Lights on while fishing!

[canepole]

Better keep those lights on on Nolin while fishing, I know of three that recieved tickets around Red Rock in the Friday night tournament. The cost if you don't is $188.50!:-(

[MsgMills]

Wow, thanks for the info, I always kept mine off until I heard a boat coming and then I would turn them on, so as to let the boat approaching that I was in the area and to be alert for my boat. I really didn't know you had to have them on at all times, I thought it was only while big motor was being in use. The bugs just love to swarm around you at night while fishing with the running lights on, plus Bro-in-law loves to hit the stern light pole with rod after dark it seems...... What's the difference in someone on the bank fishing in the dark with no lights around them at all and some boat comes barrelling down the lake in the dark and hits the bank where this bank fisherman is fishing. Injures the bank fisherman, but driver of boat says it's not his fault he hit the bank fisherman, he should have had some sort of light lit so the boat driver could have seen him. Well I say this should be the same thing out on the water, turn the lights on if a boats approaching for safety sake.

[KyBass1]

This was copied from the 2006 Ky fishing and boating guide. Good luck to all, Tom.

From sunset to sunrise in an area where other boats navigate, all vessels shall display a steady white light visible 360 degrees at all times. Manually propelled vessels shall carry a white light to display in sufficient time to avoid a collision.

The purpose of the red and green navigation lights at night is to show if your boat is in a meeting, crossing or overtaking situation. The red and green lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise whenever a boat is underway. They will give some indication of the size and speed of vessels. The red and green bow lights are especially helpful in determining right of way in crossing situations. In the diagram below, boat B sees the green bow light of boat A, and has the right of way to continue on course. Boat A sees the red bow light of boat B and must stop or pass astern of boat B.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

had a warden pull over and tell me to be sure and not leave my front light on when fishing,i had just got up and started fishing with running lights on,he said it would confuse other boaters,he did tell me good job for having them on though.I was fishing the bluff wall at barren by the watertower he said he mainly warned people who were fishing in the main lake on long points and stuff not so much one fishing close to the bank but better safe than sorry.with accidents on the rise i'm sure it will get worse.

[bucky]

It is also a good idea to leave them on when fishing KY.and Barkley. Got a ticket for 50$ and 211$ court cost to marshall county for fishing in the back of a bay with no stern light on. The patrol saw me running down the lake with my lights on and then saw me turn them off when I started fishing. They came in and gave me a ticket. Tried pleading stupidity with no results. I now tape a glo stick to my stern light pole and haven't had any problems. The light must be visable 360 degree but no mention how bright it has to be. I did have a black light on, but this was not enough to keep me from the fine.x(

[elnutsmalljaws]

I fished Dale this past weekend and just about ran over a jon boat with 2 guys in it. I was on full plane, pitch dark in front of Trooper Island when all of a sudden out of the dark a white light appears within 20 YARDS in front of me. I made a massive turn to the right and off the throttle, SCARED ME TO DEATH. After I stopped and cleaned myself off, I asked what in the hell was he doing with no lights on. He said that he forgot his lights in the truck and was mad at me for almost swamping them. I asked him why did he not have a light on of any sorts and he said he could not find the flashlight until the last second. He could easily see me coming from a mile away. I told him he was **** lucky that I did not run over them. My deep v on full plane versus his little jon boat means bad news for both of us but I have to think they would probably be dead and maybe me to. This is my 4th year night fishing and I have seen more stupid people doing stupid things after dark this year than all the other 3 combined. Jet Ski's after dark (especially at Ky Lake), Big Idiot Boats flying down the lake well after dark, sailboats and houseboats anchored in the middle of coves with no lights on, unbelievable. No wonder so many have gotten killed this year and if it does not improve many more will loose their lives. I told my wife that for the first time, I am not 100% confident that it is safe to fish after dark due to all the other idiots on the water. With me fishing 90% of the time by myself makes it worse.

Dave Stewart carries a sock and puts it over the back light that keeps the bugs down but still makes it legal and it can be seen from 360 degrees as the law states. I personally don't keep any lights on when fishing but keep a bright spotlight or flashlight right next to me and keep close ear on incoming traffic to let them know.

Be Safe

[charlie1]

So how fast is full plane in your boat?

[justfishin]

I am not saying your wrong about a bank fisherman needing a light source, but if a boater is going so fast after dark and has no idea where the bank is he is already in a lot of trouble. When I am on a new lake I have a map if there is one and my spot light out so I know what is in front of me any way and if I spot a boat with no lights I lower the beam but leave it on just so he knows where I am going. Besides there is no real justification for running full out at night in the first place.

[TEE]

What?
You run on plane in Ohio after dark and your toast...period!
I thought about doin' some night fishin' at Dale but, years ago decided it wasn't worth it when I seen for my self that NUMEROUS boats run on that lake at WOT and NO FISH is worth losing your life with so many idiots that have no consideration whatsoever for ANYONE!
I'm done now x(

[Moose1am]

Running at full speed after dark? That's very dangerous. Do you use a spotlight to see ahead of you or just use the moonlight to see the water?

I ran the Ohio River a few times after dark and you never know when a big old log is floating on the suface where you can hit it. So I always had a spot light shinning out in front of my boat and didn't go that fast.

I think I read that in INDIANA it's illegal to go fast after dark on some of the bigger lakes.

I also saw in a forum where it's illegal to not have the anchor light fully visible after dark. That light must be on at all times from sunset to sunrise and the bow light must be on when the big motor is turned on and you are moving.

Covering up the anchor light with a sock is not wise. People run at night using their gps to navigate and they sometimes forget that others may be out on the water anchored in one spot. Especially early in the morning when there is fog on KY lake it would be very easy to run over someone. Fog make the lake very dangerous, unless you have radar on your boat.

Be careful out there guys. Sure glad you saw that guy before you ran over him.


Regards,

Moose1am

[Dave Stewart]

Just for your information moose man..putting a white cotton sock over the anchor light does not cover it up..it just knocks the glare down and hence keeps the bugs off and makes it so that the person in the back of the boat is not blinded by the glare....I have checked it and it can still be seen for over a very long distance.

Now, just let me add this since I am already on here....for the past three years I have taken some folks out on night guided trips here on Ky Lake during the months of July and August...this will be my last season that I will do that. There are just getting to be too many folks out there running dark, anchored with no anchor lights on and barges without any front marker lights and without a spotlight sweeping the water..in other words it is getting in my opinion a little too risky to be out there with clients in the boat.

[TEE]

Good point Dave....I also agree on..."DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S JUST UNDER THE SURFACE AT NIGHT"?
Didn't think so:P