underwater lights to attract fish

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:41 pm

I have been busy making an underwater light out of a 150 watt high pressure sodium lamp, so far so good I'm just waiting for some potting compound to arrive to make the whole thing waterproof. I'll be running it of a 12volt car battery stepped up to 220volt AC using an old caravan inverter. I had the opportunity to fish using a diving light years ago when I was in the navy. I caught a lot of fish with it. Has anyone else ever used an underwater lamp to attract fish? I'll be giving a report when I eventually try it out.

Regular Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 411 Location: Pompey

there's a group of peeps that fish off the pier at night here , they use a old car head lamp hooked up to a car battery that they hang down the side of the pier and dangle it just above the water , seem plenty of bass and other stuff come up to check it out , dont really know what success theyve had doing it and personaly i try to avoid putting light on the water when night fishing but i suppose this is a different type of light source.

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:11 pm

may also explain why it can be better fishing to be had on a full moon clear night???,but then again im no marine biologist lol.Andy1i

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:53 pm

The theory is that the surface of the water reflects a lot of light away, by submerging the lamp I overcome this problem. I have seen the way fish are attracted to lights, just like insects are.

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:54 pm

oh i see,just like an angler/monk fish works.now if i was to incorporate one of my glowstix into a rig,which colour would you suggest,i have red yellow green blue orange and pink,or i'll just try each one and see,but it sounds like a good idea.Andy1i

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:11 am

A small glowstick would imitate the lure an angler fish uses and its blue as most undersea creatures use blue luminescence. I'm trying something completely different from glowsticks as sodium lamps give off huge amounts of light.

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:23 am

i did manage to design a rig incorporating a glow stick to a running ledger ,looked good,used it once,the stick stayed put and inter-changeable but the anti-reverse lock on my bait runner reel decided to play silly beggers lol,typical lol.Andy1i

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:24 pm

Like the sound of it, at what kind of depth is it set at ???? , how near to where you are fishing is it set up ???, what species are attracted by this method, is it set up in front, to the left/right of you ???.

JOLI

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:27 pm

lol joli, put the glowy behind hooks at about 6-7",but if you read previous post,my reel packed up so wasnt in the drink long enough to conduct full experiment,have now fixed reel.Andy1i

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:39 pm

Keep us up to date with any and all progress, might prove interesting !!!

Regards JOLI

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:48 pm

If those questions were aimed at me, Its all very experimental ATM. Watch this space.

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:06 am

I use on the odd occasion, a small light stick (yellow or green) actually on the trace, and if using a pully rig, on the hook snood, secured with a small rubber tube that comes with them.

A few floating beads above and below to give some movement.

Dont use red, as thats the first colour to disapear underwater in the spectrum of colours.

It has worked, but not as often as to say its a sure fire winner.

It also good for night time direction as you see it zip out into the night, and also handy for retrieving.

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:55 am

well i guess its all a work in progress.Andy1i

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:54 pm

Jim, you say that red is a colour that disapears underwater in the spectrum, what in your expirience is the best colour???

JOLI

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:45 pm

Sodium lamps give out mostly red in their spectrum, this vid is probably 600-1000 watt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NY-wD5k_g