Night Sight

[gunflint]

I would like to do more night fishing. Particularly in the spring. I've tried those hand held spot lights for navigating but they light up the inside of the boat so much that I have trouble seeing past the bow. I fish from a tiller. What does everyone else use for lights? Thanks.

[PerchJerker]

For me, an LED headlamp or cats eyes is all I usually use, but most of the lauches I use have yard or dock lights. Occasionally I use a hand-held spotlight or a big mag light, but all my fishing is from console boats so we're closer to the front and stand up so we're higher over the bow when using those lights. If you don't have someone in the front of the boat to run a light for you, maybe try a 3D or 4D maglight with the beam narrowed as much as possible. Good luck.

[Northlander]

Try to put some colored saran wrap over the light with a rubberband.

[gunflint]

Thanks guys, I know that lake real well but there are a couple of spots to watch out for.

[Surface Tension]

Steve, I'm curious about the saran wrap and a rubber maid.

I've found that if the stars or moon are out theres enough light to see the tree line and many times the lakes surface. The moons reflection on the water helps with direction too. Once I turn on the spot light I can only see what that narrow beam allows me. Thats fine when looking for under water hazards. I don't think I've ever night fished alone so when conditions call for a light I have my partner sit in the bow with the spot light.

[Guest]

Some guys down here mount driving or fog lights to the front of the boat for running the river at night. It seems to work pretty good.. but only gives so much visability. I usually motor with a spotlight in hand and hold my hand over the left side of the boat and shine the beam forward on the outside of the boat if I dont have a passenger in front of me to shine the spot and look for hazards.

Its difficult no matter which way you go about it.. good communication is a must with a passenger because their body tends to block your view once they are running the spotlight looking for hazards which kind of eliminates the advantage of having the light far enough forward not to light up the hull of the boat. I have been known to stand up to get a higher point of view at times which isnt good eother if I were to hit something.

Slow down and be careful.. I guess thats the only answer when running at night in areas prone to hazzard.

[Finns]

I'm no help on the light but to 'avoid a couple of spots' you might want a gps. Mark the spots to avoid and also the spot you want to return to as in the dock or ramp. Just an idea.

Finns.

[Northlander]

Frank it seems like the yellow wrap cuts the glare you get out of the light beam. Its not the best but works. I use red or yellow over my flashlights when I hunt crawlers in the yard at night and it cuts the glare and brightness down and they dont spook as easy.

I actually have a big million candlelight spotlight that came with red/yellow and I think green filter plates that you can put in the lighthead to help with glare.

My dad showed me this years ago but I didnt use it til I remembered it a few years back catfishing. We also had a front mount spotlight but you only could see where the boat was pointing.