so you don't use up your allotment of waypoints. Also, they look different on the screen.

[Corey]

I was planning a night fishing trip in the near future and I thought I could just use a couple of large hose clamps to mount a spotlight on the top of my bow mount trolling motor. If I was trolling around with it the light would point in the direction I turned the motor. As for travelling with the big motor I would have to use a handheld light probably. If you have the extra money there are special lights made for boats. They are very powerful spotlights that mount in the hole of your bow(below the spotlight they have the red/green light). They come with a remote control cervo motor that provides 360 degree turning radius. I seen these in one of my walleye mags, so I will have to some looking through the piles to find the company name. I do remember the price though and it was around $250 American.

[Lou in Alex.]

Don- If it's your first trip at night- even with a GPS- fish an area that you are very familiar with.Navigation at night is far more difficult- and dangerous- that during daylight hours.Hazards are hidden, and it's difficult to judge distances correctly.Keep your running lights on.Use a spotlight while traveling, and also to signal an approching boat.If a boat is traveling in my direction, I always grab the spotlight and give it a quick flash to ensure an approaching boat sees me.I use a snakelight for tying hooks, rebaitng, and for landing fish. It can be warn comfortably around your neck, aimed easily, and keeps your hands free.Be careful- and good luck. Lou in Alex.

[Mac]

Get a head light. That is a light that fits with a band on your head. Switch it on when you want to see anything, like netting, letting out line, changing lures, etc. Always have one more flashlight than you think you will need. Don't go out alone unless you have a death wish.

[Fin Addict]

I assume you are talking about a spot for use when trolling. At that speed you should not need a light. I generally try to run w/ as little light as possible - just running lights. Once your night vision kicks in, you can see quite well. Pay attention to your electronics -GPS and depth finder - and stay in areas that you know well and you should have no trouble. I don't know a lot of people who will fish w/ me at night so I generally fish alone but wear my life jacket, kill clip and take it easy at night. As for running from spot to spot I prefer the hand held spot to the bow mount unit - have both - easier to aim and scan the hand held. They do sell night vision units like the military uses - they look pretty slick if one were inclined to spend the $.

[Ernie]

I have a few lights for my night fishing. A headlamp allows for both hands to be used and the light is directed to where you look. A regular flashlight is in my gear bag. A spotlight for running is helpful. I had rigged a handle that fits securely in a rod holder. My spotlight has an accessory plug to run off the main battery. I also use an old clip-on utility light with a 12V bulb that I attached an accessory plug to. It provides quite a bit more light than the courtesy lights in the boat and can be clipped on many places in the boat, and it can be directed in or out of the boat.

[REW]

If you have a hand held GPS - and are going to rely on it for navigation -- insure that you have a back up system. Things fail.

Also, depending on the type of boat you have - console or tiller - you might want to make a mount for the GPS - so that you don't have to hold it in your hand. You can even use some sort of bungee arangement to hook it to your depthfinder, or better yet - if you can - if you have a steering wheel - make a pipe arrangement - so that it is close to your line of vision over the steering wheel so that you can clearly see the GPS at night - without taking your hands off the wheel.

This is where a larger console mounted GPS comes into play. The larger display allows the GPS to be further away, and still be clearly seen - when driving the boat.

I 2nd the comment about using minimum lights at night. Your night vision - can allow you to see very well - if you don't kill it with bright lights. Use red lights that aren't too bright - it really lets your night vision kick in big time and you will find that you can do very well at night. If you have a bit of moon light so much the better.

With a big spot light - your vision is limited to the range of the light. However, if you don't use any spot light - and let your night vision work, you can see much further.

If you get one of the Perko -- or equivalent tall stern posts -- that direct all of the white stern light out (not down) - it meets the requirements for lighting without blinding you in the boat.
Depending on what type depth finder you have - you might need a shield to cut down the light from the depth finder. If you have a depth finder like the LMS350 or X-85 with its excellent cold cathode illumination - it is far too bright for good night vision use. Get some red plastic to cut down the glare from the screen at night.

If you intend to do a lot of night fishing -- rig up permenant lights on the inside of your boat - that shine downward. Place them around your boat - so that you can do anything required in the boat without tripping or falling.

Another thing that many folks that do a lot of night fishing is to use one of the pedestal boat sockets - near the primary fishing seat -- and place a 5 or 6 foot pole in the socket. Then they place an ordinary reflector socket on the end of the pole aimed downward to illuminate the entire boat - or to be rotated so that it can illuminate bobbers or for netting fish. Then the folks use ordinary 12 volt light bulbs -- which work very well indeed to light up the entire boat for excellent fishing.

This light works very well for netting fish - initiall setting up the boat - or taking down - and also for knot tying or other general purpose applications. The only problem with a light like this -- it is so bright -- that it effectivly kills your night vision for 30 minutes or so - after it has been shut off.

If you are going to be doing night trolling -- I suggest that you use something like Stren Florescent line. This line glows in the dark when hit with a spot light. It is a real aid - when recovering a lure from a snag - when netting fish, because you can follow the line with the light to the water.

Above all -- keep it simple. Have only the rod that you are using out -- don't want to trip over anything. Have the very minimum tackle out - pliars handy for unhooking fish, and the net handy for netting. Keep everything else stowed and off the floor and out of the way.

Keep your life jacket on, keep a cell phone in the boat, and above all - let someone else know exactly where you are going and when you are returning -- and call on your cell phone if you are unable to meet that schedule. It really helps to keep those close to you from worry.

Take care - be safe - and catch a bunch.

REW

[Backwater eddy]

Finadict is right on the mark! Too mush light just lets you see your own area well, and the rest out there is blacker then ever, use as little light as you are able to function with. Tape the front section of the stern light helps reduce the glare also. Boat lights should face down to the floor and not run when they are not needed.

Keep a jacket on at all times and know were you are! Know the area is a key to safety and success on night trips. Heading into uncharted areas at night is a bad idea!

Night vision wear is great stuff but very $$$$ !
GPS and lighted markers are a good way to make night trolling pass's on the mark.

I fish a lot of night action and this is a tip I personally find helpful. Were good sunglasses right up to sun set and all that day, protect your eye's from sun stress, this will help your night vision by not having burnt out retina's when you venture into the dark. Works for me? My eye's get sun stressed easy so I try to take good care of them.


"Backwater Eddy"

[Backwater Eddy]

There was a unit like that on EBAY last I looked. I seen it and checked it out in Overton's they sell for $245 and drop into a attwood style stern light plug.

They are wireless remote, nice unit! I plan on upgraiding one of my night rigs for that with extra base's to alow front and rear spoting capability. Very flexable system! You could put a base anywere you may need it, camper, ATV, boat dock, etc....

Backwater Eddy..........><,,>

[walleyewisdom]

The remote control light seems nice. Go to GOLIGHT.COM. Saw it on Outdoor channel