I turned my light off a couple of times so I could see past the shadows thread

[Ely Lake Expert]

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E.L.E. you asked and opinion about being illegal, and you've got the answer: don't do it

Nobody on this site with a little common sense will suggest you to break the law. We ALL fish at night, I do it extensively too, but if I cannot see I back out the throttle.

If you are convinced that your action is correct, then don't argue with the replies, just keep doing what you are doing.

Do you want to see at high speed ? Heck install a couple of Hella driving lights and you'll see for miles, better yet get a set of night vision goggles and you won't have any problem.

There is always a solution to a problem without breaking the law, in your case going slower is the best and cheapest one.

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I was asking what others would do or have done in this certain situation. Nor is this a speed issue at all, it is only a 25 horse and I don't even go full throttle. Who knows maybe I should of worded it differently. Another thing, I never said this was right and I deffinately am not convinced it is the way to go. Sometimes you just have to make decisions to help in the short term. You say my solution is to go slower??? The whole issue is being able to see where I am going, not speed.

[Fishin4Life]

Hey Valv, you ever used night vision goggles? That might be cool! Any idea how much they are or where to get them? Sorry to get off topic...

[BobT]

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It sounds as though you may be over running your vision with the speed of the boat?

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Out on a lake at night, new moon, cloudy conditions and one would overrun his vision while drifting. The reason for the anchor light is not to provide lighting for the person sitting in the boat. It is to provide a beacon for others to see that the boat exists.

The point is sitting on the water after dark without lights is inviting disaster.

Bob

[BobT]

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used to use a dixie cup to put over the light

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Minnesota boating regulations require the light to be visible for up to 2 miles on a dark clear night. Covering that baby might just be a bad idea.

Bob

[musky hunter]

I like your safety minded attitude, but not your conclusioin about what to do about the problem. This has an easy solution: change to another type of light that will still keep you legal but not impede your vision. The reason for the rear light is so other boaters can more easily tell your direction of travel.

[Bobby Bass]

A simple answer to me is just maybe you should head to the landing a little early so the light from the stern would not be a problem.

[Ely Lake Expert]

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It sounds as though you may be over running your vision with the speed of the boat?

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Out on a lake at night, new moon, cloudy conditions and one would overrun his vision while drifting. The reason for the anchor light is not to provide lighting for the person sitting in the boat. It is to provide a beacon for others to see that the boat exists.

The point is sitting on the water after dark without lights is inviting disaster.

Bob

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Bob,

I stated that the rear light was taken off so I could see while moving from spot to spot to avoid the rockpiles. I never just sit in the dark without them on. Just thought I would clear that up.

[Ely Lake Expert]

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A simple answer to me is just maybe you should head to the landing a little early so the light from the stern would not be a problem.

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Actually bobby, I live on the lake, usually fish within a half mile of my house and generally don't even go out until after dark.

[Bobby Bass]

I'll bet I have fished off your cabin, I try and get up there a couple of times a year. Like going up there early in the year for the clouds of big sunnies and crappies that just hang off the docks and then the far end of the lake where the deadheads are for buzzing some bass. Catching a few smallies is a bonus..

[SteveWilson]

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I only posted this to get some feedback, not to get people mad at me. I really don't think I am a danger at all, nor am I risking everyone elses life. Especially at 15mph and I only have done this in the past with the intention of being safer.

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I don't care how fast you're going, if you can't follow the law then stop. You are a danger to navigation when you don't use your navigation lights as intended. Stay off of the lake until you can rig a legal white lite on your boat - simple.

Then next time you're out (or on shore) in the evening have a gander across the lake and look at the boats. You'll notice that the combination of the forward colored light and the rear white light allows you to judge the size of the boat, how fast it's going, and most importantly what direction it's traveling in. If the white light and one of the colored lights are nearly on top of each other then the boat is either coming right at you (or nearly) or directly away from you. If you travel without the white light then other boaters can not tell your direction. So use both; no exceptions. I'm sure your parents wouldn't like to get a visit from the police that their boy is dead because he was didn't use his navigation lights as intended.

[Shad rap]

When I fish a lake that has rock bars I use my GPS and have all the rocks marked and them when coming back in at night you can follow your path on the GPS.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Actually house not cabin. Anyway, You may have fished by my dock. Honestly right off my dock is one of the best crappie/sunny spots on the lake in the spring. It seems like the crappies only sit in their for a few weeks and the sunnies are there most of the summer actually. Also, when I was younger I caught nothing but largemouth bass and smallies were a rarity, but the last couple of years it seems like I catch more smallies than the bigmouthboys.

[Ely Lake Expert]

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[Valv]

[Note from admin: Let's keep away from name calling or defending illegal activity here. Boating without legal lighting is very dangerous.]

[dirtking]

I break the law daily Ely - I don't wear my seat belt. So I can half heartily side with you but...

[Troublehook]

You should put carpet in your boat so it doesn't reflect off of the aluminum.

[BigWadeS]

I hope you aren't one of those that think they have to drink while fishing and driving their boat too? It's scary enough thinking that people drive with no lights, how about on the freeway, "but the moon was really bright!" I don't think so

[Ely Lake Expert]

I am not promoting breaking the law. Sometimes in certain situations it happens, not that it is the right thing, but sometimes it is neccessary. Like I said in the begining, the only reason this ever happened was because I didn't want to drive blindly through the night and bust off my lower unit. If you tell me you have never done anything wrong, I simply don't believe it.

ELE

[Ely Lake Expert]

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I hope you aren't one of those that think they have to drink while fishing and driving their boat too? It's scary enough thinking that people drive with no lights, how about on the freeway, "but the moon was really bright!" I don't think so

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Nope, no drinking and driving for me. I may do something wrong on occaision, but I aint stupid.

[HOF#13]

Guys...relax a little bit here. No reason for this thread / reply's to get out of hand. It is pretty easy to get your point of view across without attacking another FM'er.

ELE...I can understand your point a bit on the night vision, but if it were me, I'd make sure all my lights are on as required, slow down so I was sure about what I was seeing, and take a spotlight along to help if needed. If I were in another boat, I'd feel a lot better seeing all the lights on w/ a spotlight too, instead of just a little green or red light and nothing else.

[nofishfisherman]

Like I said before the first time you got out on the water and realized you couldn't see with the light you might have a case for taking the light down so you can see.

But, now that you know that the problem exists you should have fixed the problem before going back out at night.

You knew there was a problem the 2nd and 3rd time you went out but you still decided to not fix the problem and go out without the light. For me thats where the problem lies. You knew there was a problem but you didn't do anything legal to fix it. No excuse for it in my eyes.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Thanks hof,

Like I said before, its not like I go out and intentially break the law everynight. I usually use the bigger boat for night fishing anyway. This was more of a situational thing and most of the people didn't take it that way. Also when I am moving I use a good flashlight/maglight.

[Rost]

Ely,

I know a guy that taped piece of paper on the side of the light facing the boat. It was kinda like a light shade. It helped him out a lot. Not only being able to see while running from spot to spot, but it also was not so bright when he was slip bobbering.

Probably legal, because we got stopped by the warden and he didn't say anything.

[Ely Lake Expert]

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Like I said before the first time you got out on the water and realized you couldn't see with the light you might have a case for taking the light down so you can see.

But, now that you know that the problem exists you should have fixed the problem before going back out at night.

You knew there was a problem the 2nd and 3rd time you went out but you still decided to not fix the problem and go out without the light. For me thats where the problem lies. You knew there was a problem but you didn't do anything legal to fix it. No excuse for it in my eyes.

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Nofish,

I fully understand your point of view about not fixing it after the first time. Part of the reason I posted in the first place was to get suggestions about making it better. Also, not that it justifies it, but ely lake is a relatively small lake and 99% of the time I go out at night I am the only boat on the lake. I am going to go about making the situation better. I just am trying to explain the circumstances a little better with all my posts.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Good idea roost.

I am actually going to call a CO I kind of know that has been working around here for a long time and see what he thinks about this. I am going to tell him everything I have posted and get his input.