Fishing with Lights OFF!!

[FlyLie]

Text quoted stright from the KDFWR shown below, FYI

NAVIGATION LIGHTS
All vessels when underway between sunset and sunrise must display proper navigation lights. Navigation lights on boats are restricted to the colors of red, green and white.

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 stopor pass astern of boat B

[fishincreek]

Of course if boats had headlights, the chance of a collision would more than likely be less.

[kydonky]

Fellas I think that your lights only need to be on while you are underway... Your bow lights have a red and green side, This allows other boaters to know which direction your boat is headed and on which side to pass.
If you are fishing a bank (stationary) and your lights would indicate that a boater can pass on the right or left. You could be liable for their loss should they run aground etc..
I know that sounds Dumb, but Maritime Law is much different than what a lot of us would think reasonable. I believe that if you are drift fishing your Stern light needs to be on which is reasonable but not your bow light.
I know my boat's switch will allow operation of one or both.. That is the reason why. As far as operation speed... The Government has not regulated a lot of our public waters and that's fine, but we as boaters need to know the laws and keep safe. If you can't see far enough in front of you to avoid an accident, or if you are going too fast for the conditions (Dark is a condition) this would be your fault regardless of whether that other person had lights on... What if it was a group of swimmers? They don't have lights but if you hit them it's your fault.. Same thing.
Maritime law is what we need to know.. As far as loading and unloading a boat.. I think there may be some other issues there. Like the CO being a Butt or maybe the guy in the boat took it out for a loop or two to warm up the engine.. without being there, who knows..

The reason you have a switch for stern white light, bow combination lights and stern light is.

Red and green comination light and 360 deg white stern all around light while underway. (on powerboats less than 39.4 feet) (most of us)

The white stern light only is used when you are anchored or moored where there is navigation.

A stern ligh (135 deg light) on powerboats over 39.4 feet and sail boats. Powerboats over 39.4 must also have a masthead light and sailboats will need a maxshead light when under power.

If you see only the red and green bow lights of a boat, it is becasue it is a sailboat under sail and you give right of way. Yes there will be powerboats out there with a non working stern light, but the reason a sailboat has the white light visable only from the stern is that if you only see the red and green lights you can identify the vessel as a sailboat under sail.

Absolutely not fact that you are liable if someone passes you on your port side and runs agound because you had your lights on.. You should know your channel, waterway period.

The Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has a boaters safty education class for certification on line. I think there are some that could use a review. I took it and learned a few things. Even if you do not pay for the certification you can learn something from the course.

EVERYBODY SHOULD GO TO http://www.boat-ed.com/ky internet.htm

http://www.boat-ed.com/ky/ky_internet.htm. and get the facts and learn the rules.

[kc]

Well I am sure I am going to step in it with this one but I have night fished for 30+ years and I believe in common sense when using lights. I generally do not have my lights on when I am fishing but always when underway. The reason I do not like my lights on when fishing is I don't want to give away my presense to the fish I am chasing. Night time is stealth time and lights on are not stealth. Plus on a dark night having the lights on makes it more difficult for my vision to adjust and be able to have any depth perception for casting.

That said part of the regulation you quoted was "in an area where other boats navigate" is a key distinction. Most of the time when I am fishing up in a creek or along a bank I will only turn on my lights as another boat approaches from a distance. This lets them know I am on the bank and surely will alert them to divert a collision as well. Close in on a bank there is little chance of a collision anyway and that is where the stealth gets most compromised. But if I am 50 yards out on a main lake point - then yes I leave my lights on because I am in an area where other boats commonly navigate and can come at you from different directions. But most of the time you do not have to leave your lights on to avoid collisions. I mean look at the reg for manually propelled boats "Manually propelled vessels shall carry a white light to display in sufficient time to avoid a collision" - isnt' that saying turn a light on when you hear or see another boat approaching. Lighten up people (pardon the pun) and use some common sense...

kc

[the_donger]

That is part of the problem, you cannot teach common sense. Dumb people ruin it for the rest. They, and we, need to be protected from themselves/them.

[kydonky]

I don't believe canoes or boats less than 16 feet are required to have lights by law.

Yes they are. A manually propelled craft (row boat, canoe) is required to have a light readily available to turn on to flash an oncoming vessel after sunset and before sunrise.

[waterdog101]

Well I am sure I am going to step in it with this one but I have night fished for 30+ years and I believe in common sense when using lights. I generally do not have my lights on when I am fishing but always when underway. The reason I do not like my lights on when fishing is I don't want to give away my presense to the fish I am chasing. Night time is stealth time and lights on are not stealth. Plus on a dark night having the lights on makes it more difficult for my vision to adjust and be able to have any depth perception for casting.

That said part of the regulation you quoted was "in an area where other boats navigate" is a key distinction. Most of the time when I am fishing up in a creek or along a bank I will only turn on my lights as another boat approaches from a distance. This lets them know I am on the bank and surely will alert them to divert a collision as well. Close in on a bank there is little chance of a collision anyway and that is where the stealth gets most compromised. But if I am 50 yards out on a main lake point - then yes I leave my lights on because I am in an area where other boats commonly navigate and can come at you from different directions. But most of the time you do not have to leave your lights on to avoid collisions. I mean look at the reg for manually propelled boats "Manually propelled vessels shall carry a white light to display in sufficient time to avoid a collision" - isnt' that saying turn a light on when you hear or see another boat approaching. Lighten up people (pardon the pun) and use some common sense...

kc

sir, you have the most sensible post. that I've read on this subject. you do as I do, and thousands of other safe fishermen. while people fish with their lights off, I would think that 99.99% of the time. that they would be one casting distance or less from the shore. you may find one in a million, that would try to fish farther out in the lake. where boats that are up on plane should be. and not running 40 mph within 50 feet of the bank.

[creeker]

sir, you have the most sensible post. that I've read on this subject. you do as I do, and thousands of other safe fishermen. while people fish with their lights off, I would think that 99.99% of the time. that they would be one casting distance or less from the shore. you may find one in a million, that would try to fish farther out in the lake. where boats that are up on plane should be. and not running 40 mph within 50 feet of the bank.

On Taylorsville, there's a hump right out in the middle of the lake about 10 ft under that's always crowded with fishermen at night. Last time I was through there, only about half had their lights on.

[coombro]

you could always use a lower wattage bulb, Law doesnt state how many lumenaires your light has to put out does it? still be visable.

[BRS]

I get on plane at night but do not go that fast. My boat has trim tabs that allow me to get on plane at low speeds. If I am 5 miles down lake I am not going to idle back to the dock.

Hey Man Brother. Could make for a long night.

[BRS]

doesn't the law require you to have your lights on at nite moving or not?

I have always heared that is the law for TN. I also was told that it is the law for KY to and I did not know that till just the other day.

[BRS]

I agree with just about everyone on the (lights on lights off). If I am up in a creek off the main lake I really do not see any harm in fishing with lights out other then Game Warden catching me. If on the main lake no question about it lights should be on. And then you better hope for the best if someone drunk is out there running up and down the lake. Lights or no lights, best have in the back of mind getting the boat started up or you might still get ran over. Since we are on the light thing I was told the other day that it is against the law to have a seal beam light on the front of boat. True or not? I use a spot light, I sure hope I am not going to get a ticket for that. Man needs something to try and see those canoes and jon boats out there after dark with no lights at all.