Fireflies for night fishing - how to make it yourself

Night fishing is no less interesting and popular activity than its daytime variety. During certain periods, such as when the weather is extremely hot and dry, fishing at night is often much more effective.

One of the main disadvantages of such fishing is poor visibility at night. The appearance of fishing fireflies completely solves this problem; this device becomes one of the main assistants, which allows you to see the bite even in complete darkness.

The composition of such devices includes the following substances:

Luminol is one of the most common components. It has a powder form, and when it gets into an acidic environment, it begins to emit a bluish glow.
Hydrogen peroxide, oxalate and coloring matter . Components that mix with each other form a chemical reaction, due to which light energy is released.

At the same time, it will not be possible to open fireflies to treat them with components of other objects, since all active substances react instantly with oxygen, after which they evaporate or simply lose their basic properties.

Appearance and colors

The colors of fireflies can be very diverse; today you can find devices that emit a green, yellow, pink, orange or blue glow. However, it is the yellow-green version that has become most widespread and continues to enjoy constant popularity. This is due to the following factors:

For the chemical reaction that causes this glow, inexpensive and safe components are used.
The color is quite bright and clearly visible in the dark.
The color is quite calm and does not irritate human vision.

The firefly itself looks like the following design :

A small capsule made of plastic, filled with active ingredients inside.
Inside it is a second capsule, which is filled with other components.

In a state of calm, substances from different capsules do not mix, but when a mechanical effect is applied to the firefly, the components are mixed, after which a corresponding chemical reaction occurs.

How to choose fireflies for floats

There are several rules for a correct purchase:

You should trust only well-known brands - Ocean Sun, Golden Catch or, for example, Powder - light stick and famous companies are definitely harmless to health and the environment.
You need to choose fireflies for fishing with as long a bright glow as possible, and not a residual glow. What is the use of a light stick, even if it works for a couple of days, but fades after 3-4 hours - you need to buy one that will last all night.
It is wise to buy fireflies for floats with as much substance inside as possible - they give a bright light longer. Therefore, out of all the variety of shapes, we focus not only on the classic “sticks”, but also on “light bulbs”.

Advantages and disadvantages of use

Fireflies have become widespread and are very popular among fishermen due to a number of their positive aspects; their main advantages include the following features:

Significant increase in the comfort of fishing at night.
Versatility, which allows you to use them in various fishing methods.
Fastening is distinguished by its ease; its implementation does not require specific knowledge or skills.
The composition is completely safe, the active components do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.
The dimensions are small in size, so these devices are easy to store and transport.
The price is affordable for all categories of persons.
A wide range of lighting colors, allowing you to choose the most attractive and suitable option.

However, with so many advantages, fireflies also have certain disadvantages, primarily these include:

All devices are disposable and cannot be reused.
Some components included in the composition may cause an allergic reaction if they come into contact with human skin.
When using a feeder, there is a risk of the line getting caught behind the firefly.
Some devices have too intense a glow, which can cause eye fatigue when looking at them for a long time.

Correct selection and use

Before you go night fishing, check the firefly tackle and make sure it is in good condition and has the necessary fasteners.
To activate the glow of the firefly, the float must be bent so that the glass capsule cracks, then shake it until a cloud of luminous substance appears.
Try not to damage the outer shell, otherwise if oxygen gets inside it, the whole effect will disappear. In addition, reagents can damage the skin of your hands.

Now a few words about how to choose gear:

Buy products from well-known manufacturers. It is time-tested, the company guarantees the quality of its products.
The glow period should be long.
Select the internal volume of the flask as large as possible so that more reagents can enter inside.
The float mounting hardware must match your fishing rod.

As a rule, two fireflies are sold in a package at once. There is no general fixed price. Each manufacturer sets the price for its product that it considers necessary. It is influenced by many factors.

If the “flashlight” is of high quality, it is capable of producing bright light for more than ten hours, and then glows dimly for about a day. A low-quality product shines for three to four hours, and produces a barely noticeable glow for about two days. Advice: choose medium quality floats. This model will work normally for seven hours, and this is quite enough for use on a summer night.

Main varieties

The main classification of fireflies is their division according to the principle of functioning; taking this parameter into account, two varieties can be distinguished:

The chemical variety is by far the most common. This is due to the ease of operation: to activate the firefly, you just need to bend the plastic flask, which causes the inner glass container to break. The components mix with each other, causing a chemical reaction. After this, the device is ready for use.
Fireflies, the design of which includes an LED and a pair of small batteries . This option is less common, but it has one significant advantage, which is the possibility of repeated use. Visually, they actually have no differences and also represent a capsule, but have a collapsible design. This allows batteries to be periodically replaced for repeated use.

Fastening methods

Fastening this device sometimes raises a number of questions for novice fishermen, but in fact there is nothing complicated in this process. There are several options for attaching fireflies:

Fastening directly to the float, practiced when using the appropriate type of fishing rod. The attachment process occurs using a tube made of silicone, which is usually included in the basic package when purchasing fireflies. It has two holes on each side, a firefly is inserted into one of them, and the other is threaded onto the top of the float.
The design of some floats does not require the use of silicone tubes ; this happens in cases where their upper part is made in the form of antennas that are too thin. In such a situation, fastening can be accomplished using an alternative technique that involves the use of rubber bands that can be cut from the nipple pipe. In total, you will need two rubber bands; they will be put on the float antenna, and you can pass the firefly through them.
Some large floats have a fairly large antenna at the top with a significant diameter. If this particular variety is used, the firefly usually fits well inside the existing hole, which is then closed with a cap.
You can also attach this device directly to the end of the fishing rod; this method is most often practiced when using feeders, since their design does not imply the presence of a float. In such a situation, several silicone rubber bands are threaded directly through the end of the feeder, and the space intended for attaching the firefly will be the space between the rings. It is usually installed between the second and third or third and fourth rings. If this method is chosen, it is recommended to additionally wrap the firefly with transparent tape, which will minimize the risk of fishing line snagging, which is likely to occur during casting. After this, constant visibility of the location of the end of the feeder will be ensured.
You can also attach it to the end of the rod using special plastic fasteners, which are sold in fishing stores. This simplifies the process somewhat, and such devices are designed for the possible installation of one or several fireflies at once.

Criteria for selecting fishing fireflies

It is necessary to take into account a number of factors in order to buy the most suitable option and not regret the purchase in the future. The main criteria influencing the choice include:

Manufacturer of products. It is recommended to choose products from well-known brands that have already been tested by other fishermen and have proven positive in the relevant market segment.
The duration of the glow, since if the parameter is incorrectly selected, extinction can occur at the most inopportune moment.
Glow intensity , which is also one of the most significant parameters, since it affects visibility and comfort of use.
The volume of components contained in the flask. This indicator directly affects the intensity and duration of the glow, although both of these parameters may not be interrelated with each other.
The presence of additional fastening elements that are included in the package, and they must fully comply with the selected type of fishing gear.
Glow color. Despite the fact that the most common and popular shades are green and yellow, you must first focus on your own preferences and individual perceptions.

On average, a firefly is capable of emitting light for 8-10 hours; this duration is enough for one night fishing session.

After this, a weak and insignificant glow should persist for another day, which is an indicator of quality. Weaker models emit light for no longer than 4 hours, and in weaker mode they operate for several more days; their cost is usually much lower.

DIY LED firefly

If you are planning to make an electronic firefly for night fishing with your own hands, you should purchase diodes of the required brightness. You can unscrew a light bulb from an ordinary Chinese lighter. To do this, unscrew the bolt on the body. Next, carefully remove the diode. It is adjacent to a capsule with 3 mini round batteries. The glow occurs after the iron plate touches the diode leg. The circuit is closed.

This ready-made system is installed on a fishing rod. You can create a diode circuit yourself, but this option is one of the simplest. It will require a minimum amount of effort, cost and time. If desired, you can use mini AA batteries. The operating time of the device will increase significantly. However, in the first version it will be a reusable firefly. Its properties are completely suitable for night fishing.

Instructions for use of the device

In general, using such devices is not difficult; you just need to break the flask and then secure it to the float in one of the possible ways. The situation is a little more complicated when using a feeder; in such a situation, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

Activation should be carried out shortly before dark or before immediate use.
Place and fasten the device between the feeder rings using the already disassembled method.
Additionally, secure the firefly with narrow tape so that there are not even minimal gaps left between it and the rods.
After pulling out the feeder for any purpose, you must ensure that the fishing line is always in the taut position.
The feeder is placed on the stand only with smooth movements; free loosening of its upper part is not allowed.
Before making a new cast, you need to make sure that the line moves freely through the guides.

Following these simple instructions allows you to minimize the likelihood of overlap when using such lighting devices.

How to make it yourself

Some fishermen prefer to use not store-bought varieties of fireflies, but models that they make themselves. The most popular way is to use foil, which has the ability to reflect light. To carry out this process, you must follow the following instructions :

Initially, the base material is prepared; yellow or white foil should be cut into strips of the same size. The recommended width is 5 mm.
After this, the foil strips will need to be glued to the float; for these purposes, it is necessary to use a special type of glue that has water-resistant properties.
To activate a firefly, a flashlight is pointed at it, and it is not at all necessary to use powerful light sources.

Another type could be a device that is made using a jar of ascorbic acid and an LED. The following instructions are suitable for creating it :

To begin with, prepare a jar of ascorbic acid, produced in the form of dragees. The standard volume is 500 g.
An LED and batteries are placed inside the container.
The jar is attached to the feeder or to bells, which additionally provide sound notification of the presence of bites.
One or more windows are cut inside the jar, this will make the glow more noticeable at long distances.

An alternative option is to use special paints that glow in the dark. To implement it, you must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

The simplest option is to apply glowing paint directly to the float.
If for some reason painting the float is excluded, then you can apply a luminous substance to a homemade capsule. This element is cut out of wood; its shape must be identical to the store-bought firefly, then fastening can be done using standard methods.

Donkey fishing at night

Budget night bite alarm

Bottom fishing at night will be more successful if you use a reliable budget bite alarm. This bell can be used as a bite alarm not only for bottom fishing at night and during the day by removing the flashlight. Flashlights for the alarm are sold separately from the bells and cost the same as the bells. The signaling device is easy to assemble - there is a hole on the bell into which a flashlight can be inserted. The design of the flashlight is also simple: a collapsible body, an LED, two batteries. The flashlight is turned on by turning the batteries over.

Night bite alarm with flashlight, disassembled

Additionally, of course, there should be a flashlight at night... if the battery on the bite alarm runs out, or spare fireflies for the bite alarm.

On this alarm, the flashlight is constantly on, and the batteries run out accordingly. The batteries will last for one night and maybe for a second. But if you replace the LED with the LED from a lighter flashlight, the batteries will last 20 nights, for the entire season.

Watch the video - night bite alarm

There are various models of night bite alarms on the market for fishing at night. There are models where the flashlight is combined with a bell, and there are models without a bell; both of them can be either constantly glowing or light up during a bite.

Night bite alarm - a flashlight without a bell that glows only when there is a bite

night alarm triggered when bitten

This indicator flashes green until there is a bite; during a bite, the indicator flashes intensely yellow-red. There are models in which the LED is constantly on before the bite and flashes during the bite. You should definitely check how the alarm works when purchasing. The signaling device is attached with clamps to the tip of the feeder. Plus there is no scary sound. Such a signaling device can be used during the day when silence is required while fishing.

It costs 10 times more than the budget one. SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, ADD ONE-CLASS ASSNIKOV TO YOUR FEED, TO YOUR WALL IN CONTACT...