Bowfishing Lights Guide
Traditionally, High-Pressure Sodium or HID style fixtures have been used for night fishing applications due to their high lumen output. However in recent years many anglers are now switching over to LED technology for their fishing rigs, due to its numerous benefits over traditional lighting. The top reasons for most to make the switch are the higher lumen output, longer life and higher light accuracy that LED lights have to offer over traditional lighting options.
Why LED lights?
As mentioned, LED lights have a number of advantages over traditional lighting choices. One of the biggest benefits of LED lighting is its intense lumen output for its size. This gives LED lights a distinct packaging advantage when mounted on a boat or vehicle with limited space, as the fixtures can be physically smaller while producing the appropriate lumen output. Many users take advantage of this output to size ratio by increasing the number of lights used in order to boost their lumen intensity for even better visibility while angling for their catch.
In addition to the increase in lumen output, these lights also have a considerably longer lifespan than traditional bowfishing lights. LED floodlights have a minimum rated lifespan of 50,000 hours under all conditions, with consistent luminosity throughout that time period. This is a distinct advantage over traditional lighting types, which typically degrade midway through their rated lifespan, producing significantly lower lumen output over time. This reduces their effectiveness and is detrimental to anglers aiming at their catch.
Another benefit of LED lighting not frequently discussed is the increased quality of light it produces. Lighting quality is measured using the Color Rendering Index (CRI) which measures the accuracy of a light in replicating colors. Higher CRI lights offer a significant advantage for bowfishermen due to the increased clarity when shining into the water. In certain water conditions, this can be the difference between spotting a fish and letting it slip by unnoticed. It also makes aiming much easier as the outline of the fish will be much clearer.
Most Popular Options
There are several different types of flood lights used for bowfishing at night. Generally speaking, the higher the wattage and lumen output the better, however this can be limited from a practical standpoint due space and mounting constraints. The rule of thumb for LED flood lights is a minimum of 100W in order to provide sufficient depth penetration into the water. Certain fishing rigs may have the ability to mount larger lights overhead via a second deck or canopy tower, in which case there is usually more space available for larger lights.
Below are some of the most popular types of LED flood lights for night bowfishing rigs:
Yoke Mount Flood Lights - By far the most versatile option, yoke mounted flood lights attach via a straightforward u-shaped mount that allows for nearly infinite angle adjustments to suit the particular mounting location on the vessel. They are also the easiest to mount out of all flood lights, requiring just a couple of fasteners and basic wiring to install.
Trunnion Mount Flood Lights - Utilizing a precise and compact mounting system, trunnion mounted flood lights are a popular choice for users looking for a lower profile mount option while still offering a wide range of angle adjustments. Designed to mount to any flat surface via a couple of fasteners, these lights offer multiple angle adjustment options that use a secondary bolt to fix the adjustment in place and prevent accidental changes.
Mountless Flood Lights - For the ultimate in custom installations, some fishermen choose mountless flood lights in order to integrate them into existing or fabricated mounting systems. These lights offer mounting attachment points directly on the fixture itself, giving the user the option to install them as they see best. Many professional fishermen use these lights as part of an overall vessel lighting system in addition to illuminating the water.