underwater lights for ice fishing

[fisherman_chuck]

has anyone tried this or have any good ideas?

[hnd]

its illegal everywhere around here.

[eriksat1]

Some states it is illegal, I have thought about trying it for crappie but never have yet, just don't get scammed into buying those lights for over $100 the evening secret or something like that. Google underwater fishing lights you can get them for around $30-$40

[jopes]

only if it is legal in your state.  I know They are illegal in Wyoming.

[eriksat1]

They are legal in WI. and illegal in MN.

[Jim F]

Here in Montana, its legal to use lights and it works very well for salmon

[capedeer/fish]

its illegal everywhere around here.

Same here

[strikequeen34]

Ive seen people trying those green bait light tubes..but do they really work?

[newincudahy]

Im thinking about doing another overnighter on a known crappie lake. Traditionally the bite shuts down an hour after dark. I was thinking about dropping an underwater light down a hole to do two things, try to attract the whole food chain and provide indirect lighting for my underwater cam.
I have had some success in open water with underwater lights in the past but havent tried thru ice.
niC

[mdrobny]

thought about using green snap lights,the chemical ones,and clipping a weight on one end and string on the other but never have. I think it would work/help?

[newincudahy]

Worth a try!

[Trooper Bri]

Ive seen people trying those green bait light tubes..but do they really work?

Yes they do.
We also experimented with homemade green LED's on a strip. They were cheap, and I'm pretty sure the cathode lighting outdid them as far as attracting fish. The cathode lighting still seemed to emit a whitish light as well as the green that penetrated the water farther.
Next stop would be more intense LED's from Oznium. They sell waterproof puck lights for hull/pond/vehicle use.

[strikequeen34]

thanks trooper, ill have to look into those.

[fisherman_chuck]

I just bought some green chem lights hope they help on walleye at night.

[Slipperys]

I have heard of flashlights in weighted mason jars working well... going down a closely drilled hole.

[Fontona19]

Does anyone know if they are legal in NY?

[mealworm]

I'V HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK WITH THOSE CRAPPIE CANDLES.SO FAR I'V CAUGHT SALMON TROUT PIKE PERCH AND CRAPPIE WITH THEM

[eriksat1]

There is some good info here to look at. And the prices aren't to bad.
]http://www.fishinglightsetc.com/index.html]

[Slipperys]

Do you guys have a bright light on a string deep in the water and fish next to it--or do you have a bright light set up as an attractor on your actual fishing line?

[jfkro]

I have heard of flashlights in weighted mason jars working well... going down a closely drilled hole.

That sounds like a clever invention.  I have green weighted light and the other float light and tried them on open water at night and never got a bite.   Perhaps that is what I needed last Sunday at night when I got skunked.  Since we were in a snow storm and even if there was any moonlight the snow and ice would defuse most of it.

[Jim F]

On the boat, we just toss 'em over the side, Ice fishing we us a light about 10-15 feet away from the hole with the line in it.
Fish like the "edges"of the light the best, where they can easily dart into the darkness if they feel threatened.

[chicknwsl]

White or Green??? What color would you go with if you fish less than 20 fow and usually clear...

[Slipperys]

So it sounds like you would drill 15-20 feet away from the shanty and drop the fishing lights.  How deep do you go with the light??

[hounds]

Just bought a green underwater Light made by Berkley at the Local wall Mart for under $20, runs on 3 AA batteries.  I really like the mason jar Idea though, that sounds like it would work.  I also have a light that connects to a battery that I have used form my boat but have note used it much.

[CheapTrix]

Haven't tried it yet, but an old timer told me to try this after dark, and he said it works great.

Drill several holes around your shanty, or fishing area, that do not break through the ice.  Leave about a 1/2-1 inch of ice.  Then take candles (flashlights, glowsticks, etc.) and place in each hole.  The light will travel though the Ice around the hole and "glow".  He said he did this for several years and it attracted fish like crazy.  He said he would stock up on cheap candles all summer from garage sales, flea markets, etc. so his cost was basically nothing.

Just a thought.....worth a try!

[GCD]

On the boat, we just toss 'em over the side, Ice fishing we us a light about 10-15 feet away from the hole with the line in it.
Fish like the "edges"of the light the best, where they can easily dart into the darkness if they feel threatened.

^^^^ this ^^^^

[hounds]

I've tried the candle thing and had a heck of a time keeping it lit during the wind.  I also had a hard time drilling a hole that did not leak, we don't get 2 feet of Ice around here, so that one may be more of a regional thing for far northerners.

[bearbgone]

Didn't need any lights last night. We slayed the slab crappie all night. Brought back about 30 - 12" and a few 12" + between two of us. let a bunch go and lost a bunch of them as well. We fished a clear water lake it really makes a difference when going out for the night bite. I tried the underwater lights with little luck in the past.