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| I would like to hear some opinions on using a headlamp at night while night fishing. Do you turn yours off becuase of bugs. Do you turn it off so it doesn't spook fish? Do you leave it on and still get fish to hit in the 8? Do you use one of the softer blue or red colors to see a fish that is following in? |
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Posts: 335
Location: Minnesota | I turn it off unless I am looking for a bait in the box, changing lures, or after a fish is hooked up.
The reason I have it off is so that my eyes can adjust to the dark. It is amazing what you can see when as little light is on as possible. The only lights on at night for me are the running lights on the boat. After a while your eyes get used to it and you can see everything and is much safer IMO. The headlamps limit what you can see to the field of light. And bugs are annoying also. |
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Posts: 189
Location: West Bend, WI | I was with guide Ken Jackson on Little Saint Germain chasing muskies around. We fished for about an hour after dark. He told us never have your headlamp on while retrieving baits. He said the lights spook following muskies. That's the way I fish at night. I try everything to get the odds in my favor. |
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Location: Fridley MN | I usually use my headlamp. I have experimented using one and not using one and my personal results seal it for me. Without a light I have only boated a few, but with my light I have boated dozens. Half of which were caught on a figure 8. I have never had a musky spooked by my light while in a figure 8. I believe that if I did not have a light on I would only landed a few of these, due to the fact that they were slow followers or coming in fast but far behind my bait. Fish at night, just as during the day, hone in to the bait. Using a light for me allows me to see how the fish is reacting to the bait. You dont always perform the exact figure 8 manuver when a fish is approaching. Sometimes you have to do a circle or whatever it takes to keep the fish following. I dont usually use a light if it is windy. I use a red lamp when it is really buggy. Just my two cents worth but if you ask me your missing many boatside opportunities without a lamp. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | What brand does everyone use,I`ve heard of some that are pretty expensive but work great.I think the one I have is a energizer one,bigman has the same one and after fishing madison and dropping him off at home I saw a hat on top of my blazer with a lite shinning.bigman put his hat on top of my blazer when we were loading up after getting off the lake,it stayed for the hour drive back in freezing cold temps and was still working great. |
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Posts: 774
Location: South East Wisconsin | I have two of the Streamlight Trident headlamps in the boat. These are the best headlamps that I have ever used. I only turn them on once a fish is hooked. However I have heard that you can leave a green light on and that won't spook fish. Never tried it my self I like to fish in complete darkness. |
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Posts: 785
| Complete darkness. I don't know if a light spooks fish or not but I'm not willing to take the chance. Not to mention a persons eyes adjust quickly to the dark and all my night figure eight hits I could see the fish without a light. Look for the dark gray ghost like thing following your bait and hang on!
Gosh I wish I could remember the brand. It cost me 10 bucks and has brights, regular and red lights. I dropped it in the lake two years ago when I went to take my hoody off while working on a fish. Realesed the fish and reset my drift and 10 minutes later following the weedline I came across a glowing spot. Used my handy dandy lure retriever and after about a minute of fishing for it managed to hook the strap. Still using that baby to this day. |
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| I don't use a headlight at all.I have a Go-Light remotely controled,it is suction cup mounted on the crowl of my Merc 225.I cast & troll in the dark,only turn on the light when ready to net the fish.I can light up an area 25 ft square on either side of the boat,angle into the boat and light up the entire floor area.Can also see the shore line from a 1/4 mile away and use it as a running light looking at the water ahead as I run back to the dock in the dark.
Capt. Larry D. Jones
www.mostlymuskies.com |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | I keep my headlight off because of spooking fish and you will be a bug magnet. Just always do 3 figure 8's to play it safe.
Edited by mnmusky101 3/6/2010 11:02 AM
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Posts: 86
| I keep mine off while fishing. Once I get hooked up I'll turn it on at some point, usually when its closer to the boat.
I know for certain that light spooks fish. there have been several times I have turned my light on with the bait close to the boat to see how the bait is running, only to have a fallow spooked.
I use princton-tec h20 model. It is a 1 watt led that works good, and has lasted several years of hard use. I'm fixin to buy another just like it it has been that good. I payed $50 when they first came out, but there running 30-35 now |
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