I was wandering if anyone used lights at night. I heard of a few that used black lights and some that said to just get some led driving lights to shine up on the bank or whatever. Also thought of led brake lights (red). A recent night trip i hit a good size stump. No lights on except the headlamp on my forehead. i have heard some say lights scare fish. When we are bowfishing it does not seem to affect the carp and gar, at least. Any thoughts?

I have an led lamp made just for night fishing. There are a few websites that sell different lamps. www.fishinglightsetc.com is one of them. I tied the lamp to a dock post half way to the bottom in the spring and it does attract fish. I am kicking myself for not trying it last night (got skunked at dawn).

Some fish are attracted to lights, at least some of my target species are. I only use a light to tie a knot or remove a hook, I hang a small flashlight on lanyard from neck. A light is ok if you are alone, but I see so many "bait fishermen", with lights on piers or headlamps and they don't turn them off, it blinds everyone else.

The only thing I dislike more than a bait fisherman is a bait fisherman with a cast net. A topic a few days ago about leaving a messes while fishing, that's the bait fisherman's MO. Bait containers, live bait caught and left to rot on shore or a pier, garbage as they are " camping out", the list goes on of crap they leave behind. Those are the peeps fishing for croakers, mangroves, sand perch all the other puny fish. I do a know a number of people that net their bait elsewhere, fish in total darkness and fish for species like permit....................these guys are some really excellent fisherman and don't leave a mess.

Sorry for the rant.

Personally I think using a black light at night is putting yourself at a huge disadvantage, if the light is shinning forward you tend to only cast forward, if the light is shinning to one side or the other you tend to cast only that direction.

Here’s a little example I was night fishing with my nephew and one of his buddies; the black light was on the left hand side of the boat. We were working a shore line and no one was had gotten a bite in over 3 hours as we entered a cove that I knew held fish I heard a fish move on the surface. I immediately stepped to the right side of the boat making a cast towards the direction of the sound and was rewarded with a healthy little chunk. I released the fish, cast again in the same direction and again hooked another keeper. After turning the black lights off and working the cove we managed to land 8 fish up to 4 ½ lbs; we had started off by working 20 yards away from the bank and the bass were holding 35 yards off the bank behind us. We sat down taking a break and eating a snack my nephew and his friend said they always use a black light and always fish towards the light because it’s useless unless the light is shinning on your line. I said I never use a black light and always fish 360 degrees around the boat looking and listening for movement. My nephews friend says yea but you’ll miss bites you can’t see without a black light and I answered unless it’s totally black which is rare there is enough light to see your line if you look skyward and the darkness forces you to hone your sense of feel.

My first night night bass fishing was done from shore before owning a boat and the only light needed was a pocket size pen light to aid in tying knots with.

Night fishing from a boat I have rigged nearly every type of lights from black lights, flood lights, LED head lamps and underwater lights during the past 40 years or so. It is good to be able to see; tying knots and finding the right lures, being able to cast accurately are good examples. Lights have disadvantages; bugs and night blindness.

The question about lights spooking bass? I don't think so. I have had good success with and without lights. It is illegal to run a boat without running lights where I live, so running lights are always on due to the law. I tape tin foil on the white rear light facing the inside of the boat so it doesn't shine into the boat or my eyes.

Today I prefer using an underwater light at the transum, it lights up the water about 30 feet all around the boat, you can see fish to land them easily, enough light to tie knots and to cast accurately in all directions. The underwater light attracts bait fish and.....bugs at the back of the boat.

I have a habit of using my finger to feel line movement, so darkness doesn't hinder me missing strikes, bats hitting the line fake me out sometimes.

Tom

For years I was an advocate for black lights and fluorescent line while night fishing.

I now find them to be more trouble than they are worth. I do like red headlamps when rigging, etc.

I guess i was thinking of getting some driving lights or brake lights to shine on the bank and so I can see logs and stumps. I know that you are supose to run bow and stern lights, however i don't unless i am moving to a new location, I figure no one will hit me if i am 20-50 feet off shore and I have not seen too many people out night fishing on the lakes I fish. I am thinking that the brake light idea may be the best, I dont think the bugs would bother me as bad.

I guess i was thinking of getting some driving lights or brake lights to shine on the bank and so I can see logs and stumps. I know that you are supose to run bow and stern lights, however i don't unless i am moving to a new location, I figure no one will hit me if i am 20-50 feet off shore and I have not seen too many people out night fishing on the lakes I fish. I am thinking that the brake light idea may be the best, I dont think the bugs would bother me as bad.

You can use a 12V clip on flood lamp with 25 watt yellow bug light, works good to light up the bank. You may need a high powered spot light to navigate with like a Brinkmann 12V, very handy at night and good to warn another boat bearring down on you, everyone doesn't watch where they are going.

As Catt mentioned, bass are often over your shoulder in deeper water.

Tom