The evening dawn is ending. It's getting dark. Most anglers pack up their gear and head home or wander off to cozy campfires and tents to continue fishing in the morning. Meanwhile, night fishing is no less interesting and productive than daytime fishing.

From left to right: 1. 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 using the silicone tube included in the “firefly” kit. 3. A special float with a replaceable plastic antenna, instead of which dark time days a chemical "firefly" is inserted

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 darkness of the night, leaving their secluded daytime camps. AT middle lane In Russia, the most popular tools for night fishing are spinning, float and bottom fishing rods. Night fishing gives an indescribable feeling, but it also requires a certain psychological and technical training. Increasingly gaining popularity night fishing on the spinning of a predator is practiced mainly on large and medium rivers.

Night Predators

With the onset of darkness, pike perch, ide and other predators go 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 occasionally, and it is almost impossible to see a bite on the third. Find a good place not easy, but having 5-6 catch points in stock, you can successfully catch 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 using the silicone tube included in the “firefly” kit. 4. Signaling device - plumb. A modern alternative to the bell, but not with a sound, but with a visual effect. For various conditions(wind) is equipped with weights of different weights. For fishing at night, a chemical "firefly" is placed inside.

The most reckless is the night fishing for zander. It consists in periodic casting and releasing the bait for a considerable distance downstream (within reasonable limits, of course, otherwise it becomes impossible to keep the bait under control) and wiring with periodic pauses at various angles. You can make one after another casts into the middle of a flock of hunting pike perch and all to no avail, but it’s worth throwing a little to the side, changing the trajectory and pace of the posting, as a grip immediately follows. This is the skill of a spinning player - to find the key to the capricious zander, to solve another fishing riddle.

beach fishing

Some fish in Russian rivers lead an active lifestyle at night. First of all, this is a river giant, European catfish, and a rarer guest on the fisher's hook - eel. Other species, in particular, many representatives of the cyprinid genus (crucian carp, bream, large roach), although they are considered diurnal, often peck even better at night - it is at night that they come closer to the shore in search of food. Very often, the place of active night feeding of fish, especially in stagnant water bodies, becomes a bathing area adjacent to the beach. During the day, numerous bathers raise silt from the bottom, and with it various fish delicacies - water worms, larvae of aquatic insects, mollusks. But as soon as the sun sets and the beaches are empty, the 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 of catching night pike perch is to catch "whiskers". In a similar way, night fishing for taimen or lenok takes place on an artificial mouse on top of the expanses of Siberian rivers. But on the Central Russian rivers you will find no less interesting and exciting fishing (better in clear, calm weather on a shallow floating wobbler or popper). The bait is led on top, so that distinct "whiskers", clearly visible in the moonlight, diverge behind it. The angler leads the bait to the shore and notices how a wake appears behind it. This pike perch, which has attached itself behind, is preparing to deliver its swift blow. With bated breath, the fisherman is waiting for an attack, but the wobbler rests with impunity on the coastline, and the wake wave that has appeared quietly disappears ... One more attempt or changing the bait to a wobbler with a different amplitude of movement - and, as a rule, the work of the fisherman is rewarded by the capture of several "fanged ones".

The 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 mount for a chemical firefly.

Fishing gear for night fishing with spinning - the same as daytime ones, maybe only a little more powerful and rougher. But special means necessary. First of all, a repellant from blood-sucking insects, the number of which increases significantly at night. A spinning player does not need a bite signaling device - sensitive tackle perfectly transmits a bite to the hand. But a flashlight, in order to change the bait in the dark, unravel the fishing line, and even remove the prey from the hook, will be very useful. Fans of fishing with spinning are held in high esteem by small LED headlamps - they give enough light and leave their hands free.

Firefly float

Peaceful fish are caught at night, as a rule, float rod or on the bottom. The main thing here is to notice the bite in time. In the past, anglers used floats with light bulbs and batteries. The invention of a compact disposable chemical light source ("firefly") solved the problem of night visibility of the float. cheapness, availability, big choice sizes made "fireflies" the favorites of the night float fishing. Using the included silicone tube, the "firefly" can be put on the antenna of almost any float of the appropriate shape and size. Later, floats also appeared, specially designed for fishing with a “firefly”. 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 the fish.

The electronic alarm is the most advanced bite alarm for night fishing. It is attached instead of a flyer to the front stand of the rod. The fishing line is inserted into the slot with the roller. Turning the roller during a bite 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 sound). The most advanced models electronic signaling devices can even send a signal to a pager.

Fishing with bells

Another thing is bottom fishing. In the old days of the fisherman, the ringing of a bell informed the fisherman about a night bite. A reliable option and now has its supporters, especially among older anglers. The disadvantage of the bell is that it does not always ring loudly; with a sharp bite, it can generally fly off the fishing line, get lost in the grass or drown. Therefore, many anglers, for safety net, tie it to the rod stand with a string long enough not to interfere with the strike.

About 20 years ago, the bell was replaced by a miracle of modern engineering - an electronic bite signaling device. This is a small box that is threaded onto the post and acts as a front rod holder. The fishing line is inserted 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 is on for a while, indicating that the signaling device worked. Some models allow up to four signaling devices to be connected to a special pager via a radio channel, then the angler can safely rest at a fair distance from the fishing rods. Many "advanced" anglers completely turn off the sound on electronic signaling devices, which can annoy many in the silence of the night, and are guided only by a low signal from a pager that hangs on their chest or lies in their pocket.

The bell is one of the oldest and simplest bite signaling devices when fishing with a bottom rod. Its ringing is well heard in the silence of the night. Advantages - it is almost impossible to break it. It is attached with a clothespin to the fishing line between the rings of the rod. When hooking, it flies off the line and can get lost in the dark, so many people tie it with a safety thread to the rod stand.

But it happens that a fish that has bitten 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 load on the clamp or a more complex device - a swinger - is installed between the signaling device and the coil. When the fishing line is loosened, such a load pulls the fishing line down, which ensures the operation of the electronic signaling device. Modern swingers also have a chamber in which a chemical firefly is placed, which in the dark serves as an additional bite signal. Many anglers use various models of swingers separately from electronic signaling devices as a visual indicator.

Since the method fishing very ancient, then very few things will be needed for it, because primitive people could not go to the store and buy themselves various fishing equipment. The main fishing tool is the spear itself, resembling an ordinary kitchen fork, only significantly increased in size and, as a rule, with a large number of teeth. Spears can now be purchased 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 knitting needles 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 tool - a pointed stick.

But today we are not talking about a spear, but about another accessory that is necessary for this 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 technological progress is inexorable and today only some extreme can go fishing, even if it is the most ancient kind, with a torch. The vast majority of fishermen will still choose a much more convenient 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 a short distance. What is true, the efficiency of fishing without a boat will suffer quite seriously, since big fish there are not so many left in our reservoirs, and the one that remains has learned to behave very carefully. By the way, it was not spear fishing that caused a catastrophic decline in the fish population, but completely different types of fishing plus ill-conceived human activities. This is due to the fact that voices are often heard today about the barbaric method of catching fish, as some people 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 more necessary conditions for successful fishing - this is clear water and complete silence. As far as dark nights and clear water are concerned, mid-autumn is the best time for spearfishing to meet these two conditions. Why autumn nights are dark is clear and without explanation, and the transparency of water in late autumn is explained by the fact that the first frosts cause aquatic vegetation to settle to the bottom, including very small 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 disguise themselves, and for many predatory species just at this time there is a seasonal zhor and a large pike, for example, does not sit at a depth, but is actively looking for prey, often rising to the very surface of the water or entering shallow water. It is here that a gaping predator is waiting for 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 this option will not work with a flashlight and you will have to buy it, treating this issue with the utmost responsibility. After all, it is the lantern that plays, if not the first, then definitely the second most important role in spear fishing. More recently, many fans of such fishing used an ordinary motorcycle lamp, which was powered by a car battery (a motorcycle battery is quickly discharged). But today, finding a headlight from an old motorcycle is much more difficult than a normal lamp, and there is no need for this. This was in Soviet times, when literally everything was in short supply, people came up with different ways to get out of this or that situation, and this did not only apply to fishing. Now the situation has changed radically and will not special work, the main thing is that it meets the following characteristics:

• Light. In order to effectively break through the water column, which is what is required from a fishing light with a spear, an LED device with a yellow (warm) shade of light is best suited. It is this shade that frightens the fish least of all and is reflected to a lesser extent from small organic particles floating in the water column. Many fishermen additionally use light filters of different colors, choosing the best shade for themselves directly at the place of fishing, but do not forget that a comfortable light for a fisherman is not necessarily the same for fish, and, for example, cold white light can scare 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 enough and bright enough. As practice shows, you should choose devices that can give out no less than 800-900 lumens, otherwise you can only 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 there would be a headlamp, as it allows you to free both hands, but this is not the case. When fishing with spearfish, you often have to shine from different angles in order to better see objects found under water, which are far from always being fish. Therefore, it is better to opt for a hand-held lantern with a handle, and a spear can be successfully wielded with one hand, because it weighs a little.
• tightness. There is probably no need to explain why a fishing spear lantern should be waterproof, it is already absolutely obvious. It is also desirable that the body of the flashlight be impact-resistant and not slippery. A safety strap or cord will not interfere at all, which will protect the flashlight from a possible fall.
• Food. Since spearfishing often lasts until the morning, you should think in advance about additional power sources for a powerful and energy-intensive flashlight. And although LEDs are much more economical than incandescent lamps used in the past, spare batteries or accumulators (depending on the type of lamp) will never hurt. There are still fishermen of the old school, as the Old School says, who, out of habit, drag a car battery with them into the boat, but it can easily be replaced with modern lithium, more powerful and less heavy.

Lanterns "Ray"

Having decided on the characteristics of a future purchase, it's time to move on to choosing a manufacturer, and here a potential buyer expects a wide, as it may 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, as their reliability cannot withstand no criticism. Therefore, the best choice in terms of price and quality are Russian manufacturer, which meet all the requirements for fishing with stringent requirements and are quite inexpensive in comparison with foreign counterparts. Let's take a closer look at three models from the wide range of Luch flashlights, ideal for this type of fishing:

1. . It is a low cost handheld spotlight with a halogen lamp and a 6 volt lead-acid battery capable of 5 hours of continuous operation. It has a plastic body and weighs less than 700 grams.
2. . In addition to the 25W halogen lamp, this powerful flashlight also has 28 LEDs on the other side of the body. The lead-acid accumulator provides 12 hour autonomous work of the device.
3. . Perfect Choice for fishing with spear. With a comfortable handle and multi-adjustable stand, this powerful spotlight delivers a bright and concentrated beam of light. The light source is a bright and powerful 25W halogen lamp. In addition, the lantern along the edges also has additional LED lighting. The body is made of high quality plastic and has a comfortable safety strap. In addition to the usual charger, the kit also includes a car charger.

Lanterns Look

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 is enough for the whole night of fishing.

15.10.2015

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE UNDERWATER VIDEO CAMERA BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO

WHAT IS THIS?

Well, in a nutshell, this is a small lens on a cord and a monitor to which a video signal is fed from the lens through a cord. You see everything that happens underwater in real time, just like on TV.

HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE?

It all depends on many factors. The most important thing is the transparency of the water. In addition, the depth, illumination (whether the sun is shining), whether there is a lot of snow on the ice is important. If the water is clear, the depth is not very large and it is light outside, then you can see everything quite far away. For example, in winter at the Ruza reservoir at a depth of 4 meters, the camera could see what was at a distance of five meters from the camera. And it happens that the water is so muddy that even at a depth of two meters you can see no further than half a meter from the camera.

And here another important question arises: what kind of backlight is your camera equipped with. The fact is that underwater cameras are usually equipped with a backlight so that you can see the underwater world even at night or at great depths, where there is not much light. Thanks to this backlight, even at great depths, in complete darkness and in muddy water, you can see at least what is happening in your hole or under the boat.

DOES THE LIGHTING SCARE THE FISH?

This is an important question. The fact is that the backlight is different: infrared and LED. Infrared is practically invisible to the human eye, on the camera it is a small diode glowing red. It does not scare away fish, and even attracts some fish, such as perch, ruff, pike perch. True, in low light and infrared illumination on, the picture on the screen will be black and white.

And the LED backlight is a flashlight that shines with white light. Of course, with such a flashlight you can see a little further than with infrared, and the picture will be colored, but such illumination does not attract fish.

The number of infrared illumination diodes also affects the illumination range, the more, the better. But here, too, there are downsides. If there is a lot of suspension in the water, then with infrared illumination it glares strongly. It's like a high beam in a snowfall.

CAN THE LIGHT BE TURNED OFF?

It all depends on the camera model. There are those where the camera is equipped with an LED, and if there is little light, then the backlight turns on automatically. There are cameras where the backlight is on all the time. And there are those where the backlight can be turned on and off independently. In principle, this is, of course, an important factor, but only if there is a lot of suspension in the reservoir where you plan to use the camera. Then without backlight it will be seen much better. In extreme cases, if the backlight does not turn off, the diodes can be smeared with something. Ordinary plasticine, for example.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHICH WAY THE CAMERA IS LOOKING?

This is really the problem. I lowered the camera under the water, you see the fish on the screen, but where is it? Which side of you? If there are no obvious landmarks under water that are visible on the surface, it is not so easy to understand where the fish actually are. You have to drill, for example, another one or two holes.

Again, it all depends on the camera model. There are devices that have a recording function, but they are, of course, significantly more expensive. It's up to you to decide if you need this feature. Of course, it is interesting to show your friends what you saw under water there, and be surprised again, but this is already a question of your financial capabilities.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE THE CAMERA IN FROST?

Yes, you certainly may. Manufacturers, as a rule, guarantee the operation of the camera at temperatures down to minus ten degrees, but I used it in minus thirty. I just keep the device in my inner pocket. I need to see what's in the hole, - he took out the device, lowered the camera into the hole. I looked - wound the cable and put the device back in a warm pocket. But if you want to catch and watch how the fish swim up to your bait, and it's minus twenty-five outside, then of course, the device will not last long. The monitor is liquid crystal, and they do not work for a long time in severe frost. They don't break at all, of course, they just freeze.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CATCH

AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER WATER?

Why not? Lower the camera to the bottom, put the monitor in front of you and watch the fish attack your bait. It's funny, of course, although the most interesting moment of fishing - the surprise factor - is lost in the process. You see what kind of fish you bite and what size. But from the point of view of understanding the process, it is very useful to observe.

For more than three years of dense use of the camera, I have not seen anything in it! And huge shoals of bream with pike perches, and carp trying to eat this very camera, and shoals of roach ignoring my bait, and pike attacks, and handsome graylings, and a cluster of trout huddled in a bunch in the corner of the reservoir. You can't remember everything. I am now without a camera, as without hands. Already you feel on the pond somehow not so.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE IT IN THE SUMMER?

It is possible, although it is not as convenient as in winter from ice. If from the shore, then I simply tie the camera to the fishing rod and lower it on the cord into the water. From a boat, it is sometimes also interesting to see what is happening under you. Attached, for example, to a snag and catch pike perch. Then, for the sake of interest, you lower the camera under the boat, and there is a huge school of carp.

How deep you can lower the camera, it all depends on the model. Manufacturers can equip the same camera with cords of different lengths. As a rule, it is 10-15-20 meters. For most of our reservoirs, ten meters would be enough, but 15 meters are optimal. By the way, the longer the cord, the more expensive the camera itself.

WHERE ARE THEY MADE AND DO THEY BREAK FREQUENTLY?

All electronics are now made, as a rule, in China, and all underwater cameras on our market are no exception. But the development is originally American. Of course, like any electronics, the camera can break, but I still have my very first camera, which I bought more than three years ago. From the experience of others, I know that sometimes either the camera itself fails, or the cord stops contacting due to twisting or crease. Manufacturers are aware of this problem, and lately many camera cords have become thicker and stronger. But again, there are no complaints about some models at all, and some, to put it mildly, are not praised at all.

But the fact that underwater cameras, as they say, went to the people and they can already be seen very often among fishermen on various water bodies is a fact.

One thing I can say for sure: fishing with a camera has become much more interesting for me personally. True, now I admire the underwater world more often than I fish, but this does not bother me much.

Going fishing, a person thinks about how it would be convenient for him to spend his time and not occupy his hands with additional things. That's why The most practical flashlights are headlamps., where the beam of light will always be directed to a certain point, which is necessary for the angler during his rest.

Which flashlight to choose for fishing?

Today, everyone can get what they want - if there is money. The market has a huge selection of lights for night fishing, which work both on batteries and rechargeable batteries.

The main features of these lamps are:

1. Brightness. Here the element of lighting over long distances will be important. For example, if the weather does not work out while fishing, you will need a large flashlight power. In this case, the choice can be made on the brightest lantern among the others lying on the counter. Depending on the weather conditions, these lights have red and white LEDs, which can be easily adjusted as environmental conditions change.
2. Lighting. The bottom line is that you can choose a flashlight with diffused lighting, so you can see well up close, and with distant lighting, where the light will be directed into the distance to a specific object.
3. Energy resource. If you take a flashlight with two LEDs, then the red one will consume less energy, but also illuminate a short distance. The white LED consumes much more energy, but gives a clear picture of the terrain.
4. Ease of use. The headlamp has a special elastic band that is attached to the head and does not slip off. Its weight is practical and does not put pressure on the head.
5. Waterproof. Lights for night fishing have many degrees of protection, so each of them must be carefully looked at. Some come into contact with rain easily, while others fail quickly. Also, the flashlights can be protected from dust and dirt and are well suited for immersion in water.
6. Impact resistance. Cheap headlamps are made of plastic, and any contact with asphalt can fail. Quality, of course, is a flashlight made of aluminum housing, but it will not be cheap. You always have to pay for quality.

Where can you buy fishing lights?

Due to the large selection of various hand and headlamps, it is difficult for an ordinary person to make right choice. You can buy them both in online stores and in any stores with hunting and fishing equipment.

Some of the famous brands of lanterns for fishing are:

1. Lenser. It has gold-plated contacts that are not subject to corrosion. The maximum beam length is 260 meters, it works for more than two days.
2. Zebralight. Has high water resistance. Light output reaches 1000 lumens.
3. Boruit. Works in strobe mode. The range of the beam of light reaches up to 1 km. However, the operating time is minimal - only 8-9 hours.
4. Fenix. Made from stainless steel. Maximum light output 900 lumens.

Accumulator or batteries?

Anyone who intends to use the flashlight on a daily basis should definitely choose a rechargeable battery charger. More experienced anglers they even use two batteries at once: one is used in a flashlight, and the other is taken for a fire in case the first one fails.

Batteries will cost a significant amount of money, unlike a battery, which will not be difficult to charge at home from the outlet, and its energy will last for a long time.

In any case, everything will depend on the owner of the lantern, who will use it for their own purposes.

Moisture protection and durability

When choosing a flashlight, any angler or regular user should pay attention to two important indicators:

• water resistance;
• impact resistance.

Unforeseen circumstances can arise while fishing, and choosing a good flashlight can make all the difference on your vacation. Regardless of the climate and weather, the lighting device must work effectively both in the rain and when hitting the ground.

Paying attention to the mixed degree of protection of headlamps, you can choose the right one for fishing in unpredictable conditions. It will protect against splashes, rain, dust and dirt.

With accidental impacts, the lantern can break, and then you have to wait until dawn to see something on night fishing. It is not difficult to choose a flashlight with the maximum degree of protection. By calculating the approximate parameters of the height from which the flashlight can fall and the impact energy, you can calculate its impact resistance.

Those who are not strong in these calculations can always consult with the seller of a fishing equipment store.

Compactness of flashlights

For a thing to be compact, it must weigh little. The best, of course, is a headlamp, since the hands remain free, and on the head it is not a hindrance at all. Having fixed it on the forehead in a vertical or horizontal position, you can do things that are familiar to you.

Among the compact headlamps are the following:

• "Led Lenser H6R". The principle of operation of such a flashlight lies in its main modes:
  • distant light;
  • scattered light.

It has a power regulator that allows you to smoothly change the direction of the light. Maximum light output 350 lumens.

• "Era". Has high impact resistance. Regardless of the small cost of the flashlight, its quality does not suffer.
• "Bright Beam". Used in any extreme conditions, and an affordable price and high-quality assembly make it a leader in the domestic market.

Lighting brightness modes

For fishing, many brightness modes are not required so that finding the right button does not make it difficult to relax.

There are three main lighting options:

1. Energy saving.
2. Maximum.
3. Signal.

Best of all for night fishing, a flashlight with a lighting mode of at least 150 lumens is suitable.

Professional anglers know two main categories of flashlights:

• with a red LED, which provides a comfortable perception of light at a short distance;
• With blue LED, which will not scare the fish, but tiringly affect human vision.

To figure out which flashlight brightness is best for fishing, you need to know What are the categories of headlamps?

Of course, it would be best to choose a flashlight with a light level of more than 150 lumens.

Headlamps have the following lighting modes:

• flooding in order to see his parking lot in diffused light;
• pinpoint to focus on distant objects.

The more illumination in lumens, the farther you can see in the distance. Each angler with a properly selected flashlight will be able to fish at his pleasure and not scare away the fish with the brightness of the flashlight. And to select the right bait, the low-light mode for closer objects will do.

Types of flashlights for fishing

Lanterns are divided into two types:

1. manual, thanks to which you can direct a beam of light to any point;
2. forehead- allow you to free your hands, but reduce the ability to control the light flux. However, they are the most popular on the market for those who go on vacation or travel.

Based specifications two kinds of lanterns and paying attention to its lighting, energy resource, water resistance, compactness and strength, You can opt for the following brands of lighting gadgets:

1. Fenix ​​HP25. It has high power and illuminates the space up to 150 meters. Has a system of double lighting, ergonomic, reliable.
2. Boruit RJ 3000. A versatile, waterproof flashlight made from aircraft-grade aluminum that can last a very long time.
3. Armytek Wizard famous among anglers all over the world. The weight of such a headlamp is small, and an additional strap does not allow the gadget to slip into the eyes of the owner. It has several lighting modes, including SOS mode.
4. Acebeam H10. Its brightness reaches almost 2000 lumens, and is adjustable with a rotary ring. It costs a little more than other lights.
5. Armytek Predator Pro. The flashlight model has an LED and a reflector. Thanks to this design, you can achieve high illumination without exceeding the brightness, which will quickly use up the power supply of the flashlight. Used as a flashlight.

There are many other types and brands of flashlights that are suitable not only for fishing, but also for sports, travel, repairs, etc. A person can choose a suitable flashlight for himself at a price that suits him. It should only be noted that any flashlight for night fishing has an average cost of 2000 to 7000 rubles.

Headlamp for fishing

The angler himself has the right to choose the fishing that suits him, let it be summer or winter. However, he will always need a gadget for night fishing. And in this case, headlamps that leave hands free are very popular all over the world.

To choose the right flashlight, you need to consider the following indicators:

• degree of comfort;
• moisture resistance;
• energy saving.

The criteria are:

1. a power reserve that will come in handy if fishing lasts for several days;
2. convenience. Here it is important to fix the lantern on the head, and so that it can be easily removed;
3. lighting level. In this case, a narrow beam for distant objects is suitable.

Among the technical and operational qualities of headlamps are the following:

• powered by batteries or accumulator;
• lighting brightness in multi-LED mode;
• operating modes.

Among the most popular headlamps, the following types can also be described:

• Fenix ​​HL55XM-L2. Suitable for long fishing, which dragged on for several days. Waterproof, has several brightness modes. Its mass is slightly more than 100 grams, and the cost is about 3000 rubles.
• Eagle Tac Sportac DH10LC2. Multifunctional and used in two forms at once:
  • manual;
  • forehead.

Its wide beam of light allows you to see up to 1 kilometer away. It runs on batteries, weighs less than 50 grams, and costs about 4,500 rubles.

• Streamlight Enduro Camo. It is one of the budget headlamps. It is waterproof, has a 90-degree rotation angle, is battery powered, and has a very low light level in line with the price of just over 1000 rubles.

In conclusion, we can say that any angler has a large selection of the most popular hand and headlamps. Having understood the main characteristics of these gadgets, you can find the most suitable and inexpensive flashlight for yourself, and then night fishing will be bright and memorable.

11/07/2016

Fishing at night during the hot summer months is the most productive. At the same time, the primary issue of such fishing, which needs to be addressed, is the provision of illumination of the workplace and bite signaling devices.

The subject raised may seem secondary to the uninitiated. Like, I bought a headlamp, put on a “firefly” and catch it. But if you go fishing with this approach, 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 effectiveness.

Even mastering the night float and feeder fishing under the guidance of experienced mentors, I once 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 claiming to be the ultimate truth, I will share personal experience solving the problem of lighting, focusing on each of the two mentioned types of fishing - float and feeder.

Work area lighting

Of course, the main task at night is to ensure the visibility of bite signaling devices, which, when fishing with a fishing rod, is a float, and the feeder is a quiver tip. However, it is equally important to provide illumination of the workplace for baiting, baiting, casting equipment, playing fish and in a number of other cases, including household issues.

In general, preparation for night fishing should begin well in advance of dusk. Having prepared the bait, I correctly set up the coasters for the rod so that there are no problems at night. This is especially true on wooden walkways, where a simple stand cannot be placed. For such cases, I take the Salmo Tripod 707-405 in advance.

I securely fix the chair, placing everything you need on the desktop and eliminating everything superfluous. I don’t forget to lay out a cage, which I always take a capacious one in the summer, such as Sensas CARP "X POWER KEEPNET, because otherwise the fish will disappear from the heat by morning. I shoot the casting point. By nightfall, it should not just be fed. the transition from one time of day to another should be smooth, only the lighting should change from natural to artificial.

A good choice for lighting the work area today are really headlamps with LEDs, attached with an elastic band. In addition, you can resort to their counterparts, built into 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 lantern vertically and, accordingly, the direction of the light beam. As a result, it focuses at the desired point and does not scatter much over the unwanted zone. When fishing at close range for such cautious fish as bream or tench, which sometimes comes close to the shore, this is important. Any unnatural change in the environment can scare them away. So it is better when the light of the included lamp is directed under the feet of the angler.

The shape - a circle, an oval or a 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, as it is the brightest and does not tire the eyes so much.

Noteworthy is the glass of the spotlight of the lantern. If it is spherical, the light will be scattered. As a result, not only the desired point is illuminated, but also the unwanted surrounding space. Lanterns with flat glass impress more. Their light beam is more collected, concentrated, bright.

I recommend turning on the headlamp only when a short time to perform a specific task, and in the minimum brightness level mode. I do not share the opinion that artificial light does not scare away fish. When the night is bright, and the rig is cast to a considerable distance from the shore using a feeder, turning on the lantern for a long time is not 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, unlike the light of a lantern, which is emitted in a completely different way. Therefore, fish can leave even a baited 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 treated as an exception. Even casts, including feeder ones, 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. Set the fishing chair so that this landmark is in line with the eyes. And it is more rational to choose a fishing sector of reduced complexity in order to minimize the hooks of the equipment for emersed plants, coastal trees, etc. Plus, the fishing distance should not be maximized. Under the dome of the starry sky, it is extremely difficult to perform power-adjusted castings of equipment at the limit of possibilities.

The process of playing the fish turns out to be difficult at night. Especially when fishing with a float rod with delicate equipment surrounded by aquatic vegetation. On the one hand, artificial light can facilitate this task, on the other hand, it can complicate it. The latter is again connected with the unpredictable reaction of the 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 medium-sized fish does not cause much trouble. It is more difficult with large individuals. When a partner catches nearby, I always resort to his help in such cases. One pulls out, the second substitutes a 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 legs or to the side.

Float fixture lighting

The main, and indispensable element of lighting the float is the so-called "firefly" (light stick). It is a plastic capsule with a fluorescent dye and oxalate (an ester of oxalic acid), when broken, the glass cone with hydrogen peroxide located inside bursts. When two substances are mixed, a chemical reaction occurs with the effect of light radiation.

Depending on the type of dye in the capsule, such a nozzle is available in several colors - green, blue, yellow and red. Others I have not met, but in principle they should not be. The most preferred are green fireflies. They are the brightest, do not tire the eyes, and besides, they additionally emphasize the aesthetics of night fishing, bathing the surface plants in the reflections of the emitted emerald light. The green ones are followed by yellow capsules, which are also not bad. The red light of "fireflies" is aggressive and tiring, but the most useless is blue. He seems to be drowning in water, dimly flickering. On the packaging of branded capsules, the color is always indicated.

I have not met "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 summer, anyone is enough. Just do not forget that the already luminous capsule should be shaken from time to time. When it is placed on a float, the light-emitting substance rolls down and the "firefly" dims. I shake the capsule with a few snaps of two fingers. Fast and efficient.

It is worth paying attention to the adapter for mounting the "firefly" on the float antenna. Usually this is a piece of a transparent polymer tube. For unverified manufacturers, it is too short, and the capsule can fly off when casting. Therefore, it is good to have a supply of your own tubes of various diameters.

On floats with removable antennas, and such Salmo are available, it is possible to install "fireflies" in the "body" nest. In this case, you should not miss the diameter of the purchased capsules, which is indicated on the package. However, I made sure that the weight of the capsule is not always equal to the weight of the removable antenna, so the load 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 improves. If the capsule is heavier than the standard antenna and drowns the float, barely visible above the water, the load should be reduced. In such a case, I simply remove one pellet from the fishing line. Well, do not forget that the thinner the float antenna, 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. Under them and pick up floats for night fishing.

Keep "fireflies" at home should not be 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 a headlamp aimed at the fishing sector, relying on the “beacon” capsule of an abandoned float, residual natural light and your own casting skills for pre-prepared balls.

Feeder fixture lighting

Despite the fact that the “fireflies” capsules described in the previous section are intended not only for night float fishing, but also for feeder fishing, they have long been abandoned for bottom fishing. Firstly, the special plastic fasteners included in the capsule kit do not always snap tightly onto the top of the feeder and scroll. But even if you put several turns of the same adhesive tape under it or solve the problem by fixing it between the second and third, or third and fourth rings, the fastener creates inconvenience during the fishing process. A braid or fishing line overlaps about it, the probability of breaking the quiver-type increases. Secondly, bite control by watching the "firefly" on the tip is not effective, especially when fishing on the 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 solve the problem by installing a specially made white screen in front of the tip, in contrast to which the deflection of the tip during a bite is better seen. But even in this case, backlighting is required, so I like my own way out. To the left or to the right of the feeder top at a distance of one or two dozen centimeters from it, I install a rechargeable flashlight. Moreover, at such an angle that the beam of light emitted by it was directed upwards, and not at the water. I mount the lantern telescopic stand under the bait with the help of 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 lighting does not adversely 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 flashlight, with a wire and a lamp coming from it.

With this option, it is also convenient to fish out the fish without turning on the headlamp, which is necessary only for working with baits and bait, and sometimes for casting, if the point on the opposite bank that serves as a guide is invisible in impenetrable darkness.

The current opinion that at night when fishing with a feeder you can do without continuous lighting, relying on a bell or a bell attached to the rod stand is erroneous. Sometimes on summer nights, the vast majority of bites are hardly noticeable. The tip of the rod only deviates slightly from starting position without causing the alarm to sound. Therefore, it is easy to miss the moment of hooking. I use the bell only as a safety alarm in case I have to be distracted from continuous monitoring of the quiver type. For many years of night fishing, I have become convinced that it is not worth relaxing at night, because the fish can start active feeding at two or three o'clock. So it's better not to close your eyes.

Well, in conclusion about simple rule. When fishing at night, you should carefully handle the feeder when stuffing the feeder and baiting the hook. Braid or fishing line must always be in tension to avoid snagging on the tip. When the preparation for casting is completed, their free play should be checked and only then cast in order to avoid breakage of the quiver tip. A similar or other mistake made at night turns into a much greater loss of time and nerves than during the day.

Sergey Shershenevich