Night fishing ?'s

1. How fast are you guys comfortably motoring at night? Obviously many factors on this one, recent rain, flow, temp, etc. More of a question geared for this type of fall fishing, low flow, low temp. Find myself going just enough to stay on plane even when i know the area very well im boating.

2. Hate the stern light. Had a shorty, now have a taller one, neither is preferable. Anyone have a really tall one, to get out of eye sight. Looking for ideas, hate having my eyes adjust out there, especially when much of the time im pitching to the back.

Water is finally at the 50 degree mark

I usually run around on plane but that is almost always on stretches of river I have spent a lot of time on. When I setup the lights on my current boat I mounted the stern light behind me when running my tiller. Dimming the screen on your graph way down helps along with not looking at it.

River cones seem to be the biggest hazard of running at night on the river. Have hit them myself and known several others that have to or had near misses. Almost hit a barge in the center of the channel one foggy night. I will run on plane at night but usually not top speed. Eyes are always fixed forward paying attention to what is in front of the boat. This is not a time for distracted boat driving. I would say don’t run any faster than what you feel comfortable with.

I highly doubt it is legal, and I personally don’t do it, but some will place a piece of duct tape on half of the stern light “the side you would be staring at pitching toward the back of the boat.”

I enjoy night fishing on the river, but it is really dangerous if you stop and think about it. Buoys,wingdams,logs, barges, ice chunks, cold water, and the biggest concern to me is looking out for others that may be putting you in danger due to thier experience level or lack of awareness while navigating.

nhamm wrote:

Water is finally at the 50 degree mark

Water did hit the 50 deg mark on the river but is now on an upward trend with the warmer weather…

A couple other safety river points at night are.

1. Always wear a life jacket.
2. Wear your motor kill switch cord when running from spot to spot.

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A couple other safety river points at night are.

1. Always wear a life jacket.
2. Wear your motor kill switch cord when running from spot to spot.
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One thing to add about using your tether would be to have a spare that is readily accessible. If you fall from the boat but your passenger cannot start your motor to come get you that tether does not add much safety. I always use my tether anytime of the year but on the river there are both positives and negatives on using them.

Doupble post, sorry

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The reduced glare style light is much easier on the eyes than the full output style.

I have also used e-tape and wrapped it most of the way up the full output style to help limit the amount of light that was cast downward into your eyes.

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nhamm wrote:

2. Hate the stern light. Had a shorty, now have a taller one, neither is preferable. Anyone have a really tall one, to get out of eye sight. Looking for ideas, hate having my eyes adjust out there, especially when much of the time im pitching to the back.

Assuming you are anchored up. You can take the stern (anchor) light and place it on the bow. You are not required to keep nav lights (red – green) on while anchored.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Assuming you are anchored up. You can take the stern (anchor) light and place it on the bow. You are not required to keep nav lights (red – green) on while anchored.

Now that you mention that I remember reading that last year, BRILLIANT!! I think that should fix most issues.
That light Mark linked to isn’t too expensive either, and would be nice to have a backup light onboard.

Excited even more so to get back out now!
Thanks guys

I use athletic tape on my light. Keeps it legally bright enough and not much more. I only do that to the side that blinds me.

I’ve got a nice spotlight on the bow, mounted low and adjustable lower for night time.

I’ll put it on plane when the conditions are safe enough… Meaning visibility

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I use athletic tape on my light

What do you mean by that? The medicinal athletic tape or hockey tape? Got some pink hockey tape that might work.

There are many people that think I’m nuts for having that HUGE radar antenna on the front of my boat.

Since literally every time I’m out I’m boating in the dark, I would go as far to say that radar is the best accessory I’ve added since gps.

Besides seeing every nav can lit up on the HDS 8 even if a tow hit it and moved it out of place since the last time through the are, there is no way a person could NOT see a tow coming in the fog unless your eyes are shut.

Plus when I’m anchored on the speedway they call the St Croix River at night, I can set the radar to encircle my boat to let me know there’s someone coming. The bad thing about this is if a goose decides to fly through my protected area the radar doesn’t know the difference.

I know, it’s a chunk of change, but if you’re a night guy, it’s worth it’s weight in gold.

Brian, lots of us think you are nuts… Has nothing to do with that radar haha

Usually if you are not in a big hurry and pay attention you should be ok. A flood light in front of the bow really helps!! The tug operator told me they annoy the chuck out of him one night so not everyone likes them. I try to only use them when needed

i run fast enough to get on plan which is usually at about 50-60% throttle. jackets, kill switch.

I usually run on plan too.

The stern light on the bow is a grand idea when anchored. I will only run on plane at night if iI hear the tornado sirens, im in no hurry to get home hahaha! Maby I should just get a house boat.

Smacked something in the main channel tonight after dark. Not sure what it was. Luckily no damage. Had a hig chunk of something come floating by on another spot after dark. Looked like floating concrete. Made no sense, Must of been a big cut stump or something.

Go as fast or slow as your comfortable with. If you are using headlights of some sort please turn them off when oncoming traffic is approaching. The rivers are full of surprises good and bad.

nhamm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>
I use athletic tape on my light

What do you mean by that? The medicinal athletic tape or hockey tape? Got some pink hockey tape that might work.

White tape, athletic, very similar to hockey tape expect leaves less residue. Dim the light is the goal but needs to still be visible from one mile away I believe

Brian Klawitter wrote:

There are many people that think I’m nuts

And then there’s the people that just know

Mike W wrote:

Smacked something in the main channel tonight after dark. Not sure what it was. Luckily no damage. Had a hig chunk of something come floating by on another spot after dark. Looked like floating concrete. Made no sense, Must of been a big cut stump or something.

I on a limb here but going with a big wet dead raccoon !!! Seen two floaters the other day.

Glad I didnt poke it any harder then. As many times on pool 2 1st thought was “thank god its not a body”. Then I poked at it with my fishing pole and it felt like and looked like a big ball of concrete couple of feet round. If someone smacks that they are going to have a very bad night. Then I headed north as it was heading south hoping it would be long gone before I came back down that way.

If you guys have not noticed there is a red cone under water on the mud flats up from red rocks. About a half mile north of 494. All that was sticking out of the water the other day was the metal loop on top. Dont hit this with your boat. It will not go well.

Are you saying the sunken can is down river from the sunken barge near the barge shipping channel? I haven’t seen it. Trying to figure out the location of it in case I don’t make it out before it gets dark and try fishing after dark.