Night Fishing - Blacklight/led Questions.

[Whack'emGood]

Hey guys.

I know night fishing is out-of-season and probably pretty far from everyone's minds, but I am already getting spring fever and thinking ahead to next season.

I love night fishing... it is definitely my favorite way to fish. I have night fished since I was a young'un and never owned a blacklight. I know most good night fishermen use them, and I am starting to believe that I am missing out on something that I should be taking advantage of.

I would like to hear some opinons from some experienced night fishermen about these lights. Do you use them? Which lights do you use? Are there makes/models/types that you would recommend or not recommend and why?

I have been researching them a little on the web and have heard great things about the newer LED models like the Moonlite and especially the Nucli-eye Atom and the Nucli-eye Extreme. Has anybody had any experience with any of these? Is it worth it to shell out the cash to buy these more expensive models?

Also, I have never used fluorescent lines. Which fluorescent lines would you recommend for night fishing while using these lights in the clear waters of TR? Are fluorescent lines even necessary when using lights, or are you still able to somewhat watch your line without using them?

Any other tips/info that you would be willing to share would be much appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.

Whack'em

[Dutch]

I use the Bass Pro night stalker series. I use Pline HiVis. Under the black lights it looks like a well rope. The black lights draw less bugs than the white one I used to use.

[skeeterp]

I use the tournament night stalker. Works fine, a black light is a black light to me. I haven't tried the more expensive LED lights, could be nice if they didn't draw as many bugs, but not sure if that is the case. I use the stren flourescent line. Yes, you do need the flourescent line, you cant see just regular line with the black light, but since you are used to no black light at all it might not be as much of a big deal, but if you're wanting to get the advantage of using a black light then I would use a flourescent line. It definintely makes a big difference for me and I don't believe it hinders the fishing at all. I've had bass jump out of the water at my black light and hit it or hit the side of my boat before. The only other down side, it does attract a lot of bugs which attracts bats which will dive at your flourescent line and hit it and sometimes tangle in it. I only use the black line when I'm slow fishing, I dont use if obviously if I'm throwing spinner bait or buzz bait/crankbait/or buzz bait at night.

SkeeterP

[skeeterp]

I use the tournament night stalker. Works fine, a black light is a black light to me. I haven't tried the more expensive LED lights, could be nice if they didn't draw as many bugs, but not sure if that is the case. I use the stren flourescent line. Yes, you do need the flourescent line, you cant see just regular line with the black light, but since you are used to no black light at all it might not be as much of a big deal, but if you're wanting to get the advantage of using a black light then I would use a flourescent line. It definintely makes a big difference for me and I don't believe it hinders the fishing at all. I've had bass jump out of the water at my black light and hit it or hit the side of my boat before. The only other down side, it does attract a lot of bugs which attracts bats which will dive at your flourescent line and hit it and sometimes tangle in it. I only use the black line when I'm slow fishing, I dont use if obviously if I'm throwing spinner bait or buzz bait/crankbait/or buzz bait at night.

SkeeterP

typo:

I only use the black "light" when I'm slow fishing

[denjac]

I used to fish with one , but after the novelty of having you lne look like a lit up piece of rope wore off I went back to just a moon glow. Also Triline XT wont work on a black light, XL will though. Bottom line for me , cant see the bank with a blacklight, you can with a moonglow, cant find suff in the boat with a blacklight, you can with a moonglow. I will give it this though it sure is nice to re tie with.

[Whack'emGood]

I used to fish with one , but after the novelty of having you lne look like a lit up piece of rope wore off I went back to just a moon glow. Also Triline XT wont work on a black light, XL will though. Bottom line for me , cant see the bank with a blacklight, you can with a moonglow, cant find suff in the boat with a blacklight, you can with a moonglow. I will give it this though it sure is nice to re tie with.

Denjac,

Thanks very much for the reply. I have a question for you... What is a moonglow? It sounds like the "blue light" version that lights up the bank and surrounding area, but does not make fluorescent lines glow. Is this correct? I think I would be interested in that. Which moonglow model do you use/recommend? This moonglow type is totally invisible to the fish, right? The Nucli-eye Extreme that I mentioned has an option to use either the blacklight or the bluelight (moonglow type?) or both in combination. I think the blue light on this unit is the moonglow type that you are talking about. Thanks for your time.

Whack'em

[denjac]

Whackem, The moon glow I use has been around for a long time. Its a soft white light. I know they have probably improved them over the years. It has a reastate switch for bright or dim. Dont know if they are invisable to fishes eyes, probabaly not, but thats not a bad thing. Does draw bugs, but so did the black light. Just lets you see enough so you dont throw in that tree top sticking out of the water. I target boat docks, points, peoples yards that have street lighs on them that shine in the water. Light = bugs= small fish= bigger fish. I dont know the brand name, think it is just moon glow and bought it at the Wal Mart along time ago.

[JRay]

I prefer the stan sloan blacklights and I usually run two black bulbs to help see the line even further away. I keep one with the white bulb/black bulb combo for certain situations and lakes because it does help you see the trees and bank. These days I prefer PLine CXX hi-vis, but I know a lot of your competition uses Bass Pro Excel in 17 - 25 lb test, its cheap enough to change out after every trip. Good luck in 2009!

[Bill Babler]

Wacked, As far as the night light situation. Bob Tindle has fished more nights and probably caught more 7 pound and up fish, than everyone on this board put together. He uses 20 pound clear mono, he said, line brand does not matter at that well rope strength. and he mounts a black lite on the gunnel of his boat, on the shore side, to shine toward the bank and also has one in the bottom of the boat. We could see perfectly.

Fished with him at Indian Point about 4 years ago. We fished from just before dark till just after daylight. Had 5 fish over 5 and probably about 2 dozen fish. Best 5 would have easy been 27 pounds. The lights were on all night and and we could see perfectly. Bob prefers big docks with lots of light on the docks for all its worth. We would just work down the edges of these docks and "Man, we had a great night." He said he wasn't real impressed, with the catch, but loved the evening. Said his best night for 5 fish on Table Rock was between 35 and 40 pounds.

I can't remember these guys names, but they owned viola boat dock for years. They are brothers and start fishing nights in February. I know from my time in Shell Knob, that these brothers have had 5 fish strings of big sows that would weigh in the 35 to 40 pound range, out of the kings river. Can't tell you the number of 8 and 9 pounders I have seen pic's of. Not so much since the fish kill, however. There boat looks like a light house. and you could see light shining from their boat to the shore. They were very easy to identify from all the light.

My brother-inlaw loves to night fish the rock, and he has lights on from start to finish, and really does well. I guess the point I am trying to make, is I don't think light is a factor, one way or the other. My brother-inlaw fishes nothing but lighted docks in the Kings River Shell Knob area.

I have fished black and have fished everything inbetween, and I have really seen no difference in having lights on. I am for sure not an expert on night fishing, but I think the old addage of fishing where the fish are is probably the most important factor.

[Jason Essary]

Hunting seasons over for me, Im back.

Wackem, I got on a summer pattern a few years ago, before I had blacklights, that was simple and very effective. I run from lighted boat dock to lighted boat dock. started with spinnerbaits all around (shallow by the ramp was always the best) then switched to a grub or jig to probe for the more docile ones. even had some luck on a black spook. anyways, it was a start and worked well.

I now have two blacklights, front and back, and some small led lights low in the gunnel that can be used for tying and unhooking fish. works like a charm. If u enjoy the night time bite id sure invest in some. I havent tried the new ones but im sure someone on here has and will chime in.

The best time ever is to hook a huge fish on a jig in the dark, enjoy the long fight, and realize at the boat that its a 32 lb. Flathead.....