Fishhouse hole lighting & seating.. Think Winter!!!!!!

[LaZyDayZ]

With spring naturally comes prepairing for next season ice fishing of course!!! lol

Some things I want to add to my shack this off season is some hole lighting and additional seating.

I really would like to mount lights under, yes under each hole so that it only illuminates the hole.

I have toyed with rope lights but cant find any small enough to just do one hole and dont care for that much extra burning power.

You got any ideas?

I am also thinking of adding a couple of boat seats.

I think being able to position them in different areas or totally remove them is the way to go. My back is tired of benches and folding chairs.

Im just trying to hash around some ideas and see what any of you have done,

Thanks.

Think WINTER!!!!

[picksbigwagon]

some company is making a battery operated 3 LED touchlight, like you would put under your cabinets in the kitchen. Check out the under cabinet lighting section of your local hardware place. I know I saw them at Lowes in shakopee, and I might have seen them elsewhere. I think it is Sylvania............

[mamohr686]

Do a search on lighting for portable. There is a very large thread that has several lighting ideas. I sugest you contact kevin winkler about his LED lights that can be hardwired and also are on a swivel bracket that can be directed toward the hole as you described. LED lights draw very little power and you would be able to run 6 lights on a vexilar battery all night long. You seating idea would be simple also. You could put up several pedestal bases and move the seats to a desired position. The only downfall I could see is that the bases could fill with ice and snow making the seats harder to lock in place. It would be sweet to have a nice boat seat with arm rests, back rest, and even mabie a beverage holder .Good luck

-Mark

[koiboy]

try FLEX E GLO..one of our contractors made it..it is available at cabin fever..i have a piece 1" thick about 6in long that works off of a 9volt battery

[BobT]

It's been a while since I looked this up so maybe I'm wrong but isn't using artificial lighting in the water while fishing illegal in Minnesota?

Bob

[LaZyDayZ]

I would not have the lights submerged, they would be above water level just illuminating the holes.

I can see no difference between that and a lantern.

I ordered some LED lights from superbright. Will follow up as I get it put together.

[hanson]

LaZyDayZ-

You are talking about lighting for your permanent/drop wheel shack, correct?

That is something I have thought about for a long time as well. I always wanted to put lights below the floor of my shack that would illuminate the hole. Now my shack is on 6" wood runners so I have a little room to work with but I am still scared about stuff getting banged up underneath while moving it around.

I do have a sandwich panel type floor on my house, 1/2" plywood / 1-1/2" insulation / 1/2" plywood and thought about mounting the lighting below the top deck of plywood and then widening the hole through the bottom 2 layers to accomodate the lights. That way, they would be protected from a lateral force while moving the house.

I dunno, either rope lights (I sure didn't like the Clam ones) or pods of LED lights from SuperBrightLEDs might be the way to go. The LEDs are very attractive and I have seen them used in a number of fellow FMers portables this winter and they did an awesome job!!!

Good Luck to ya! Let us know how it turns out!

[LaZyDayZ]

hanson, you are correct. Lights below the hole but above water on my wheel house.

Wouldnt it be nice if catch covers had an add on that incorporated this.

Hint Hint.

I am expecting my lights today or tommorow.

I will see what I can come up with this weekend.

[hawkeye43]

Will the cold temp. affect the lights as far as brightness or how long they last???? I don't know, just a thought

[LaZyDayZ]

Good question hawkeye,

The lights I recieved are sealed 3 bulb LED's.

I told them at superbright my intentions and they didnt have any concerns. I did ask about wet conditions and was told they are weather proof. I take that as water resistant (dont submerge)

Ive never heard of lights being affected by temperature but dont know 100%

[LaZyDayZ]

Finally got this project done.

The end result was not what I origionally wanted but it will do.

After numerous trials I just couldnt get the lights below the floor.

If mounted below the bottom of catchcovers they would be right on the ice. If mounted in the catch covers the lids would not go on.

I ended up adding a shelf above the holes and mounted lights under it. I have LED lights lighting the holes but not in your eyes. I will post some pics in a few days when I get it cleaned up. Busy applyng poly on the walls at present.

[captkev]

Did someone say my name

Edit: you can goto my profile and then click on "Show users post's" and you can find the info for the lights.

[Kylersk]

Quote:

---

I am also thinking of adding a couple of boat seats.

I think being able to position them in different areas or totally remove them is the way to go. My back is tired of benches and folding chairs.

---

I saw a fish house with this in it and boy is that a cool idea. The Seat was positioned so it could fish out of either side hole, or you could move it towards the dinnet and have an extra seat at dinnet and you could fish out of another set of holes.

[LaZyDayZ]

I still havent found a deal on chairs yet. Thinking of breaking down and getting a couple of the cabelas seats with arm rests soon.

[boe757]

I have the answer to lighting portable-flip over style-works great. In the bicycle supply stores/websites 3 light led's battery headlights are about 7-10 dollars. the handle bar clamp is built in to the assembly. it is approx the same size as the tubing on a fish trap and are designed weatherproof. I leave them (two) attached and can use them for "packing up" also. so far I have used two sets of AAA batteries. try it, you'll like it dave

[beer batter]

LazyDayz, did you get the 3 LED model from SuperBright that has 2 end ones shooting out at a 45 degree angle? Any chance at posting those pics you were referring to earlier in this thread?

[McGurk]

I have been contemplating an idea for a couple of weeks now having to do with cheap lighting. A plastic electrical box, 110v switch and cover plate, some LED's from a christmas light string, and a 9 volt battery all contained inside and mounted w/ velcro. It could be moved/removed and I think pretty cheaply built. The bulbs would be the only odd factor in this, and having to wire it yourself. Any thoughts?

[beer batter]

Sounds like it would work for cheap. My goal is to have the hole lights running off the same 12 volt battery source as all the other lights. I don't like the idea of having different power sources for each light, and I have no intension of removing them so I'm hard wiring them and mounting them solid.

I'm hoping to have a single switch box on each side of the shack to control lights for the holes on that side. Run 2 12 volt circuits with a switch on each side to control hole lights on that side of the shack. I bought a few junky lights from radio shack to test things out and found LED to be far better and more efficient than any incandescent bulbs. The trouble for me has been finding the LED's in a nicely mounted bracket suitable for mounting over hole lights. Super bright chrome model ALM-RC Accent Light Module chrome seems to fit the bill for what I'm looking for. Wish they'd have been a few bucks cheaper, they're $6.50 a pop but I think I'll be pleased with them.

[love to hunt]

I got this directly from the DNR HSOforum in the fishing regulations, it says nothing about submerged or surface light. I would think it is at the descretion of the officer you are dealing with at the time weather he/she thinks you are using the light to attract fish.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing2006.pdf

"Using an artificial light to lure or attract fish, or to see fish when spearing, is unlawful. Exception: While angling, a person may affix to the end of a fishing line a lighted artificial bait with hooks attached. Any battery that is used in lighted fishing lures cannot contain any

intentionally introduced mercury."

[beer batter]

We're talking about lights mounted above fish holes in a permanent house. Certain nothing below the surface of the water. Highly doubt anyone would think they'd be used as a fish attractant. Probably more of a distractant when targeting walleyes.

[LaZyDayZ]

Beerbatter.

I have been wanting to take pictures but have not.

I used the "Round LED ULITE "

I put a shelf above the holes and mounted my lights under.

With the catchcovers going down from the bottom of the house less than an inch from the ice I had no way to mount lights under the hole/above the water.

There are 2 super bright web sites one with an s at the end one without. I got mine from the one with s. lol good luck figuring that out.

[love to hunt]

I just talked to the DNR (651-296-6157) and here is the scoop.

You can have a light mounted in the shelter not under the shelter, and that light must not shine directly on the water surface or be directed directly into the hole.

LaZyDayz said he put his under a shelf and that is legal as long as there is not a beam directed into the hole.

I put enough ceiling lights in my house where so there is no problems seeing a bobber or with the law.

My buddy got a warning from DNR last year about his rope light under his house and they made him cut the wire right then and there.

Don't shoot the messenger.