Night Fishing?

[Rabjohn]

To you guys that bank fish at night, do you wear a headlamp or will that scare the fish off?

[Jar11591]

I wear a headlamp, but only when I'm re-tying or unhooking a fish. I've found that if I keep my headlamp on all the time, the skeeters swarm around me like mad. Plus I like just fishing in the darkness. Whole new level of calm, until the jitterbug gets clobbered.

[papajoe222]

I do a ton of night fishing, both from shore and from my boat.  I rely on a pen light held in my mouth to tie baits and unhook fish.  Cap lights focus the light too hight for tying with bifocals.  I do however, have a cap light with a red LED that I'll turn on when fishing. It doesn't seem to bother the fish and adds a little more contrast than the night offers.

[michang5]

I have a headlamp that has a red light option. I've used that -- or no light -- the few times I've night bank fished. Will use the bright light when I need to retire or unhook the fish.

[ClackerBuzz]

a lamp is on my list of things to buy.  one with a dedicated red LED button that can be turned on immediately (ie you don't have to click thru low, med, high white light causing ur eyes to adjust till you get to the red).

[bigbill]

I have a one AA battery mini flashlite that clips on my hat brim. I keep one in every tackle box as backup.

[Bluebasser86]

Headlamp is a must but I use it as little as possible. The $20 Energizers from Wal Mart are some of the best ones I've used. 

[hooah212002]

I have a couple hats from Wally World with built in LED's and they get used for more than just fishing. My newest one had the batteries run out and I haven't even been fishing yet because I use it to work on my truck at 2 in the morning. I've tried the clip on energizer ones, but they go through batteries really quick and if you aren't careful with storage, you can find that they've been clicked on by mistake leading to a dead battery when you need it most as well as the clip getting worn out. Neverrmind how cumbersome they are. I much prefer the built in types.

 

To answer your second question, I make sure to shield the light when looking at the water or turn it off because I want my presence to be as hidden as possible.

[hooah212002]

 I do however, have a cap light with a red LED that I'll turn on when fishing. It doesn't seem to bother the fish and adds a little more contrast than the night offers.

 

Where can I find one of those? Haven't seen anything other than white LED ones.

[SirSnookalot]

Like Papajoe I use a flashlight held in my mouth, I keep it on lanyard around my neck.  My favorite is a 9 LED Garrity 3 aaa's, only used to retie or unhook, don't like a steady light on.  Never much cared for the headlamps or visor clip ons.

[tbone1993]

I use this http://www.zebralight.com/H52-AA-Headlamp-Cool-White_p_131.html , the lowest setting is basically moonlight. Bright enough to tie up and find things but wont spook the fish.

[A-Jay]

Big fan of late night bassing here - Night time is the right time as far as I'm concerned.

 

Years of no light angling has taught me a few things.  So here's something to know in advance of your headlamp purchase. 

 

You will benefit from a model that while it's strapped to your noggin, you can operate easily with one hand.  You should be fishing without it as much as possible for several reasons, but once you hook that big bass of a lifetime, and she's fighting for all she's worth, you'll want to keep one hand on your rod and still be able to reach up with the other and quickly turn that light on so you can see & land the fish.

 

I prefer a simple model that has a toggle with two options - a red light and a white spot light type beam.

 

There are many good ones to chose from.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[John G]

I work at night and I use a headlamp 6 to 7 days a week all night long.

 

I have had the cheap Energizers that you can buy at Home Depot and they are ok lights but the bands suck big time. The bands are poor quality and you will find yourself running out of adjustment because they will soon lose their elasticity.

 

I have had Princeton Tec Quad Tacticals and they are great at first and they also have different colored lenses that slide over the white light. For some reason, they didnt last very long after getting wet.

 

Petzl makes a top quality headlamp.

 

Right now, I wear a Petzl Pixa 3. It's a first class light but it is big and bulky and it does not come with different colored lenses.

 

If I wanted a headlamp with different colored lenses, I would get the Petzl Tactikka XP.

 

When I get the cash, I will be getting a Surefire Maximus Vision Rechargeable.

 

Petzl Tactikka XP

[Bankbeater]

I use one, but I turn it off unless I need to see my bait, retie, or get a fish off.  I also carry a spot light just in case.

[South FLA]

I use the same headlamp that I using for hunting with green, red, and white light options.

[greyleg33]

I normally use a cap light just for tying,ect. If its a particularly dark night I have a light rigged on the boat that lights out to about 40'. Doesn't seem to bother the bite any.

[AQUA VELVA]

I purchased a Energizer performance LED cap light in 2010 and it's been the best one Iv'e ever owned. It puts out 30 lumens on high which is more than enough. It has 3 white high/low LED"s and 2 red LED"s. I seem to get a lot of run time out of the two AAA alkaline batteries. I attached mine to the bill of my cap with a very small nut and screw as the clip didn't seem to have a real strong grip on the smooth, hard bill surface. Other than that, it's been a great light.

[arblanco]

Where can I find one of those? Haven't seen anything other than white LED ones.

I picked up at Berkley LED hat clip from Wally-world for around $10. Works great and has red or white options. Its not super bright, but enough to let you see what you are doing when you need it.