Lights on while fishing!

[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

[apextrail]

I totally agree with Dave. I have spent allot of time this year night fishing KY lake. Moved my camper into a resort and have been there almost every weekend and I have witnessed several "near misses" involving someone running or anchored with no lights. Have also witnessed a near miss involving a barge. I stay near the campground in coves at night. That is the only place I feel safe on KY lake when the sun goes down. The upside is that I have been catching some nice fish in the coves and points leading into the coves. :-)

[Moose1am]

Section 2. Lighting Equipment. (1) Between actual sunset and sunrise:

(a) Operators of Class A or Class 1 motorboats shall display:

1. A white light near the stern of the vessel visible in a 360 degree arc.

2. A combined red and green light near the bow of the vessel which is:

a. Lower than the white light; and

b. As stipulated in subsection (2) of this section.

(b) Operators of Class 2 or Class 3 motorboats shall display:

1. A white light mounted near the bow of the vessel, which is visible from dead ahead to 112.5 degrees on either side of the vehicle.

2. A white light mounted near the stern of the vessel which is:

a. Higher than the forward white light; and

b. Visible in a 360 degree arc.

3. Separate red and green lights as stipulated in subsection (2) of this section.

(c) Operators of Class 1 or larger vessels propelled by sail alone shall display:

1. Red and green lights as stipulated in subsection (2) of this section; and

2. A white stern light which shows in an arc of 135 degrees behind the vessel.

(d) Operators of manually-powered vessels or sailboats less than twenty-two feet, nine inches (22'9") shall:

1. Carry aboard and have immediately available for use a white light of sufficient intensity to illuminate the vessel and its occupants; and

2. Display the white light in time to prevent a collision from an approaching vessel.

(e) Persons operating or responsible for vessels anchored or adrift in a normal navigation channel or passageway shall display a white light visible in a 360 degree arc.

(2) Combination or separate red and green lights shall:

(a) Have an arc of visibility extending from dead ahead to 112.5 degrees on either side of the vessel;

(b) Show the red light on the port side, and the green light on the starboard side, of the vessel; and

(c) Be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile on a dark night with clear atmosphere.

(3) White lights required by this section shall be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles on a dark night with clear atmosphere.

(4) On vessels under way between sunset to sunrise, operators shall not display other lights which could be mistaken for the lights specified in this section.

[Castaway022602]

I feel like if your on the water at night then you should have your lights on at all times. If bugs or batteries are an issue then you need to fish in the mornings. Oh but it's too hot for you guys, I would probably just lay in the air on the couch if heat, bugs, and the boat bother you that much. It's all about safety, but it is also aggrevating to run miles down the lake to a spot and 40 feet from shut down some wise guy turns his lights on. It throws everything in panic and upsets both boats, one for almost crashing and driving to an occupied spot and the other for getting swamped. Anyway it frustrates me to be on the water with boats that not only break the law but put me, my partner or my son in danger because of a mosquito.

Thanks.

[bigboyjon]

I rewired my boat, with a switch up front and in the back. Sound travles good on the water hear boat, flip switch. If its a busy night (weekend or weight in time) I keep them on untill things settle down. Also burn both front and back, If standing up back light is blocked from view from the front. I feel safe doing this. When moving lights are always on.

[canepole]

These boats turned their lights on when they heard the boat (water patrol) coming but that only made them easier to catch. The best way to not get a ticket is leave the light on and if you don't well I guess your gambling with $188.50 and maybe someone hitting you. I never thought about a sock but bet I'll have one extra (3) from now on!

[Bonefish]

There are so many angles to putting ourselves into situations that are questionable. Most of the time common sense will keep us safe in most situations, but it is the unpredictable that reaches out and taps us on the shoulder. For example, the day a bunch of teenagers were swimming on lake Cumberland and pushed a number of logs into the lake and that night there were two accidents as the result. The reason I know this is I work in the ER at the University Hospital. It is no different than not wearing your seat belt or riding a motorcyle without a helment. Your chances of survival are much less, and more importantly, the long term care and the drain on the family is much worse, plus we paid for the high risk people's mistakes by paying high premiums for insurance. When we take risks, we must be prepared to deal with the possible long term affects when something does go wrong.

[Danny]

You know, everyone who fishes these nights and don't use their lights are breaking state laws. That's their rights to do so, just as if someone chooses to break the speed limit, which I've done myself.

But here's the rub..... many of you are also tournament fishermen. So, by breaking a state law, you are also cheating in your tournament since almost all tournaments have a rule that all local and state laws must be followed.

So, if you are intentionally breaking a law during a tournament, you are cheating that tournament. Same thing those two guys who got caught with fish caged did, breaking a tournament rule.

This might humble some of the holier than thou crowd.

Naaaaaawwwwww.... it won't.

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[clark]

I guess I will be getting that ticket also. To me fishing parallel close to the bank isn't in the navagable channel. I always turn on my lights is a boat is approaching for safety and to let the other person know I am fishing there and they don't have to waste their time stopping if they don't want to fish close to me.

[kc]

I personally don't like my lights on at night. The usual -- bugs, glare, spooked fish and I understand the law and the reasoning behind it. But what I don't understand is where common sense plays into this. To me if I am on a bank say up in a bay and a boat is running out on the main lake a couple of hundred yards away (not towards me) why do I need my lights on? I have always used common sense and when a boat is approaching turn my lights on to let them know I am there. Why is this not an acceptable common sense approach? If I am anchored or out in the lake I leave them on but when I am fishing close to the bank and not in a normal navigation channel I am fully aware of boats moving around I just can't see why this is a problem. I guess I will be taking my chances. In my world common sense rules and fishing with lights on at night ain't common sense if you want to catch fish.

kc