As you know, many species of fish in certain seasons of the year actively feed throughout the day and during such periods, the fisherman has the opportunity to conduct prey fishing at night in conditions of complete darkness. If bottom gear can be equipped with a sound alarm that notifies about a bite, then with float gear, due to the need for constant visual monitoring of installation, the problem of comfortable fishing is more difficult to solve. A float for night fishing copes effectively with this type of task.
The device is endowed with qualities that allow the accessory to glow in the dark and thereby be in the angler’s constant field of vision. Currently in the fishing industry there are a large number of floats equipped with backlight functions. The indicator light is based on various principles, which directly affects the cost and dimensions of the product. Thus, the fisherman has the opportunity to select the device necessary for the fishing conditions.
The material in this article is devoted to a review of various types of luminous fishing floats, after getting acquainted with which, it will be quite easy for the reader to decide on the choice of an accessory suitable for his fishing strategy, and he will also receive information on making this device independently.
Battery-powered glowing floats
This type of accessory is considered the most progressive luminous signaling device today. Its design is a sealed flask made of transparent plastic, which contains chambers for placing batteries and an LED. Depending on the power of the LED, the floats have different degrees of luminescence, and this makes it possible to select a device for fishing at any distance. In addition, manufacturers produce products with different colors of emitted light, which gives the fisherman the right to choose the type of signaling device he purchases that best suits his individual perception.
The LED float is convenient because the battery power lasts for a long service life, and if necessary, it can be turned off. The LED emission occurs with constant brightness and such devices are clearly visible on the water in any weather conditions. A significant disadvantage of products of this type is their bulkiness. The luminous element itself and the kit necessary to power it require large volumes and have a high mass, which accordingly affects the size and total weight of the float.
LED float
The LED accessory is not suitable for delicate and thin installations and is mostly used for fishing with coarse equipment, which ultimately affects the final result, not particularly conducive to fishing. To complete the information, it is worth noting that recently there has been a tendency among manufacturers of these products to produce more elegant forms of floats, which, of course, will have a positive effect on increasing their popularity among float anglers and will make it possible to complete sensitive and more delicate installations.
How to make a firefly for night fishing with your own hands?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
Firefly float - overview of options and use for night fishing
Night fishing, especially in the warm season, is no less popular than daytime fishing. This is due to the fact that in summer a nighttime drop in temperature can well activate the fish. On ponds, when night falls, you can count on catching large crucian carp or crucian carp, while on rivers there is a high probability of catching a good bream or even catfish.
With the onset of autumn, burbot may also appear in the catch on suitable rivers. In order not to miss a bite, a wide variety of float illumination is used - reflective materials, LEDs, firefly float and other methods.
Some designs are more convenient, while others often do not work as they should. Fireflies for fishing are most widespread, primarily due to the simplicity and reliability of the design.
Chemical option
The most common fireflies for night fishing are chemical ones. They look like a hermetically sealed plastic capsule, inside of which there is another container with a reagent that easily collapses when pressed. To start working, you need to put a little pressure on such a firefly, or bend it a little so that the inner capsule bursts, but the outer one remains intact. Once mixed, the chemicals begin to glow, most often a yellowish-green light, but other variations are possible. Due to its simplicity and reliability, as well as low cost, this design is most popular among fishermen.
Photo 1. Chemical firefly in action.
The kit usually includes adapters for attaching the firefly to floats with different antenna diameters, as well as sometimes plastic fasteners for fixing the device to the feeder tip.
Photo 2. Can be inserted into a float instead of an antenna.
In addition to the color of the glow, such a firefly on a float may differ in the duration of operation, as well as the volume of substances that provide the glow. The most successful options are considered to be fireflies with a working duration of about 7 hours - they will be enough for almost any night. The luminous float must remain bright; if only a dim residual glow is visible, it is necessary to replace the capsule with a new one.
Photo 3. Use options.
Important!
When fishing with a feeder at night using a firefly, you need to be especially careful when casting. The fact is that the cord often gets caught behind the firefly, which threatens to break the top.
Photo 4. Attaching to the top with silicone rubber bands.
LED lights
Glowing floats for night fishing can be found on the shelves of almost any fishing store. Most often they have the shape of an ordinary float, but inside this design there is an LED and several batteries hidden. This option has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of such a float for night fishing include the possibility of its repeated use (unless it is, of course, the cheapest Chinese product, which will most likely fail on the first fishing trip), as well as a brighter glow. The disadvantages include the low reliability of budget options, as well as heavy weight, and as a result, less sensitivity of the float (a heavy float can also scare away cautious and inactive fish at the moment of biting, since in order to sink such a structure, more effort is required).
You can also find removable designs with LEDs on sale. There are both options with fastenings for the feeder tip and for the float. At the same time, using tubes of different diameters, you can attach LED backlighting to almost any antenna, except perhaps the thinnest options.
Homemade firefly options for night fishing
The simplest option is to cover the finished float with reflective tape. Although this method does not provide a luminous float, it allows you to maintain sensitivity when using delicate gear, in which case neither chemical fireflies nor LED ones can be used. For normal visibility with this design, you need to use a light source. When using a high-quality LED strip, even a weak flashlight with diffused light is sufficient.
How to make a firefly with minimal time and materials? The easiest way is using heat shrink tubes. For this you will need:
- LED of the required power and glow color;
- heat shrink tube;
- coin cell battery;
- silicone for filling the tube;
- silicone tube, as well as a lighter or other source of fire.
The battery is placed in a heat-shrinkable tube of a suitable size, so that approximately 1-1.5 centimeters of tube remain on both sides. After this, first on one side, then on the other, the silicone tubes are fixed inside the heat shrink by heating.
Important!
The diameter of the lower tube must be selected based on the size of the float with which the firefly will be used.
The next stage of manufacturing will be filling the upper silicone tube with silicone, which, in addition to insulating the structure from water, will also fix the LED. This kind of firefly is easy to make with your own hands, and to turn it off when there is no longer a need for illumination, you just need to pull out the tube with the LED. The only drawback of this design is the impossibility of replacing the battery.
Important!
If, after inserting the LED, it does not light up, you should insert it the other way around - the contacts may have been connected incorrectly.
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Firefly floats
Another simple design, but effective in practice, is the method of equipping the alarm with a firefly. The firefly, in action of its features, allows you to get a visible signaling device in the dark throughout the night, without replacing or recharging the light-emitting element. The operating principle of the firefly or the so-called chemical wand is based on the flow of a chemical reaction that occurs as a result of the connection of two components located in a sealed polyethylene soft capsule.
A special liquid is concentrated in two separate sections of the firefly. By deforming the chemical rod by compression, in other words, by crushing the capsule, the solutions mix, emitting light. A miniature firefly is inserted into the main body of the float. The design of the alarm may involve attaching a firefly instead of an antenna or placing it in a hollow, transparent and sealed antenna of an accessory.
Float equipped with firefly
Cunning and savvy fishermen attach the firefly to the antenna of a regular float with a nipple rubber band or tie it with ordinary thread. A firefly is a cheap and quick way to prepare a clearly visible float for night fishing, but, as in the case of an LED device, such an alarm is massive and is not suitable for delicate installations.
Feather float
If you want to make a float with maximum sensitivity, then you won’t find a better material than a goose feather. Thanks to its keel-shaped shape, such tackle is capable of transmitting the slightest touch of the fish to the hook.
To make such a float with your own hands, you need to clean the feather from the fluff, leaving only the rod. It is very important that during the cleaning process it remains intact, otherwise water will enter inside. Therefore, it is best to singe the fluff over a small fire.
Next, you need to put a rubber ring on the bottom of the feather, which will serve as a fastener for the fishing line. In order for the float to be clearly visible in the water, its upper part should be painted in a bright color. A great option is combinations of contrasting tones, for example, red and green or black and orange. You can only use waterproof paint, and the top of the product must be opened with a layer of transparent varnish.
Floats with reflective film
Often on sale you can find types of floats that glow at night, the illumination element of which is a fluorescent reflective film. The same film is used in the production of road signs and markings, which is familiar to car drivers. When even a dim ray of light hits an object covered with reflective film, it is clearly displayed in its clear contours and you can conveniently read information from it or monitor its movement, which is what is used in the production of a night float.
As in the example with luminescent compounds, signaling devices of various modifications and weights are made from reflective films. Such a device can ensure the formation of thin equipment with light shipments.
Important! Among the significant disadvantages of using such accessories, it is worth highlighting that the fisherman must have a constant source of light, a small flashlight or a light laser pointer, through which he will have to systematically illuminate the installation feed zone to monitor the status of the alarm.
Due to these actions, it is difficult to fish over long distances and it is better to focus on coastal fishing or fishing from a boat at short distances.
Wooden float
Making wooden gear will require certain skills. This type of float is one of the most difficult to produce. In addition, if when making equipment from foam plastic or tubes it was possible to get by with improvised means, then when working with wood you will need special tools.
To grind the body of the tackle, you will need an electric drill. In addition, the finished float must be thoroughly sanded and painted. As for wood, there are no restrictions in the choice of its varieties. Very often, fishermen use bamboo because it is quite easy to process. But even working with such simple material will take a lot of time and require patience and perseverance. If this is your first time trying your hand at this art, don’t grab the stars from the sky. Try making a simple float first. With your own hands you can create a real masterpiece that can compete with store-bought models. But be prepared for the fact that this will not happen right away. Everything has its time.
Cost of night floats
Modifications to conventional accessories and the execution of devices in sealed forms to preserve the integrity of batteries and LEDs affect the final cost of the product. It will not surprise the fisherman that the cost of a float for night fishing will be an order of magnitude higher than an ordinary, classic alarm. The goal of continuing our conversation will be to compare the price indicators of various types of luminous floats, which will help guide the fisherman in selecting the right accessory for the planned fishing conditions.
Of all the types presented above, LED products have the highest price level. Such a signaling device will cost about 4–7 USD. That is, and the higher its weight, the higher the price will become. Luminescent versions of products will cost the fisherman 1 USD. e. per piece. There is no need to chase branded floats here. Chinese manufacturers have learned to produce high-quality products that can last for more than one season, even with intense fishing.
When choosing a device for fishing in the dark using fireflies, they focus on the purchase price of up to 1 USD. e. They also take into account the fact that you will need to have a couple or three spare sticks with you, guaranteeing the reliability of fishing in case of their incorrect operation. These troubles sometimes happen with the purchase of a low-quality counterfeit product or an unsuccessful attempt to open a firefly.
Ice fishing float
Quite often, homemade fishing gear is more functional and convenient than branded ones. But how to make a float with your own hands that is suitable for winter fishing?
To do this, just take the body of a helium pen, a plastic tube and two pins. The body of the future float will be made of the tip and the cap of the handle, which are glued to each other.
Next, you need to cut two pieces of plastic tube, 0.5 cm each. Round and sand the edges. Pins coated with glue are inserted inside. The result should be a hinge system with a link connection.
One of the tubes should be coated with glue and inserted into the hole at the bottom of the float body. Using a marker or varnish, you need to draw a black line slightly below the top of the product. The upper part of the tackle should be painted in any bright color with nail polish.
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.
Foam float
The most popular material for making floats is foam. It is recommended to use a material that has a high density. The fact is that such foam with small cells is much easier to process.
The structure of this material resembles wood. Therefore, when in contact with water, the foam will absorb moisture, which will negatively affect its functions. Therefore, after making the body of the product, it is necessary to carefully coat it with varnish. But you should avoid contact of the material with solvents that destroy it.
Sometimes, in order to make a high-quality foam float with your own hands, it is recommended to burn the body of the product a little, reducing its water permeability. And to compact the structure, the material can be rolled out between two boards.
Electronic float
Another type of float is electronic. Fishermen note that despite all the thoughtfulness of the design, they have certain drawbacks. The first and most important thing is that the float signals a bite under any external influence - ripples, immersion of the float at least 5 mm under water. That is, it turns out that the float, instead of showing the fisherman a bite, will confuse him. When operating such a float, little current is consumed; if it is dry, then no energy will be consumed. The batteries in this advanced and modern device last for 30 hours of constant LED illumination.
Float or nod?
All floats that are suitable for fishing in the summer are designed for several operating features:
- for catching small fish;
- for fishing in calm water or current;
- for long casting;
- for fishing with live bait.
Before describing the features of a particular type, you need to consider the design features of the floats:
- The antenna is the signal part of the float, which is visible to the fisherman while fishing.
- The load of the tackle is balanced by the floating part of the body, which is often complemented by a ring through which the fishing line is passed.
- The keel of the float guarantees stability on the water.
Many fishermen use a nod float for summer fishing, believing that greater catchability depends on it.
