Bowfishing Lights
Ranked #140 in Sports & Recreation, #5,716 overall
Bowfishing Lights - Such a Necessity To Bowfishing Trips
If you have ever tried bowfishing in the daytime and enjoyed the sport of bowfishing you will eventually progress to night-time bowfishing as well and need some (or even many) bowfishing lights.
Most people have never been exposed to bowfishing to begin with. First off, you're your armed with a bow and arrow to hunt your fish. No boring time spent waiting for fish to bite your hook filled with bait or jigging all day long.
There are a lot of people that do conduct bowfishing during the day daytime hours as you can see on YouTube. My sons and I have even gone bowfishing a few times during the day and have had a great time. I think all time spent outdoors with your own children is a great experience for all. No computers or iPods, just good old family time spent together out on the water.
Bowfishing lights are very important to your fishing trip. Bowfishing lights will seem to penetrate the water further then the sun at night because of the contrast (light VS. dark). Bowfishing lights at night allow you to see further through the water to catch a glimpse of fish at greater depths.
We started off with the typical Cooper Lighting 500W Industrial Grade Halogen Floodlights
(low cost at just $19.99) and moved up to more expensive high pressure sodium bowfishing lights. The more expensive high pressure sodium lights offer more lighting with a lower wattage out put.
Most people have never been exposed to bowfishing to begin with. First off, you're your armed with a bow and arrow to hunt your fish. No boring time spent waiting for fish to bite your hook filled with bait or jigging all day long.
There are a lot of people that do conduct bowfishing during the day daytime hours as you can see on YouTube. My sons and I have even gone bowfishing a few times during the day and have had a great time. I think all time spent outdoors with your own children is a great experience for all. No computers or iPods, just good old family time spent together out on the water.
Bowfishing lights are very important to your fishing trip. Bowfishing lights will seem to penetrate the water further then the sun at night because of the contrast (light VS. dark). Bowfishing lights at night allow you to see further through the water to catch a glimpse of fish at greater depths.
We started off with the typical Cooper Lighting 500W Industrial Grade Halogen Floodlights
(low cost at just $19.99) and moved up to more expensive high pressure sodium bowfishing lights. The more expensive high pressure sodium lights offer more lighting with a lower wattage out put.Bowfishing Lights Benefits and Downfalls
First off a Lumen is a unit of measurement of the amount of brightness that comes from a light source. For example, a 100 watt light bulb produces roughly 1200 Lumens.Halogen bowfishing lights
Pros
1. Lower cost
2. Availability (can find at most hardware stores)
3. Cheaper to replace if damaged
Cons
1. Bad reflective light that lowers the visibility through the water
2. White light spectrum (unnatural)
3. Cheaply made product
4. Lower lumen output (10,500 per 500w bulb)
High Pressure Sodium
Pros
1. More lumens (more light)
2. Lower wattage (less power drain on your generator)
3. Natural light color (almost in the orange/yellow spectrum, less reflective)
4. Longer bulb life
Cons
1. Higher prices
2. Lower availability (can't usually find at Lowes or Home Depot)
3. Harder to find replacement parts
Bowfishing floodlights
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zachd417
Halogen 500w Bowfishing Lights
Halogen bowfishing lights are by far the most inexpensive to purchase. Look at the possibilities of breaking down a double halogen work lamp to even get greater savings. We mounted a few lights on a rigged 2"x4" system and added them to the topside of a bass boat and used a 5500watt generator to power the bowfishing lights.
Popularr Halogen Bowfishing lights eBay
150 Watt High Pressure Sodium Bowfishing Lights
Maybe not the most cost effective way to install bowfishing lights on your boat but the light output that you gain will offset the cost and be well worth it in the long run. 150 watt high pressure sodium bowfishing lights offer very low wattage and amperage drain on your generators so you can install more bowfishing lights on your bowfishing rig. Another improvement is in the higher lumen (light) output over a standard light for fewer watts. Now with the light and generator combination I use a couple 2000 watt generators to power the bowfishing lights and the generators are much easier to load in and out of the bowfishing boat.
Installing Bowfishing Lights
Bowfishing light users have come up with a couple pretty ingenious ways to install bowfishing lights. While purchasing your lights be aware if they are 120v or 240v because this will play a factor during the wiring process. I personally chose the 500watt halogen first since it was on a 120v system and had the basic color scheme (black/white/ground). This made it very easy to cut up a regular extension cord to elongate the plug in to reach the generator in the back of my boat. Making sure to water proof all splices with Scotch Coat liquid electrical tape and then wrapping regular electrical tape on the outside to prevent chaffing on the splice. I also added a couple of water proof 110v plug ends to keep the system safe.After the 500watt halogen I upgraded to the high pressure sodium lights for wattage and light output increase. The 150watt high pressure sodium lights also use a 120v system so they too were easy to install with the 3 color wiring system.
400 watt High Pressure Sodium Bowfishing Lights
If you have electrical skills and know all about the watts, voltage, amps, plus the wiring that it take to install 220v lights more power to you. I'm deathly afraid of electricity and how bad it hurts when it decides to bite. Common sense will save most if wiring the lights without the power on though. If untrained like myself, I would have a certified electrician help you while installing your bowfishing lights.
Bowfishing Lights - Metal Halide
I was at are local boat landing last weekend and met a fellow bowfishing fanatic. After exchanging a few quick stories I found out he was shooting in tournament bowfishing competitions. He told me he use to use the high pressure sodium lights before and now has changed over to the metal halide bowfishing lights now.
Why you might ask!
I was informed even though he likes the ability to see further in the muddy water with the high pressure sodium lights that the metal halide is a close contender. The color of the fish and grass are in a more natural spectrum when shooting. Red fish look red, grass looks green!
Long story short -
That type of difference between the high pressure sodium and the metal halide may come in handy if your shooting long hours during a bowfishing tournament.
Since a Bowfishing tournament shooter is using the metal halide lights here they are if you would like to try them out. He's using the 400watt tall lights.
Why you might ask!
I was informed even though he likes the ability to see further in the muddy water with the high pressure sodium lights that the metal halide is a close contender. The color of the fish and grass are in a more natural spectrum when shooting. Red fish look red, grass looks green!
Long story short -
That type of difference between the high pressure sodium and the metal halide may come in handy if your shooting long hours during a bowfishing tournament.
Since a Bowfishing tournament shooter is using the metal halide lights here they are if you would like to try them out. He's using the 400watt tall lights.
Bowfishing light grease
Protect your bowfishing light and electrical connectors
I use bowfishing grease (dielectric grease) to protect all of my bowfishing light ballast. Bowfishing grease also prevents vibration in the high pressure sodium light bulb when traveling on your boat trailer or on choppy open waters. Works well on o-rings, battery terminals, and screws to elongate life and easy maintenance.
Bowfishing light dielectric grease uses:
-Great lubricating properties ease the dis-assembly process
-Protects rubber, plastic, ceramic and metal surfaces
-Suggested Applications: Headlamps, lighting bulbs for: instrument panel, glove compartment, inside door trim, interior courtesy lamps,
parking and turn signals, brake lights, license plate lights, trunk and hood lamps
-Also for fuses, battery terminals, ignition components and other electrical connections
Bowfishing light dielectric grease uses:
-Great lubricating properties ease the dis-assembly process
-Protects rubber, plastic, ceramic and metal surfaces
-Suggested Applications: Headlamps, lighting bulbs for: instrument panel, glove compartment, inside door trim, interior courtesy lamps,
parking and turn signals, brake lights, license plate lights, trunk and hood lamps
-Also for fuses, battery terminals, ignition components and other electrical connections
Bowfishing light wattage and bulb - Poll
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Bowfishing Gear
Great deals on bowfishing gear
- Bowfishing Generators
- Small and large portable bowfishing generators
- Bowfishing
- Great bowfishing tips and tricks
- Bowfishing Retrievers
- Hand wrap, spin cast and retriever reels
- Bowfishing Bows
- Zero let off and recurve bows
- Bowfishing Arrows
- Bowfishing arrow blanks and pre-made complete bowfishing arrows
- Bowfishing Rest
- Bowfishing rest that will hold your arrows 360 degrees
- Bowfishing Line
- Bowfishing line 200lb test, Muzzy and AMS
NEW! Bowfishing Apparel on Zazzle
Best Selling Bowfishing T-Shirt to Date!
Carp Bowfishing T-shirt by bowfishing
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Carp Bowfishing T-shirt by bowfishing
Sell art online at Zazzle.
About Bowfishing
It's not all about bowfishing!
Bowfishing has included the southern life style of lens building for your enjoyment.
Bowfishing has included the southern life style of lens building for your enjoyment.
Bowfishing lights above or below the bowfishing deck
Sound Off
I personally prefer to mount my bowfishing lights below the deck and recessed enough so it wont cause night blindness while bowfishing. Plus the benefit of recessing the bowfishing lights inboard just a little will prevent the bowfishing lights from smashing into the docks or even low underbrush and twigs while shooting close to the banks.
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HunterDan
Jan 31, 2012 @ 6:41 pm | delete
- I used to bow fish years ago but never at night with lights. Makes me want to get back in to it. Nice lense.
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fullofshoes
Jan 3, 2012 @ 10:04 am | delete
- great lens for my favorite fisherman. will pass it along.
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selink
Jan 2, 2012 @ 10:33 pm | delete
- Fishing at night is a great adventure. You can be able to appreciate more its beauty with the use of marine paneling bow fishing lights. It has different types and wattage of lights that you could be able to choose from.
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snape21 Dec 14, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete
- My farther in law fishes a lot but i never knew it was normal practice to fish at night, very intresting.
Thumbs up!
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pawpaw911
Jul 15, 2011 @ 3:53 pm | delete
- I haven't bow fished in year, but when I did, I did it during the day. Good lens.
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bowfishing Jul 16, 2011 @ 9:08 pm | delete
- It's to hot to bowfish in the day down in the LA humidity. Thanks for dropping in.
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by bowfishing
Hello fellow online enthusiast. My name Is Sean.
I moved to Louisiana in the later part of 2000. My career as a Commercial Diver brought me to the Gulf...
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How to install Bowfishing Lights - Step by Step
My bowfishing lights weekend install and how to's
A Perfect Portable Generator to power your bowfishing lights
Briggs and Stratton 2000 Watt Portable Generator
Briggs & Stratton 30473 2,000 Watt 105cc Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator
Amazon Price: $648.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
When your bowfishing has evolved into a night time activity this small Briggs and Stratton 2000 watt generator will be very effective for your small power needs and lower the noise levels while shooting at night.
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