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Choosing the Right Fishing Lights for Night Fishing
Night fishing offers a unique and serene experience that's quite different from fishing during the day. To make the most out of your nocturnal angling adventures, selecting the right night fishing lights is crucial.
This article will guide you through various lighting options, helping you make an informed decision for your next night fishing expedition. Maximise your night fishing with essential fishing lights, bivvy light and head torch.
The Allure of Night Fishing
Night fishing offers various benefits, including increased fish activity and reduced visibility for the fish. To ensure a successful and safe night fishing experience, prepare your gear before darkness falls.
Keep essentials like your lighting and net easily accessible, pack away potential hazards, and have bait and tackle within reach.
Understanding the Importance of Proper Lighting
Night fishing requires proper illumination for several reasons. Firstly, it enhances safety by illuminating your surroundings. Secondly, it aids in setting up equipment and baiting hooks. Lastly, certain lights can attract fish, making your fishing trip more successful.
Types of Fishing Lights
Bivvy Lights: Bivvy lights are essential for illuminating your shelter area when carp fishing at night. The best bivvy light offers sufficient brightness, durability, and battery life. Look for models that offer adjustable brightness settings, remote controls and colour settings to suit different needs.
Head Torches: A hands-free option, fishing head torches are invaluable for night fishing. The best head torch for fishing should be comfortable, bright, and have a long battery life. The best fishing head torch in the UK often includes features like adjustable beams and water resistance, making them suitable for various fishing conditions.
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Fishing Lanterns and Lamps: Also great for camping, lanterns and fishing lamps provide ambient light and are ideal for lighting up your fishing area. The best lantern for fishing at night should be robust, waterproof, and offer a balance between brightness and battery life.
What are rod lights?
Rod fishing lights or isotopes are specialised lights designed to enhance the fishing experience, particularly in low-light conditions or during night-time angling. Fishing rod lights are typically small, lightweight, and attach directly to the rod tip, making them convenient and unobtrusive.
Fishing Rod Tip Lights Improve Visibility: These allow anglers to see their rod tips and detect bites more easily.
When using rod fishing lights, it's important to select the appropriate colour and intensity based on the fishing environment and target species.
For instance, green and white lights are popular for attracting certain types of fish, making them great bite lights. The attachment method should be secure yet not hinder the rod's sensitivity or balance.
It's also crucial to consider the light's battery life and ensure it aligns with the duration of your fishing trip.
Choosing the Right Fishing Light
When selecting fishing lights, consider the following factors:
1. Identify Your Fishing Type: Determine the type of fishing you'll be doing. Different types require different lighting solutions(e.g. sea fishing head torch or carp fishing bivvy light).
2. Brightness and Range: Brightness is measured in lumens. Higher lumens mean more brightness, but also more battery consumption. Assess the range you need based on your fishing environment.
Consider how bright you need the light to be. For general visibility, moderate intensity is fine, but for attracting fish, you might need a stronger light.
3. Battery Life: Longer battery life is essential, especially for extended fishing sessions. Rechargeable batteries or fishing power packs can be economical and environmentally friendly choices.
Ensure the light has sufficient battery life for your fishing duration, or consider a light that can be powered from your car or a portable power pack for fishing. Some lights take disposable batteries which you could take extra of when planning a long fishing trip.
4. Durability and Waterproofing: Fishing often exposes gear to harsh conditions. The light should be durable and water-resistant, especially if you're fishing in rough conditions or if there's a chance the light could be submerged.
Look for lights with high IP ratings for water resistance and robust build quality.
5. Colour and Attraction: When choosing a light source for night fishing, green lights are good for attracting bait fish and therefore bigger fish to your swim. However, some anglers find red lights to be better for maintaining night vision and for not attracting bugs unlike white, blue and green lights.
Can fish see red light at night?
Fish can see red light, but it is less visible to them compared to other colours like green or blue. Red light has a shorter wavelength and doesn't penetrate water as deeply, making it less effective for attracting fish.
Are blue or green fishing lights better?
Green lights can provide more details at night, and blue light is the only light that can cut through fog, however, red light is less likely to spook fish and is often used by anglers to preserve their night vision while fishing.
6. Portability and Size: Compact and lightweight lights are easier to carry and set up. Consider the portability if you often change fishing spots. If you're moving around a lot, choose a light that's easy to carry. For boat fishing, larger, more stationary lights might be appropriate.
7. Assess Ease of Use: Look for lights with features like adjustable brightness, easy on/off switches, and stable mounting options.
8. Read Reviews and Recommendations: Finally, read reviews and seek recommendations from other anglers or fishing forums to learn from their experiences with different lights.
Each step will help ensure you select a light that enhances your night-time fishing experience, balancing practicality, efficiency, and safety.
What is the best light for fishing at night?
Many anglers opt for a head torch with red lighting options to maintain good vision, avoid spooking fish and discourage bug pests from biting! Head torches can be on your head, attached to a hat or worn around the neck as you move around your chosen fishing peg.
It's important to choose a light that is waterproof, durable and has a long battery life or a reliable power source.
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How do you fish with a light at night?
Use Red or Green Light: Many headlamps have red or green light modes, which are less likely to spook fish compared to bright white light. Red light, in particular, is known to be less disruptive to the fish's behaviour.
Adjust the Light Intensity: Start with the lowest brightness setting on your headlamp, and only increase it as needed. A dimmer light is often sufficient for most nighttime fishing tasks and avoids draining the battery power as much.
Fitting: It's essential to have both hands free for fishing. After selecting the right light for you, be sure to adjust the comfortable strap to fit securely on your head or over your chosen fishing hat.
Minimise Movement: Make slow and deliberate movements to avoid scaring away fish. Sudden or excessive movement can disturb the water and the fish.
Focus on Precision: Use your headlamp to tie knots, and bait hooks, and handle your fishing gear with precision. It's essential to maintain good visibility without over-illuminating the area.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: Keep an eye on your surroundings, especially if you're fishing from a boat or near the water's edge. Be mindful of hazards and obstacles.
Maintain Night Vision: When you're not actively using the fishing light, cover it with your hand or adjust it to the lowest setting to preserve your night vision. This helps you see better in the dark.
Be Respectful: If you're fishing in a group, be considerate of others by not shining your headlamp directly in their eyes. Use it sparingly and with care.
Tips for Fishing with Lights at Night
Fishing with lights at night can be an incredibly effective and enjoyable way to fish, offering unique challenges and opportunities. Here are some insightful and practical tips for night-time fishing with lights:
- Battery Backup: Ensure you have enough battery life for your lights, especially if you plan to fish for several hours. Always carry extra batteries or a power pack to avoid being left in the dark.
- Safety First: Ensure your lighting setup does not obstruct your movement and is securely fastened to avoid accidents. Consider your own visibility and safety – use a headlamp or personal light to see your gear and surroundings.
- Respect Other Anglers: Be mindful of other anglers and boaters. Avoid shining bright lights into other boats or fishing spots.
- Use a Combination of Lights: A mix of bivvy lights, rod tip lights, and a head torch can provide comprehensive lighting solutions. Expert anglers often use these lights in combination with other lighting strategies to create an optimal fishing environment.
The key is to integrate the fishing light seamlessly into your overall setup to maximise both visibility and attraction capabilities without disrupting the natural fishing technique.
- Respect for Nature: While lights are essential, be mindful of their impact on the environment. Avoid excessively bright lights that can disrupt aquatic life.
- Understand Light Attraction Dynamics: Lights attract plankton and bait fish which in turn attract predator fish. Understanding this food chain can help you predict where the fish might be.
- Light Positioning: Position your lights near your tackle and bivvy to make it easier to move around your peg in the dark. Consider the direction of the light to avoid shining it directly into the water where you are casting, as this can spook fish.
- Adjust Brightness Accordingly: Too much light can sometimes spook fish. Adjust the brightness to suit the environment and type of fish you’re targeting.
Do fish like bright lights?
Fish are generally attracted to bright lights at night, as they mimic natural light sources like the moon and stars. Bright lights can attract plankton, which in turn attracts baitfish and then larger predator fish.
However, the brightness should be adjusted based on water clarity and the specific behaviour of the fish being targeted, as too much light can sometimes spook them.
Choosing the right fishing lights for night fishing is essential for a successful and safe experience. From bivvy lights to underwater fishing lights, each type serves a specific purpose.
By considering factors like brightness, battery life, durability, and light colour, you can select the best lighting solutions for your night fishing adventures. Remember, the right light not only illuminates your path but can also lead to a more fruitful fishing experience.
FAQs on Fishing Lights
What colour LED lights do fish like?
Fish tend to like green and blue LED lights, as these colours attract the natural prey of many species.
How many lumens do I need for a fishing light?
The ideal number of lumens for a fishing light can vary, but a range of 500 to 1,000 lumens is commonly recommended for anglers.
Do fish like night lights?
Fish are often attracted to colour night lights, which can simulate the presence of prey and make them more active during nighttime hours. However, some venues may find fish spooked by bright lights at night.
What fish are better to catch at night?
Some fish species, like catfish, eels, and specimen carp, are known to be better to catch at night, as they tend to feed more actively under the cover of darkness.
How long do LED fish lights last?
LED fish lights can last for hours but it depends on the brightness setting and size of the battery. Be sure to check the specifications of a light before purchasing or opt for rechargeable ones.
Related Articles:
Lunar Fishing: Understanding Solunar Fishing & the Moon
Fishing Weather UK: When, Where & How to Catch More Fish
A Comprehensive Guide to Summer Night Fishing in the UK
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