Since the fishing method is very ancient, very few things are needed for it, because primitive people could not go to the store and buy themselves various fishing equipment. The main fishing gear is the prison itself, which resembles an ordinary kitchen fork, only significantly increased in size and, as a rule, with a large number of teeth. The spear can now be bought at any fishing store, but most anglers continue to use homemade tools. Moreover, to make it yourself, it is not at all difficult, using, for example, sharpened spokes from a motorcycle, which must be welded to a piece of metal, then attaching a long wooden handle to it. Our ancient ancestors used an even more primitive fishing gear - a pointed stick.
But today we are not talking about a prison, but about another accessory necessary for a similar type of fishing - a lantern. It is clear that a lantern in the outfit of a fisherman with a spear appeared relatively recently, and in ancient times its role was played by a torch, but technical progress is inexorable and today only some extreme can go fishing, even for its most ancient kind, with a torch. The vast majority of fishermen will opt for a much more comfortable and reliable flashlight.
Yes, you may also need a boat, but this element is no longer absolutely mandatory, since you can watch for fish in shallow water, moving away from the coast for a short distance. It is true that the effectiveness of fishing without a boat will suffer quite seriously, since there are not so many large fish left in our reservoirs, and the one that remained has learned to behave very carefully. By the way, it was not fishing with a spear that caused a catastrophic decline in the fish population, but completely different types of fishing, plus ill-conceived human activities. This is to the fact that today there are often voices about the barbaric method of catching fish, as some call spear fishing, which, in their opinion, should be completely banned.
There is no need to explain why a lantern is required, because only with its help you can see the fish in the water at night, when it is caught with a spear. In addition to darkness, there are two other prerequisites for successful fishing - clear water and complete silence. As for dark nights and clear water, mid-autumn is the most suitable time for spear fishing to comply with these two conditions. Why the autumn nights are dark is understandable without explanation, and the transparency of the water in late autumn is explained by the fact that the first frosts cause the settling of aquatic vegetation to the bottom, including very shallow ones, which is the cause of the so-called water bloom, and this significantly improves visibility. In such conditions, it is more difficult for fish to camouflage, and in many predatory species, just at this time, there is a seasonal zhor and a large pike, for example, does not sit at depth, but actively searches for food, often rising to the very surface of the water or entering shallow water. It is here that a gaping predator awaits a not very pleasant surprise, in the form of a fisherman with a spear at the ready in one hand and with a lantern in the other.
Choosing a flashlight for fishing
If you can make a prison yourself, then with a lantern this option will not work and you will have to buy it, treating this issue with maximum responsibility. After all, it is the lantern that plays, if not the first, then exactly the second most important role in fishing with a prison. More recently, many fans of such fishing used an ordinary motorcycle flashlight, which was powered by a car battery (the motorcycle quickly discharges). But today, finding a headlight from an old motorcycle is much more difficult than a normal headlight, and there is no need to. This was in Soviet times, when literally everything was in short supply, people came up with different ways of how to get out of this or that situation, and this concerned not only fishing. Now the situation has changed radically and will not be difficult, the main thing is that it meets the following characteristics:
- Light... In order to effectively penetrate the water column, which is required from a flashlight for fishing with a spear, an LED device with a yellow (warm) shade of light is best suited. It is this shade that scares the fish least of all and is less reflected from small organic particles floating in the water column. Many fishermen additionally use light filters of different colors, choosing the optimal shade for themselves directly at the fishing site, but do not forget that a comfortable light for a fisherman is not necessarily the same for a fish and, for example, cold white light can scare away potential prey.
- Focusing... The light beam should be narrow enough (up to 10 degrees) and concentrated, with minimal side illumination, in order to penetrate a thick layer of water as deeply as possible without scattering. For the same purpose, the flashlight must be powerful and bright enough. As practice shows, you should choose devices that can produce at least 800-900 lumens, otherwise you will only be able to see the surface (up to 0.5 m) layer of water, which significantly reduces the chances of successfully catching fish.
- Design... At first glance, it might seem that the best option would be a headlamp, since it allows you to free both hands, but this is not the case. When fishing with a spear, you often have to shine from different angles in order to better see objects found under water, which are not always fish. Therefore, it is better to opt for a hand-held flashlight with a handle, and a prison can be successfully wielded with one hand, because it weighs a little.
- Tightness... There is probably no need to explain why a spear fishing lantern should be waterproof, this is absolutely obvious. It is also desirable that the body of the flashlight be shockproof and not slippery. A safety strap or cord will not interfere at all, which will protect the flashlight from a possible fall.
- Food... Since fishing with a prison often lasts until the morning, you should think in advance about additional power sources for a powerful and energy-intensive flashlight. And while LEDs are much more economical than incandescent bulbs used in the past, spare batteries or rechargeable batteries (depending on the type of flashlight) never hurt. There are still fishermen of the old school, as Old School says, who habitually drag a car battery with them into the boat, but it can easily be replaced with a modern lithium battery, more powerful and less heavy.
Lanterns "Ray"
Having decided on the characteristics of the future purchase, it's time to move on to choosing a manufacturer and here a potential buyer will find a wide, as it might seem at first glance, assortment. But after a more detailed analysis, it becomes obvious that high-quality and reliable flashlights that meet all the parameters for spear fishing from well-known world brands are very expensive, and buying cheap Chinese fakes means deceiving yourself, since their reliability does not stand up no criticism. Therefore, the best choice in terms of price and quality is a Russian manufacturer that meets all the necessary requirements for fishing with strict requirements and is quite inexpensive in comparison with foreign counterparts. Let's take a closer look at three models from a wide line of Luch flashlights, ideal for this type of fishing:
- ... It is an inexpensive hand-held floodlight with a halogen lamp and a 6-volt lead-acid battery, capable of continuous operation for 5 hours. It has a plastic body and weighs less than 700 grams.
- ... In addition to a 25 W halogen lamp, this powerful flashlight also has 28 LEDs on the other side of the case. Lead-acid battery provides 12-hour autonomous operation of the device.
- ... Ideal for spear fishing. This powerful floodlight with a comfortable grip and multi-adjustable stand is capable of delivering a bright and concentrated beam of light. The light source is a bright and powerful 25W halogen lamp. In addition, the lantern has additional LED lighting along the edges. The case is made of high quality plastic and has a convenient safety strap. In addition to the usual charger, the kit also includes a car charger.
Lanterns Appearance
The powerful 35W warm yellow search light is good for both spear fishing and hare hunting. The 12 volt power supply allows you to choose a battery of such power that it will last for the whole night of fishing.
Which lantern to choose for night fishing?
There are hundreds of options, thousands of opinions, millions of results.
The correct answer is none. Night fishing uses natural light - light reflected from the moon, followed by its reflection from the water. And if there is no moon, we turn on all our senses, activates the hidden reserves of the human body.
Well, if you don't know how, then you still have to choose a lantern.
To say that a flashlight should have a number of characteristics for protection from dirt, dust, water, that it should be comfortable and blah blah we will not.
How a fish perceives objects
As the fish sees
For the most part, fish see well only at a close distance - from 1 to 1.5 m, beyond 10-12 m they cannot see anything at all. To detect light, fish have rod-shaped and cone-shaped visual cells on the retina. In daytime fish, cones predominate, they are less sensitive to light, but they can distinguish color. Nocturnal fish are dominated by rods that function in low light. Moreover, the difference in the number of rods and cones in daytime and nocturnal fish can be very significant ~ 20 times.
In the light, the state of the retina changes: the cones move towards the light, at dusk the rods move towards the light.
All that the fish sees is the light reflected from the object, i.e. a flat image is formed on the retina of the fish eye, which is perceived and recognized by the visual area of the brain.
Thus, the fish is quite able to recognize objects both under water and on the surface of the water and outside the water.
Everything else - the angle of vision, the lateral eye and even the blind spot are no longer interesting and it makes no sense to consider them.
Perception of objects
The fish sees light reflected from objects, forming a flat image - this is how it perceives objects. Accordingly, the more intense the light reflected from the object, and taking into account yellow-orange cornea of the eye, increasing the contrast of objects, the easier it is for the fish to distinguish it from the general background. The main feature of any fish is the instant fixation of any movement - moving objects, much smallerregarding its size, in the water column - are perceived as food, objects larger than itself cause a protective reaction.
Thus, any movement, exactly, a change in the nature of the illumination, is a signal for any fish to action - to defend itself, huddling in a flock, or to attack, freeze, remaining motionless, until it is ready to dash.
All of the above facts were observed by many fishermen in real conditions and on real examples:
- catfish is passive during the day, but active at night, while the carp eats with great pleasure in the daytime
- when approaching a school of gobies by land, an instant reaction is almost always observed, and the fish leaves in the other direction, relative to your movement
- the pike, until the moment of the throw, stands motionless in the thickets of grass, completely merging with it
Perception of color
It has been proven that fish are able to distinguish color or even its shades.
And then an endlessly long dispute arises about what color scares the fish?
The light flux directed into the water creates a huge moving object in the water column, which scares the fish. Therefore, whatever flashlight or whatever lens we use to illuminate the float, rod or ourselves, the fish will react in the same way - to defend.
How to be?
In fact, one of the above statements is not true! It is more accurate to consider and torment the issue of choosing a color and its perception by a fish, it is necessary from a completely different side.
Fish on a drum for color! The fish is attracted or scared off primarily by the size of the object. I repeat once again - the fish sees a flat image of an object formed by reflected light.
So back to the beginning - we turn on all our senses, activate the hidden reserves of the human body, and see in the dark.
Can't you? Then let's turn to physics.
Spectrum of light rays in nm (nanometers)
Penetration of light into water, depending on the wavelength
Taking into account the various parametric indicators of water, at the output we get a simple and understandable answer.
The best solution for illuminating essential items when fishing at night is to use lanterns with a red lens and a reduced luminous flux.
It is red light, it is the use of all lenses available on the market today that convert white or yellow, etc. color in red is the best solution that can minimize the risk of the fish recognizing an object that can be interpreted by it as a threat.
By the way, the play of light and color, in terms of reflection / absorption of light by objects in the water column, depending on the characteristics of the water itself, the intensity of the light flux and its refraction, are just as important indicators when choosing the color of bait and tackle, which is proved not only the above brief theoretical part, but also confirmed by many anglers who have carried out practical research on this topic.
An excellent option for a flashlight for night fishing - Fenix HP-40H 
Fenix HP-40H is a headlamp by a Chinese manufacturer, Fenix, which radically changes the perception of an overwhelming majority of ordinary people about Chinese products as a semi-basement low-quality product.
Fenix, today, is one of the leaders in the Chinese market for the production of high-quality and technically modern lanterns for various purposes, presented in a wide range (all details can be found on the website of the company's representative in the corresponding section).
Specifications Fenix HP-40H
Flashlight Fenix HP-40H review
Equipment:
- Flashlight
- External battery pack
- Batteries - 4 pcs.
- Head attachment system (transverse and longitudinal elastic straps)
- Power cable retainer - 2 pcs
- Warranty card
- User's Manual
Warranty: The Fenix HP40H comes with an official manufacturer's warranty for 5 years from the date of purchase.
We open the packaging
Integrated open hardware is used to attach the head straps to the battery pack and flashlight
All straps are easily adjusted to the size of the head, by means of double-slot buckles, well fixing the strap in the desired position
Battery pack and flashlight are connected by thick, weather-resistant insulated cable
For convenience, the cable is attached to the strap through special clips
(the clips have the ability to move freely along the strap if the flashlight is not attached to the head)
The battery pack is presented as a separate box, ~ 75x68x23mm in size, IPX6 standard (Protection against sea waves or strong water jets. Water entering the case should not interfere with the operation of the device)
IPX6 - Large splashes and rain - During testing, the object is exposed to water from all angles, protruding through 12.5 mm. nozzles in a volume of 100 liters / minute at a pressure of 100 kN / square meter from a distance of 3 meters. The device should not: stop working; have weak water penetration.
The inner part of the block enters through grooves into the outer casing and is rigidly connected by pulling through a metal threaded connection. At the junction of the two parts, the use of waterproof gaskets is not critical, since the outer part-lid of the indoor unit is made of a porous conditionally “soft” polymer, which by itself well closes “possible” cracks.
External battery pack
The battery pack is divided into two parts - the outer case, made of aluminum and high-strength plastic, and the inner one, for installing batteries - 4 pcs AA
From the manufacturer's website fenix-russia.ru
Flashlight Fenix HP40H is equipped with 2 LEDs: red Cree XP-E2 with brightness up to 150 lumens and white Cree XP-G2 (R5) with brightness up to 450 lumens. Both semiconductor devices are highly durable and can operate for 50,000 hours. Despite the fact that the red light is less bright, its beam is better focused, which allows illuminating an area with a radius of 105 m.White LED, on the other hand, gives a wide side illumination, creating a comfortable environment for tourists forced to walk in the dark along forest paths, as well as cavers, cyclists and other potential users of this lighting device.
Each of the diodes is controlled separately. Red can work in 3 brightness modes and is used in situations where it is important to preserve human night vision or not to frighten animals. The data on the operating time of the flashlight are given taking into account its testing, first with alkaline batteries, and then with Ni-MH batteries.
The white light diode works in 4 brightness modes as well as SOS signaling mode. Data on its work are also presented taking into account information on testing different types of batteries.
The direction of the light flux in the Fenix HP40H is easily adjustable due to the swivel mechanism in the head of the lighting device. It can be rotated 60 ° vertically.
The battery pack for the Fenix HP40H is external. To distribute the weight of the device more evenly on the head, it can be attached to the elastic straps from the back of the head. The battery compartment, like the head part of the flashlight, is well protected from moisture and can withstand the effects of any atmospheric precipitation. The Fenix HP40H case is made of aluminum and high-strength plastic.
From the manufacturer's website fenix-russia.ru
The flashlight is controlled by means of 2 separate buttons on the upper surface of the head of the device. Pressing each of them for 0.5 s allows you to turn on / off the white or red LEDs, respectively. Short presses sequentially switch the brightness levels available for each diode. In addition, holding down the button that controls the white diode for 3 s activates the SOS signaling mode.
The body of the flashlight has, similar to the battery pack, IPX6 protection and is made of aluminum alloy with durable plastic elements.
The system of protection against accidental activation of the flashlight during transportation is made by partially overlapping both power buttons.
Head tilt up to 60 °
Total
The lantern makes pleasant first impressions, both in performance and in functionality and technological equipment and ease of use.
The evening dawn ends. It gets dark. Most anglers collect their tackle and head home or scatter to cozy campfires and tents to continue fishing in the morning. Meanwhile, night fishing is no less interesting and rewarding activity than daytime fishing.
From left to right: 1. A special float for night fishing with an antenna-container in which a chemical "firefly" is placed. 2. An ordinary float that becomes "visible" at night thanks to a chemical "firefly" attached to the antenna by means of the included "firefly" silicone tube. 3. A special float with a replaceable plastic antenna, instead of which a chemical "firefly" is inserted at night
Alexander Gavrilov
Night fishing also has a number of obvious advantages - there are fewer people on the shores, there is no midday sun, and many very cautious and weighty representatives of the fish kingdom go hunting in the dark at night, leaving their secluded day camps. In central Russia, the most popular night fishing tools are spinning, float and bottom fishing rods. Night fishing gives an indescribable feeling, but it also requires a certain psychological and technical training. The increasingly popular night predator spinning fishing is practiced mainly on large and medium rivers.
Nocturnal predators
With the onset of darkness, pike perch, ide and other predators go out to shallow rifts, where they actively hunt for small fish. The most attractive are rocky rifts with pronounced jets (it is desirable that the jets go along or from the coast). At the same time, out of three seemingly identical places, one will work regularly, the other sporadically, on the third it is almost impossible to see a bite. Finding a good spot is not easy, but with 5-6 catch points in stock, you can successfully fish all night.
1. A special float for night fishing with an antenna-container in which a chemical "firefly" is placed. 2. A special float with a replaceable plastic antenna, instead of which a chemical "firefly" is inserted at night. 3. An ordinary float that becomes "visible" at night thanks to a chemical firefly attached to the antenna by means of the included "firefly" silicone tube. 4. The signaling device is a plumb line. A modern alternative to a bell, but not with sound, but with a visual effect. For different conditions (wind) it is equipped with weighting agents of different weights. For fishing at night, a chemical "firefly" is placed inside.
The most gambling is considered to be night walleye fishing. It consists in periodically casting and releasing the bait a considerable distance downstream (within reasonable limits, of course, otherwise it becomes impossible to keep the bait under control) and posting with periodic pauses at different angles. You can make one after another casts in the middle of a flock of hunting pike perch and all to no avail, but it is worth throwing a little to the side, changing the trajectory and pace of the posting, as the grip immediately follows. This is the skill of the spinning player - to find the key to the capricious pike perch, to solve another fishing riddle.
Beach fishing
Some fish of Russian rivers are active at night. First of all, this is the river giant, the European catfish, and a rarer guest on the angler's hook is the eel. Other species, in particular, many representatives of the genus carp (crucian carp, bream, large roach), although they are considered daytime, often peck even better at night - it is at night that they come closer to the shore in search of food. Very often, the swimming pool adjacent to the beach becomes the place of active night feeding of fish, especially on stagnant bodies of water. During the day, numerous bathers raise silt from the bottom, and with it various fish delicacies - water worms, larvae of aquatic insects, molluscs. But as soon as the sun sets and the beaches are empty, a feast begins in the baths. An experienced angler who has chosen such a place for fishing is unlikely to be left without a catch. Moreover, it is at night that the most significant trophies come across.
But the most emotional way to catch nocturnal pike perch is whisker fishing. In a similar way, there is a night fishing of taimen or lenok on an artificial mouse on top of the vast Siberian rivers. But on the Central Russian rivers, no less interesting and exciting fishing awaits you (it is better in clear calm weather for a shallow floating wobbler or popper). The bait is led from above, so that behind it a distinct "mustache", clearly visible in the moonlight, diverges. The angler leads the bait to the shore and notices a wake wave appear behind it. This pike perch lodged behind is preparing to strike its swift blow. With a sinking heart, the fisherman is waiting for an attack, but the wobbler rests against the coastline with impunity, and the wake wave that appears disappears imperceptibly ...
Bell is a time-tested sound signaling device. The modern design allows you to attach it to the tip of any rod, which does not interfere with either hooking or casting. Equipped with a chemical firefly mount.
Fishing tackle for night spinning fishing is the same as day tackle, maybe just a little more powerful and rougher. But special tools are needed. First of all, a repellent against blood-sucking insects, the number of which increases significantly at night. The spinning player does not need a bite alarm - the sensitive tackle perfectly transfers the bite to the hand. But a flashlight, in order to change the bait in the dark, untangle the fishing line, and even remove the prey from the hook, will be very useful. Spinning enthusiasts hold the small LED headlamps in high esteem - they provide enough light and leave your hands free.
Firefly float
Peaceful fish are caught at night, as a rule, with a float rod or on a donk. The main thing here is to notice the bite in time. Previously, anglers used floats with bulbs and batteries. The invention of a compact disposable chemical light source ("firefly") solved the problem of float night visibility. Cheapness, availability, large selection of sizes made "fireflies" favorites of night float fishing. With the included silicon tube "firefly" you can put on the antenna almost any float of the corresponding shape and size. Later, floats, specially designed for catching with the "firefly", also appeared. In some models, it is inserted instead of a replaceable antenna, in others, the antenna is a transparent capsule where the "firefly" is placed. It shines all night, while its light is clearly visible at a great distance and does not scare away fish.
The electronic alarm is the most advanced bite alarm for night fishing. It is mounted instead of a flyer on the front rod support. The line is inserted into a slot with a roller. Turning the roller when biting causes a buzzer signal and the LED lights up. You can adjust the volume and timbre of the sound (when using two or more signaling devices, they can be distinguished by their sound). Most advanced electronic alarms can even send a signal to a pager.
Fishing with bells
Fishing with a bottom line is another matter. In the old days, a fisherman was notified of a night bite by the ringing of a bell. A reliable option still has its supporters, especially among the older generation anglers. The disadvantage of the bell is that it does not always ring loudly; with a sharp bite, it can even fly off the line, get lost in the grass or drown. Therefore, many anglers, for safety reasons, tie it to the rod stand with a string long enough not to interfere with the hook.
About 20 years ago, the bell was replaced by a miracle of modern engineering - an electronic bite alarm. This is a small box that is threaded onto the pole and acts as the front rod holder. The line is put into the slot, where it contacts the roller. The fish pulled the line - the buzzer sounds and the LED lights up. The first models of such signaling devices were capricious and expensive - some made them on their own. Now they have become available to most anglers. Modern models allow you to adjust the triggering force (depending on the wave and wind strength), the volume and tone of the signal. The signaling device can show a bite in development: the fish pulls - it "sings", threw the bait - it is silent, but the diode burns for some time, indicating that the signaling device has worked. Some models allow up to four signaling devices to be connected to a special pager via a radio channel, then the angler can calmly rest at a fair distance from the fishing rods. Many "advanced" anglers completely turn off the sound on electronic alarms, which can annoy many in the silence of the night, and are guided only by a quiet pager signal that hangs on their chest or lies in their pocket.
The bell is one of the oldest and simplest bite alarms when fishing with a bottom line. Its ringing is clearly audible in the silence of the night. Advantages - it is almost impossible to break it. Attached with a clothespin to the line between the rod rings. When hooked, it flies off the line and can get lost in the dark, so many tie it with a safety thread to the rod stand.
But it happens that the pecked fish does not pull the line towards itself, but swims to the shore - and the line weakens. In order for the signaling device to work in this case, a simple weight on the clamp or a more complex device, a swinger, is installed between the signaling device and the coil. When the line is weakened, such a weight pulls the line down, which ensures the operation of the electronic signaling device. Modern swingers also have a camera in which a chemical firefly is placed, which serves as an additional bite alarm in the dark. Many anglers use different swinger models apart from electronic alarms as a visual alarm.
11/07/2016
Fishing at night during the hot summer months is most productive. At the same time, the primary issue of such fishing, requiring a solution, is the provision of illumination of the workplace and bite signaling devices.
The topic raised to the uninitiated may seem secondary. Like, he bought a headlamp, put on a "firefly" and catch it. But it is worth, with this approach, to be on a fishing trip, if not problems, then serious difficulties arise. Moreover, those that will not only spoil the impressions of the fishing process, but also directly affect its performance.
Even while mastering night float and feeder fishing under the guidance of experienced mentors, at one time I had to break a lot of spears before I figured out the issue of organizing lighting and, more importantly, to develop my own vision of the optimality of this most important component of night fishing.
In general, without pretending to be the ultimate truth, I will share my personal experience in solving the lighting problem, substantively focusing on each of the two types of fishing mentioned - float and feeder.
Work area lighting
Of course, the main task at night is to ensure the visibility of bite alarms, which when fishing with a fishing rod is a float, and a feeder is a quivertip. However, it is equally important to provide illumination of the workplace for baiting baits on the hook, feeding, casting equipment, playing fish and in a number of other cases, including household issues.
In general, preparation for night fishing should begin well before dusk. Having prepared the bait, I correctly set the supports under the rod so that there would be no problems at night. This is especially true on wooden walkways, where a simple rack cannot be placed. For such cases, I will take a tripod stand Salmo Tripod 707-405 in advance.
I securely fix the chair, placing everything you need on the work table and excluding everything unnecessary. I do not forget to lay out the cage, which in the summer I always take a roomy one, such as Sensas CARP "X POWER KEEPNET, otherwise the fish will disappear from the heat in the morning. I aim the casting point. By nightfall, it should not just be fed. Fishing should be in full swing and the transition from one time of day to the second should be smooth, only lighting should change from natural to artificial.
LED headlamps with rubber bands are really a good choice for illuminating the work area today. In addition, you can resort to their counterparts, mounted in the visors of fishing caps. However, the first option seems to be more preferable, because it allows you to adjust the angle of rotation of the flashlight vertically and, accordingly, the direction of the light beam. As a result, it focuses on the desired point and is not very scattered over the unwanted area. When fishing at close range such cautious fish as bream or tench, which sometimes comes to the very shore, this is important. Any unnatural change in the environment can scare them away. So it is better when the light of the switched on flashlight is directed under the feet of the angler.
The shape - a circle, oval or rectangle, as well as the size of the lantern, the number of LEDs and spotlights, brightness levels, protection from water, from my point of view, are secondary characteristics. Much more important is the color of the light beam emitted by the flashlight. It comes in blue, yellow and white. The first option is the most advantageous, since it is the brightest and does not tire the eyes so much.
The glass of the lantern's spotlight is also noteworthy. If it is spherical, the light will be diffused. As a result, not only the desired point is illuminated, but also the unwanted surrounding space. Lanterns with flat glass appeal more. Their light beam is more concentrated, concentrated, and bright.
I recommend turning on the headlamp only for a short time to perform a specific task, and in the mode of the minimum brightness level. I do not share the opinion that artificial light does not deter fish. When the night is light, and the rig is cast at a significant distance from the shore using a feeder, turning on the flashlight for a long time is not yet critical. If the night is impenetrable, a flash of light, and even when fishing with a short rod with a float in the coastal zone, can lead to undesirable consequences. Yes, the same bream is not afraid of the lunar path, but the light of the moon is a natural phenomenon, in contrast to the light of a lantern, which is emitted in a completely different way. Therefore, fish can leave even a lured place.
It is better to make it a rule to turn on the headlamp only for attaching baits to the hook or stuffing the feeder. All other cases are considered an exception. Even casts, including feeder casts, should be done in the dark. To do this, it is necessary to determine in advance before dusk a reference point for casting, which will be noticeable at night. Position the fishing chair so that this landmark is on the line of the eyes. And it is more rational to choose the fishing sector of low complexity in order to minimize the hooks of the rig to emerging plants, coastal trees, etc. Plus, the fishing distance should not be maximized. Under the canopy of the starry sky, it is extremely difficult to perform power verified castings of the rig at the limit of possibilities.
The process of playing fish turns out to be difficult at night. Especially when fishing with a float rod with delicate rigs surrounded by aquatic vegetation. On the one hand, artificial light is able to facilitate this task, on the other - to complicate it. The latter is connected, again, with the unpredictable reaction of fish, which, falling into the epicenter of the light spot, can double the resistance. Therefore, if you can do without light, it is better not to turn it on. As a rule, playing small fish does not cause much trouble. It is more difficult with large individuals. When my partner catches next to me, I always resort to his help in such cases. One plays out, the second substitutes the landing net without turning on the light. The flashlight is used only as a last resort. And again, the light beam should not be directed at the water, but under one's own feet or to the side.
Float rig lighting
The main, and irreplaceable element of float lighting is the so-called "light stick". It is a plastic capsule with a fluorescent dye and oxalate (an ester of oxalic acid), when it breaks, the inside glass cone with hydrogen peroxide bursts. When two substances are mixed, a chemical reaction occurs with the effect of light radiation.
Depending on the type of colorant in the capsule, this nozzle is available in several colors - green, blue, yellow and red. I haven’t met any other, but in principle they should not be. The most preferable ones are green fireflies. They are the brightest, do not tire the eyes, and besides, they additionally emphasize the aesthetics of night fishing, bathing emerging plants in the reflections of the emerald light emitted. The green ones are followed by yellow capsules, which are also not bad. The red light of "fireflies" is aggressive and exhausting, but the most useless is blue. He seems to be drowning in water, shimmering dully. The color is always indicated on the packaging of branded capsules.
I have not seen "capsules" that would create problems in terms of the duration of the glow. Others generally burn for a couple of days, although manufacturers usually define this period as 12-15 hours. Is that the brightness of the glow becomes an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, in this regard, you should not be puzzled - for one night, especially a summer one, anyone will be enough. Just do not forget that the already luminous capsule should be shaken from time to time. When it is mounted on a float, the light-emitting substance rolls down and the firefly dies out. I shake the capsule with a few clicks of two fingers. Fast and efficient.
It is worth paying attention to the adapter for attaching the "firefly" to the float antenna. Usually this is a piece of a transparent polymer tube. For unverified manufacturers, it is too short, and the capsule may fly off when cast. Therefore, it is good to have a supply of your own tubes of various diameters.
On floats with removable antennas, and these Salmo are produced, it is possible to install "fireflies" in the nest of the "body". In this case, you should not miss the diameter of the purchased capsules, which is indicated on the packaging. However, I made sure that the weight of the capsule is not always equal to the weight of the detachable antenna, so the weight of the float may change. When the float rises above the surface, this is not only critical, but even good, because the visibility of the bite alarm is improved. If the capsule is heavier than the standard antenna and sinks the float, barely visible above the water, the load should be reduced. In such a case, I just remove one shot from the line. Well, do not forget that the thinner the antenna of the float, the thinner the "firefly" will be. Accordingly, its visibility will become worse. Therefore, I consider the most optimal capsules to be those that have the characteristics of 4.5x39 m / m, 4x38 m / m. I select floats for night fishing for them.
Keep "fireflies" at home not in a bag or box, but on the refrigerator door, so that they do not lose their working properties. And lastly, when feeding fish at night when fishing with a float, it is better to do without turning on the headlamp aimed at the fishing sector, relying on the capsule-"beacon" of the abandoned float, residual natural lighting and your own skills in casting pre-prepared balls.
Feeder rig lighting
Despite the fact that the "firefly" capsules described in the previous section are intended not only for night float fishing, but also for feeder fishing, they abandoned their use in bottom fishing for a long time. Firstly, the special plastic fasteners included in the capsule kit do not always snap tightly on the top of the feeder and scroll. But even if you put several turns of the same tape under it or solve the problem by fixing it between the second and third, or third and fourth rings, the fasteners create inconveniences in the fishing process. A braid or fishing line is overlapped about it, the likelihood of a quivertip breaking increases. Secondly, bite control by observing the "firefly" at the tip is not effective, especially when fishing on a lake when the feeder is parallel to the horizon. Against the background of increasing eye strain in the dark, the luminous capsule begins to "float". The illusion of a bite is created.
Some people solve the problem by installing a specially made white screen in front of the tip, in contrast with which the deflection of the tip when biting is better visible. Even so, backlighting is required, so I like my own way out. To the left or to the right of the feeder tip, at a distance of one to two dozen centimeters from it, I install a rechargeable flashlight. Moreover, at such an angle that the beam of light emitted by it is directed upward, and not at the water. I mount the flashlight on a telescopic fishing rod support using ordinary electrical tape. The visibility of even a timid bite with this option is ideal, and, given the casting distance, such an additional source of diffused illumination does not negatively affect the behavior of the fish. Charging a good rechargeable flashlight is enough not even for one, but for several nights. My friend, who does the same, uses a rechargeable battery instead of a lantern, with a wire and a lamp coming from it.
With this option, it is also convenient to play the fish, not including the headlamp, which is necessary only for working with baits and complementary foods, and sometimes for casting, if the point serving as a reference point on the opposite bank is invisible in the impenetrable darkness.
The prevailing opinion that at night when fishing with a feeder, you can do without continuous lighting, making a bet on a bell or bell, fixed on the rod stand, is erroneous. Sometimes on summer nights, the vast majority of bites are hardly noticeable. The rod tip only slightly deviates from the initial position, without causing the alarm to ring. Therefore, it is easy to miss the moment of hooking. I use the bell only as a safety detector in case I have to be distracted from the continuous monitoring of the quivertip. For many years of night fishing, I made sure that you should not relax at night, because the fish can start active feeding at two or three o'clock. So it's best not to close your eyes.
Well, in conclusion, about a simple rule. When fishing at night, the feeder should be handled carefully when filling the trough and baiting the hook. The braid or line should always be taut to avoid snagging the tip. When the preparation for casting is completed, you should check their free play and only then perform the cast to avoid damage to the quivertip. Such or any other mistake made at night turns into much greater losses of time and nerves than during the day.
Sergey Shershenevich
The idea of artificially illuminating the hole during night and daytime winter fishing at depths is by no means new. If you delve deeply into the near-fishing "archives" of the past, you will find many "artifacts" of the grandfather's experience of the Soviet (and maybe pre-Soviet) times on this topic.An article on how to organize the highlighting of the bait in a simple way during night, winter fishing at a depth.
A lot of gadgets and underwater "bulbs" were offered. The essence of the method is to lure the fish. It is based on the natural "love" of the underwater inhabitant and his curiosity for the source of light at the bottom and alluring under the darkness of the ice. The night bream, which is distinguished by both caution and curiosity at the same time, suffered especially from the underwater "flashlights".
The meaning of "highlighting" consists in lowering a burning light bulb to the bottom through the hole, which should lure the fish from afar to the feeding place and, accordingly, to the jig. Coming into the world, the same bream will inevitably bite.
The most, how to put it, optimal perhaps, we thought it was "adapted" from a light bulb or LED with a battery and a sealed test tube. Of course, this is true in those ancient times, when there was tension in the country with Chinese or just small lanterns.
We, in the absence of a test tube, and the reluctance to search for it, a little "shook hands" with a small LED flashlight, fortunately, China has put them on our market a lot and different. First, we achieve tightness. This is easy to do.
The easiest way is to wrap the flashlight in several layers of sausage film. Well, that, you know - thin plastic, in which sausage or cheese is packed in stores. It "sticks" well and does not let water in.
It is a little more difficult to siliconize the unscrewing parts with the appropriate sealant. Next, we tie the "light bulb" to the fishing line, make it heavier if necessary, and now the flashlight is ready to "plunge" into the hole. At a depth of up to 5m., If you bend over to the hole, you can even "steer" the light in the right direction, i.e. on the jig.
The only inconvenience for a subglacial angler is the presence of both a flashlight line and a rod line in the hole. Therefore, in order to avoid "snagging" when playing, we drill a couple of holes - in one we catch, in the other we "sink" a lantern. Cheap and simple. You can even drill three holes, of which two will be "working", and one will illuminate.