? For You Night Time Catfishers

[Boss Hawg]

Wife & I decided yesterday that we'd like to do some nitetime fishin (was only about 100 degrees & no fish caught)
Would like to hear how you experienced guys are rigged to find (light) your way around in the dark . We fish Lake Sam Rayburn & I worry about stumps enough in the daylight
Generator & 110volt lights or 12volt stuff, extra batteries?
We have a pontoon so weight or space is not a problem-
Thanks for sharing

 

[RicMic]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

Actually to find your way around, the less light the better, bright light will destroy your night vision for at least half an hour. I have a green led light in my boat for rigging and such, red or green light won't affect your vision. A good spotlight is handy to find your way back, but its best to get in the right spot and anchored before dark.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

Actually to find your way around, the less light the better, bright light will destroy your night vision for at least half an hour. I have a green led light in my boat for rigging and such, red or green light won't affect your vision. A good spotlight is handy to find your way back, but its best to get in the right spot and anchored before dark.

Sounds like sound advice-
I just really want to avoid all the stumps & find my way back to the ramp

 

[RicMic]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

A buddy of mine was coming back from catfishing at night in a 14' aluminum with a 20hp Johnson and ran up onto a ROOF!!!! An old boat house had collapsed and the roof floated out into the lake. He was lucky he dead centered it and not hit it on an angle.

 

[RicMic]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

Oh yeah, if you want to mark a spot or stump or whatever, a piece of reflective tape and a thumbtack does a great job, you won't see it in the daylight, but it shows up great at night with a spot light!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

Just follow your GPS track if you got one. I saw a pontoon a couple weeks ago with a light on each side of the front. They looked like head lights on a car. They weren't bright like head light but I reckon enough to see 15-20 yd ahead.

 

[Dave Barnett]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

I use a 3 million CP Q Beam 12 volt spot for navigation and checking my surroundings. In the boat my all around light is usually sufficient for baiting up and what not. I keep a 4 cell Mag light for smaller light needs than the Q beam. I also have a Coleman gas lantern that I hang at the ramp or where I beach my boat to make it easier to find camp when heading in. One thing that works really well is to have everyone in your party to have their own small flashlight. Those pocket size Mag lights are great.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

Just follow your GPS track if you got one. I saw a pontoon a couple weeks ago with a light on each side of the front. They looked like head lights on a car. They weren't bright like head light but I reckon enough to see 15-20 yd ahead.

I do have a simple GPS & i've looked at the "headlight" thing, I put a set on my bosses pontoon & he swears by them-
I think i'll do the same & use them if need be & just keep a good spotlight onboard too -
Guess to start out i'll stick to areas i know & gain confidence-
Just never been crazy about being on the water at night but dang i wantta fish!!!

 

[oklahomariverfisherman]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

We normally just put out juglines or trautlines and bait them in the evening and check them in the morning. That way there is less equipment to mess with, but I just have a small fishing boat. It makes it much harder to hit stumps and stuff that way as well.

 

[mpilot]

Re: ? For You Night Time Catfishers

I do have a simple GPS & i've looked at the "headlight" thing, I put a set on my bosses pontoon & he swears by them-
I think i'll do the same & use them if need be & just keep a good spotlight onboard too -
Guess to start out i'll stick to areas i know & gain confidence-
Just never been crazy about being on the water at night but dang i wantta fish!!!

Check your local Law Enforcement for if these are legal or not. They are technically docking lights and in South Carolina I am 99.9% sure that you cannot under any circumstances run them at night unless you are docking. It works great for you but can be a pain in the butt to any oncoming boats.