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 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 fishing kingdom are in night darkness go hunting, leaving their secluded daytime camps. In central 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 preparation. 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. It is not easy to find a good spot, but having 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 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 completed with weights different weight. 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 of Russian rivers lead active image life 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 tackle for night fishing with spinning is the same as daytime, maybe just a little more powerful and rougher. But special tools are needed. 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, with a float rod or on a 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, a large selection of sizes made "fireflies" favorites for 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 of electronic signaling devices can even transmit 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 response 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.
The idea of artificial “illumination” of the hole during night and daytime winter fishing at depths is by no means new. If you carefully delve into the near-fishing "archives" of the past, there are many "artifacts" of the grandfather's experience of the Soviet (and maybe pre-Soviet) times on this topic.Article about how in a simple way organize highlighting of the bait during night, winter fishing at depth.
A lot of devices and underwater "light 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 located at the bottom and inviting under the darkness of the ice. Particularly affected by underwater "lanterns" is the night bream, which is distinguished by both caution and curiosity at the same time.
The meaning of “highlighting” is to lower a burning light bulb to the bottom through the hole, which should lure the fish from afar to the baited place and, accordingly, to the mormyshka. Coming into the world, the same bream will inevitably bite.
The most, as it were, optimal, or something, seemed to us to be a “adapt” 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 with Chinese or just small lanterns in the country.
We, in the absence of a test tube, and the unwillingness to search for it, “played around” a little with a small LED flashlight, fortunately, China put a lot of different ones on our market. The first is to achieve tightness. Make it easy.
The easiest way is to wrap the flashlight with several layers of "sausage" film. Well, the one, you know - thin polyethylene, in which sausage or cheese they pack in stores. It sticks well and does not let water in.
A little more difficult was to seal the unscrewing parts with the appropriate sealant. Next, we tie the “light bulb” to the fishing line, weight it if necessary, and now the flashlight is ready to “dive” into the hole. At a depth of up to 5m, if you bend down to the hole, you can even “steer” the light in the right direction, i.e. on a mormyshka
The only inconvenience for the ice fisherman is the presence in the hole of both the line from the flashlight and the line of the rod. Therefore, in order to avoid "hooks" when fighting, we drill a couple of holes - in one we catch, in the other we "drown" the lantern. Cheap and easy. You can even drill three holes, of which two will be “working”, and one will illuminate.
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, bought 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 while mastering 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 lighting organization and, more importantly, 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 equipment is cast to a considerable distance from the shore using a feeder, the lantern is switched on for long time 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, 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 in 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 flashlight on a telescopic rod stand 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 lighting does not negative impact on the behavior of fish. Charging a good rechargeable flashlight is enough not even for one, but for several nights. My friend who does the same, instead of a flashlight uses battery, with a wire coming from it and a lamp.
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 slightly deviates from its original position, without leading to the ringing of the signaling device. 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 a 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
Since the method of fishing is very ancient, 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 in many predatory species, seasonal zhor and large pike are observed just at this time, for example, they do not sit at a depth, but actively look for prey, often rising to the very surface of the water or entering shallow water. It is here that a gaping predator is not very waiting a pleasant surprise, in the form of a fisherman with a spear at the ready in one hand and 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 be difficult, 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. That's why the best choice in terms of price and quality, they are of a Russian manufacturer, which meet all the requirements for fishing with strict 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:
- . 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.
- . 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.
- . An ideal choice for spearfishing. This powerful spotlight comfortable handle and multi-adjustable stand is able to provide 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.
Which flashlight to choose for night fishing?
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 feelings, activate the hidden reserves of the human body.
Well, if you don’t know how, then you still have to choose a lantern.
We won't talk about the fact that the flashlight should have a number of characteristics for protection against dirt, dust, water, that it should be comfortable and blah blah.
How fish perceive objects
How a 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 diurnal fish, cones predominate, they are less sensitive to light, but allow you to distinguish color. Nocturnal fish are dominated by rods that function in low light. Moreover, the difference in the number of rods and cones in diurnal 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 zone of the brain.
Thus, the fish is quite able to recognize objects both under water and on the surface of the water and out of the water.
Everything else - the angle of vision, the side eye and even the blind zone is 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, which increases 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 action for any fish - to defend themselves, straying into a flock, or to attack, freeze, remaining motionless, until they are ready to jerk.
All of the above facts were observed by many fishermen in real conditions and on real examples:
- the catfish is passive during the day, but active at night, at a time when the carp eats with great pleasure in the daytime
- approaching a school of gobies by land, there is almost always an instant reaction, and the fish leave 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
Color perception
The fact that the fish is able to distinguish color or even its shades is proven.
And then there is an endless debate about what color scares the fish?
A light stream directed into the water creates a huge moving object in the water column, which scares the fish. Therefore, no matter what flashlight or what lens we use to illuminate the float, rod or ourselves, the fish will react the same way - to defend themselves.
How to be?
In fact, one of the above statements is not true! More precisely, it is necessary to consider and suffer from the question of the choice of color and its perception by fish from a completely different angle.
Fish on the drum on the color! Fish are attracted or repelled primarily by the size of the object. Once again, the fish sees a flat image of an object formed by reflected light.
So let's go back to the beginning - we turn on all our senses, activates 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, we get a simple and easy-to-understand answer at the output.
The best solution for illuminating the necessary items when fishing at night is to use flashlights with a red lens and reduced light output.
It is red light, namely the use of all lenses available on the market today that convert white or yellow, etc. a color of red is the best solution to minimize the risk of the fish recognizing an object that can be interpreted 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 equally important indicators when choosing the color of bait and gear, which is proved not only the above brief theoretical part, but also confirmed by many anglers who have conducted practical research on this topic.
A great option for a flashlight for night fishing - Fenix HP-40H
Fenix HP-40H is a headlamp from a Chinese manufacturer, the Fenix company, which fundamentally changes the perception of the vast 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 in the production of high-quality and technically modern flashlights for various purposes, presented in a wide range (all the details can be found on the website of the official representative of the company in the appropriate section).
Specifications Fenix HP-40H
Fenix HP-40H flashlight review
Equipment:
- Flashlight
- External battery pack
- Batteries - 4 pcs.
- Head mounting system (transverse and longitudinal elastic straps)
— Accessories-clamp of the power cable — 2 pcs.
— Warranty card
- User's Manual
Warranty: The official manufacturer's warranty for the Fenix HP40H is 5 years from the date of purchase.
We open the package
The head straps are attached to the battery box and the flashlight using integrated open fittings.
All straps are easily adjusted to the size of the head, by means of double-slot buckles, fixing the strap well in the desired position.
The battery pack and flashlight are connected by a thick, weather-resistant insulated cable.
The cable is attached to the strap, for convenience, through special clamps.
(the latches have the properties to walk freely along the strap if the flashlight is not fixed on 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 that has got inside 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, issued through 12.5 mm. nozzles at a volume of 100 liters/minute at a pressure of 100 kN/square meter from a distance of 3 meters. The device must not: stop working; have poor water penetration.
The inner part of the block enters through the grooves into the outer casing and is rigidly connected by tightening through a metal threaded connection. At the junction of two parts, the use of waterproof gaskets is not critical, since the outer part-cover of the indoor unit is made of porous conditionally “soft” polymer, which by itself closes “possible” gaps well.
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 - 4pcs 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 very durable and are able to work for 50,000 hours. Although the red light is less bright, its beam is better focused, which allows you to illuminate an area with a radius of 105 m. The white LED, in contrast, gives a wide side illumination, creating comfortable conditions for tourists who are forced to walk in the dark along forest paths, as well as speleologists, 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 a person's night vision or not to frighten animals. Data on the flashlight operating time 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 the SOS signal mode. Data on its work is also presented taking into account information on testing batteries of various types.
The direction of the luminous flux in the Fenix HP40H lamp is easily adjusted due to the rotary mechanism in the head of the lighting device. It can be rotated vertically by 60°.
The battery pack of the Fenix HP40H is external. To more evenly distribute the weight of the device on the head, it can be attached to the elastic straps on the back of the head. The battery compartment, as well as the head of the flashlight, is well protected from moisture and can withstand the effects of any atmospheric precipitation. The body of the Fenix HP40H is made of aluminum and high-strength plastic.
From the manufacturer's website fenix-russia.ru
The operation of the flashlight is controlled by 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 seconds activates the SOS signal mode.
The body of the flashlight has an IPX6 protection similar to the battery pack and is made of aluminum alloy with durable plastic elements.
The system of protection against accidental switching on of the flashlight during transportation is made by partially overlapping both power buttons.
Hull head tilt up to 60°
Total
The flashlight makes a pleasant first impression, both in terms of design, functionality and technological equipment and ease of use.
