Experienced fishermen claim that fishing at night can be more effective than during the day. Especially if the target is large specimens. There are varieties of fish that can only be caught in the evening or at night. When planning such an outing on a pond, you need to carefully consider the set of gear.
A firefly for night fishing is a simple but necessary device. It can be purchased at any specialized store. But if you have the desire and enough free time, you can make this device yourself. To do this, you will need the most common tool, which is often in the arsenal of a home craftsman, as well as initial skills in working with it. By making your own gear, it’s not difficult to not only create a high-quality firefly, but also have an interesting time.
general characteristics
At dusk or night darkness, many fishing methods are only permissible when using backlighting. Some use special sound alarms. But these calls are not always effective, especially when the bite is cautious or the bait is thrown frequently. A firefly is considered a more acceptable option for night fishing. It does not weigh down the tackle. But without this element you won’t be able to fish in the dark.
There are chemical and electrical devices. It is almost impossible to create the first variety at home. All components of such capsules lose their properties in air or simply evaporate. Therefore, they are made exclusively by production method. But electrical types of equipment can be made independently.
Luminescent floats
Luminescent luminous floats for night fishing are especially popular among fishermen. The light accumulation effect was one of the first to be introduced into night float fishing for visualizing floats. The essence of such radiation is based on covering the body of the accessory, most often the antenna, with light-absorbing material. After illuminating the luminescent material, the object equipped with it will emit a dim, but noticeable light in the dark for about an hour, contributing to the comfort of fishing.
Light accumulation can be done with an electric flashlight or, which is the most rational way today, with a mobile phone flash. During night fishing, illumination of an element of equipment has to be done several times, which, of course, is not entirely convenient, but in principle, it solves the problem of night fishing at the lowest cost. For example, you can paint the float with paint as shown in this video.
The effect of light accumulation is endowed with special types of paints, which cover the floats. This accessory is lightweight and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. Consequently, the introduction of a luminescent float into the float equipment does not particularly affect its delicacy, allowing the angler to catch cautious and shy fish.
Advantages of purchased models
When thinking about whether to make a firefly for night fishing with your own hands or buy it in a store, you weigh all the pros and cons. Purchased varieties are inexpensive. They are available for free sale everywhere. Such lamps are easy to transport to a pond. In operation, most often there are no problems with them. If you don’t really want to bother with creating electronic fireflies, it’s easier to go to the store and buy a few chemical capsules. This option is ideal for those fishermen who do not have enough free time or skills to work with the tool. But fishing fans know how much fun the process of creating homemade gear brings.
Disadvantages of purchased products
However, there are a number of disadvantages that chemical isotopes have. Fireflies for night fishing in capsules are used only once. Each role is designed for no more than 10 hours of glow. If the contents of the substance accidentally come into contact with the skin, some people experience an allergic reaction. It should also be noted that there are certain inconveniences when casting. The fishing line may cling to the ampoule. The brightness of the glow of chemical varieties cannot be adjusted. Therefore, in some devices it is very strong. If the light color is blue, your eyes may get tired quickly. There are situations when the supply of capsules is simply exhausted, and it’s too late to go to the store. Making a firefly yourself is not difficult.
Features of electric fireflies
There are electric varieties of fireflies on sale, but in smaller quantities. More often they are made independently than purchased. Simplicity of design distinguishes such fireflies for night fishing. LED varieties are the most popular. They consume little electricity and their glow is soft. The main advantage of electric varieties is their reusable use. Therefore, among fishermen who prefer to make their own gear, this device is considered the most popular. It consists of 3 small round batteries and an LED. They are placed in a collapsible capsule. If necessary, the batteries can be easily replaced. The technology for creating such fireflies deserves detailed consideration.
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.
Features of the device
When creating battery-powered fireflies for night fishing, the master will be interested to know in advance about its properties. The operation of the device was tested under night fishing conditions. At the same time, a number of positive characteristics were established. The diode system with batteries from a lighter worked for 2 full night fishing trips. At the same time, the entire structure did not overheat.
As for the weight of such a firefly, it turned out to be greater than that of a chemical capsule. However, even under feeder fishing conditions, it did not affect the sensitivity of the tips or casting distance. Also, the accuracy of the feeder's sending did not change. The advantage of the diode firefly was the beam directed upward. The eyes did not get tired during the night fishing. The light is clearly visible from different angles. The device is quite simple, but effective.
What are they?
You can find different types of luminous floats on sale.
Luminescent
Perhaps these are one of the most popular options for luminous floats, which are used by almost every angler. The device has a light accumulation effect, so it can be visualized. The essence of radiation is that the accessory is covered with a special material that absorbs and stores light. As for the duration of the glow of such a float, the charge will last for an hour, after which the brightness will gradually disappear.
At the same time, in the dark, even a slight glow will make fishing comfortable.
It is important to note that it is not necessary to charge the luminescent float only during the daytime - to resume its action, it is enough to hold it near an electric flashlight or simply illuminate it with a flash, which is equipped with any modern phone. Of course, during night fishing you will need to regularly flash the light, sometimes this causes inconvenience, but this is a minor drawback of the accessory. In addition, the cost of such a unit is affordable for everyone, and if desired, you can independently coat the float with phosphorus compounds. The product is offered in a variety of shapes and sizes, you can find a small accessory depending on the fishing conditions and personal wishes. Even cautious and timid fish will go for bait with a luminescent float, because this does not affect the delicacy of the equipment.
With reflective film
The peculiarity of such floats is that they work at night due to a fluorescent film that reflects light. A similar effect is used not only in fishing gear, it can be found on road signs and markings. Once an object is exposed to even a dim beam, the contours will be clearly defined, so the movement of the float can be easily followed. The film is practically weightless, so it does not in any way affect the modification of fishing gear, and thanks to it you can decorate anything to create optimal conditions for fishing.
It is important to note that the only downside to this accessory is that the angler will need to have a light source to get the original image. To do this, you can use either a small flashlight or a laser pointer to highlight the area where the rod is thrown - this is the only way to track the bite.
Therefore, it is better to use floats with reflective material close up; this option is not suitable for long casts.
LED
This float is designed like a modern unit based on LED technology.
The glow effect is in great demand, and the accessory is offered in a variety of options. The design consists of a transparent body, inside of which there is the same LED. This device operates on batteries or is equipped with a rechargeable battery. The first ones can be easily changed at any time; they are sold almost everywhere.
The LED backlight can be easily turned off if necessary if it is getting close to morning. The float will be clearly visible even at a great distance. As for the disadvantages, the main drawback is that the design is somewhat rough, but this does not prevent anglers from actively using the accessory.
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Scheme improvements
Some fishermen have improved the presented system. To do this, they make an adjustable firefly. Night fishing only benefits from this. If the craftsman has a soldering iron and some small-section wire in his arsenal, you can separate the diode with its power elements. This will lighten the load on the tip or float. Of course, there is no fundamental difference. But for greater signal accuracy this will be a good solution.
A wire is soldered to the diode. It will connect the light bulb to the batteries. The power supply is mounted on the handle or slightly higher. The wire is attached to the rod with tape. In this case, it will be easier to measure small round batteries for 2 AA batteries. This significantly increases the duration of the diode's glow. If for some reason the light bulb from the lighter does not fit, purchase it yourself. White LEDs LR41 are suitable for these purposes. It will be easy to select the brightness in the store. This will make the process of night fishing as comfortable as possible for the fisherman.
DIY glowing floats
In addition to buying a ready-made accessory, there are many ways to make a float for night fishing with your own hands. The simplest solution would be to purchase fluorescent film or luminescent paint and treat the antenna of a regular float with these light-accumulating or reflective materials. As we mentioned above, the firefly can simply be attached to the alarm antenna using an elastic band.
Making an electrical device will require some expenses to purchase an LED of the required power and a battery, but it will also not be a very difficult task. The LED connected to the battery by soldering is placed in a transparent plastic tube selected according to the diameter of the elements assembled into the device. The ends of the tube are closed with plugs cut out of foam. The luminous antenna made using this simple technique is inserted into the alarm body and night fishing is carried out comfortably. To be able to disconnect the LED from the battery, one of the contacts is broken, connecting it again during the next fishing trip.
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How to install firefly
Fastening fireflies is carried out depending on the type of gear. If the fishing rod has a float, the device is attached directly to it. The system is placed in a transparent tube. It is strung on the top of the float. Even for gear with thin antennas, such tubes and fireflies are used for night fishing. How to use such a device is of interest to beginners. Professionals know that you need to put 2 rubber bands on the float antenna. The tube is already attached to them.
If you plan to fish on a feeder, the firefly is installed on the top. To do this, 2 elastic bands are also put on it. The LED in the capsule is placed in the space between them. It is better to treat the firefly with tape. This will eliminate the possibility of fishing line snagging. Special plastic brackets are available for attaching fireflies. Using them will make it easy to install the device.
Methods for attaching fireflies for fishing
Features of attaching fireflies to gear:
Fireflies are often used on floats. To attach the firefly to the float, special transparent silicone tubes are used. Often such tubes come complete with devices for night fishing. If a regular float is used for fishing, then the firefly is attached to its antenna. If the antenna is very narrow, then some problems may arise with attaching such accessories. In this case, you can put two rings on the antenna. To produce such rings, you can use nipple elastic. The connecting tube with the firefly is put on top. When catching predators, large floats are most often used. In this case, the capsule is inserted inside the float. It is closed on top with a cap, which will also be included in the kit.
Fireflies are often used when fishing on a feeder. In this case, they are attached to the tip of the feeder. To attach them, you can use two silicone rubber bands. Such elastic bands are very easy to stretch, which allows them to pass through the tulip without any hindrance. To begin with, the firefly is broken and then attached between the second and third ring of the top of the feeder. To prevent the braid from catching on the capsule, its end can be secured with ordinary tape. You don't need to wrap a lot as this will make the glow less noticeable.
Fireflies can also be attached to signaling bells. They will allow you to perceive a bite not only auditorily, but also visually.
A few recommendations
Beginning fishermen would do well to familiarize themselves with some recommendations on the use of fireflies. These are simple rules, following which you don’t have to worry about the durability of the device. Fireflies for fishing at night are important not only to mount correctly, but also to operate carefully. The system should be turned on immediately before the first cast. This way the batteries will last longer.
There should be no gap between the LED capsule and the fishing rod. To do this, the firefly is taped to the base. When removing the feeder from the water, you need to keep an eye on the fishing line. It should be tight. With this method of fishing, the feeder is placed smoothly on the stand (so that the tip with the LED does not become loose). Before casting, the fishing line is checked for smooth gliding. Nothing should bother her. This prevents tangles in the gear. The use of fireflies will be comfortable.
Firefly made of foil
In addition to the method discussed above, you can make a homemade firefly using other methods. A very popular approach among fishermen is using a foil reflector. To make such a firefly for night fishing, you will need a white or yellow variety. A sheet of foil is cut into strips 5 mm wide. The strips are attached to the float using waterproof glue.
To see the bite in the dark, you will need to turn on a flashlight. Its beam is directed at the foil. This is enough to distinguish a bite in the dark. If the weather is windy, the foil is rolled up in several layers to give it rigidity. The light source can even be an ordinary pocket flashlight. Its brightness will be quite enough to illuminate the reflector. The simplicity of this approach has proven to be to the liking of many fishermen.
Chemical firefly
This is a transparent plastic tube-flask that is filled with colorless liquid No. 1.
In this liquid there is a “stick” with liquid. The fisherman’s task is to break the inner flask and crush/shake the firefly. The liquids will mix and a bright green glow will appear.
By the way, I also use them on homemade side fishing rods.
Fireflies of different models and different companies can differ greatly in their characteristics. Let's decide what criteria to choose by:
- Normal glow time. Some fireflies work for 3-4 hours, while others work for about 12-18 hours. Then they noticeably dim, although they provide light for several days.
Note! The process can be extended if you do not immediately completely destroy the flask with liquid No. 2. Also, the activated alarm can be “preserved” by putting it in the freezer until the next fishing trip.
- Brightness of the glow. Obviously, the larger the firefly, the better it is visible, but there are definitely differences in the brightness of identical models from different manufacturers. It’s interesting that some feeders prefer dim light (less tired eyes).
- Length, diameter, shape. This is who likes what. I am satisfied with fireflies in the form of a cylinder (there are also so-called “light bulbs” - with an extension at one end). In any case, I consider the optimal diameter to be about 4-4.5 mm with a length of about 40 mm.
Alternative fireflies
While improving the firefly for night fishing, which is made with their own hands, fishermen come up with various system options. The idea of creating such gear from a jar of ascorbic acid has a right to exist. A bright LED and batteries are installed in an empty vitamin container. A window is cut into the box (several holes can be made).
Another interesting solution when illuminating gear is the use of special paint. It is purchased in special stores. The paint can glow in the dark with a phosphorescent color. It is applied to the float or the top of the feeder. If for some reason the paint is incompatible with the base material, a plate is made from wood. It is shaped like a chemical firefly. It is painted and then attached to the gear in the standard way. Therefore, when going fishing, it is better to give preference to electric types of devices.
What are fireflies
A firefly for fishing is a light bite indicator that is installed on a float and is used for night fishing. Such devices emit a fluorescent glow that can be easily seen in the dark.
The advantages of such devices are that they:
Today the market offers a wide range of similar products from various manufacturers. Regardless of the manufacturer, the devices have almost the same operating scheme.
The composition and design of fireflies are quite simple:
To get the firefly to work, you need to break the inner glass tube and shake the capsule thoroughly. As a result of fracture, substances enter into a chemical reaction with each other. During this reaction, a glow occurs. The chemical reaction can take place over several hours. But, over time, the light will fade.
