Fireflies for night fishing - how to make it yourself

Night fishing is no less interesting and popular activity than its daytime variety. During certain periods, such as when the weather is extremely hot and dry, fishing at night is often much more effective.

One of the main disadvantages of such fishing is poor visibility at night. The appearance of fishing fireflies completely solves this problem; this device becomes one of the main assistants, which allows you to see the bite even in complete darkness.

The composition of such devices includes the following substances:

Luminol is one of the most common components. It has a powder form, and when it gets into an acidic environment, it begins to emit a bluish glow.
Hydrogen peroxide, oxalate and coloring matter . Components that mix with each other form a chemical reaction, due to which light energy is released.

At the same time, it will not be possible to open fireflies to treat them with components of other objects, since all active substances react instantly with oxygen, after which they evaporate or simply lose their basic properties.

Appearance and colors

The colors of fireflies can be very diverse; today you can find devices that emit a green, yellow, pink, orange or blue glow. However, it is the yellow-green version that has become most widespread and continues to enjoy constant popularity. This is due to the following factors:

For the chemical reaction that causes this glow, inexpensive and safe components are used.
The color is quite bright and clearly visible in the dark.
The color is quite calm and does not irritate human vision.

The firefly itself looks like the following design :

A small capsule made of plastic, filled with active ingredients inside.
Inside it is a second capsule, which is filled with other components.

In a state of calm, substances from different capsules do not mix, but when a mechanical effect is applied to the firefly, the components are mixed, after which a corresponding chemical reaction occurs.

Characteristics of float fireflies

Fishing fireflies are a cone consisting of 2 capsules. One capsule is filled with oxalate and a fluorescent dye, and the other with hydrogen peroxide. After mixing all the components, a chemical reaction occurs, characterized by an external glow. The color of the glow depends on the dye.

Advantages:

• Easy to attach;

• Long-lasting illumination, providing convenience for night fishing;

• Insignificant weight does not affect the load-carrying capacity of the float;

• Possibility of attaching to a “day” float without replacing it;

• Affordable price.

Advantages and disadvantages of use

Fireflies have become widespread and are very popular among fishermen due to a number of their positive aspects; their main advantages include the following features:

Significant increase in the comfort of fishing at night.
Versatility, which allows you to use them in various fishing methods.
Fastening is distinguished by its ease; its implementation does not require specific knowledge or skills.
The composition is completely safe, the active components do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.
The dimensions are small in size, so these devices are easy to store and transport.
The price is affordable for all categories of persons.
A wide range of lighting colors, allowing you to choose the most attractive and suitable option.

However, with so many advantages, fireflies also have certain disadvantages, primarily these include:

All devices are disposable and cannot be reused.
Some components included in the composition may cause an allergic reaction if they come into contact with human skin.
When using a feeder, there is a risk of the line getting caught behind the firefly.
Some devices have too intense a glow, which can cause eye fatigue when looking at them for a long time.

A few recommendations

Beginning fishermen would do well to familiarize themselves with some recommendations on the use of fireflies. These are simple rules, following which you don’t have to worry about the durability of the device. Fireflies for fishing at night are important not only to mount correctly, but also to operate carefully. The system should be turned on immediately before the first cast. This way the batteries will last longer.

There should be no gap between the LED capsule and the fishing rod. To do this, the firefly is taped to the base. When removing the feeder from the water, you need to keep an eye on the fishing line. It should be tight. With this method of fishing, the feeder is placed smoothly on the stand (so that the tip with the LED does not become loose). Before casting, the fishing line is checked for smooth gliding. Nothing should bother her. This prevents tangles in the gear. The use of fireflies will be comfortable.

Main varieties

The main classification of fireflies is their division according to the principle of functioning; taking this parameter into account, two varieties can be distinguished:

The chemical variety is by far the most common. This is due to the ease of operation: to activate the firefly, you just need to bend the plastic flask, which causes the inner glass container to break. The components mix with each other, causing a chemical reaction. After this, the device is ready for use.
Fireflies, the design of which includes an LED and a pair of small batteries . This option is less common, but it has one significant advantage, which is the possibility of repeated use. Visually, they actually have no differences and also represent a capsule, but have a collapsible design. This allows batteries to be periodically replaced for repeated use.

Fastening methods

Fastening this device sometimes raises a number of questions for novice fishermen, but in fact there is nothing complicated in this process. There are several options for attaching fireflies:

Fastening directly to the float, practiced when using the appropriate type of fishing rod. The attachment process occurs using a tube made of silicone, which is usually included in the basic package when purchasing fireflies. It has two holes on each side, a firefly is inserted into one of them, and the other is threaded onto the top of the float.
The design of some floats does not require the use of silicone tubes ; this happens in cases where their upper part is made in the form of antennas that are too thin. In such a situation, fastening can be accomplished using an alternative technique that involves the use of rubber bands that can be cut from the nipple pipe. In total, you will need two rubber bands; they will be put on the float antenna, and you can pass the firefly through them.
Some large floats have a fairly large antenna at the top with a significant diameter. If this particular variety is used, the firefly usually fits well inside the existing hole, which is then closed with a cap.
You can also attach this device directly to the end of the fishing rod; this method is most often practiced when using feeders, since their design does not imply the presence of a float. In such a situation, several silicone rubber bands are threaded directly through the end of the feeder, and the space intended for attaching the firefly will be the space between the rings. It is usually installed between the second and third or third and fourth rings. If this method is chosen, it is recommended to additionally wrap the firefly with transparent tape, which will minimize the risk of fishing line snagging, which is likely to occur during casting. After this, constant visibility of the location of the end of the feeder will be ensured.
You can also attach it to the end of the rod using special plastic fasteners, which are sold in fishing stores. This simplifies the process somewhat, and such devices are designed for the possible installation of one or several fireflies at once.

How to attach?

Depending on the type of fishing, the firefly mounts differ:

To the float

To a greater extent, they are intended specifically for float gear. They are attached using a silicone tube, which is included in the kit. One side of the tube is put on the float antenna, and the firefly is inserted into the second.

Often there are floats with a thin antenna, and it is not possible to attach a firefly in the standard way. In this case, you can use rubber bands cut from the nipple tube. Two rubber bands are put on the antenna, and a firefly is passed through them.

More recently, large floats have appeared with fireflies placed in the antenna. In its upper part there is a hole with a cap, through which the alignment process takes place.

To the tip of the rod

When fishing using the feeder method, a float is not needed, which complicates the process, and bites often lead to the fish disappearing, because you cannot see them in the dark. In this case, two silicone rubber bands are threaded through the tip of the feeder rod. Places for attaching the firefly are the spaces between the 2nd and third rings (between the 3rd and the fourth is possible).

This method has its pros and cons. A plus is good visibility of the movement of the rod tip directly nearby. The downside is the possible snag of the fishing line while casting the tackle, which can lead to its breakage. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to cover (wrap) the edges of the firefly with tape.

There are special ready-made plastic attachments for fireflies to the tip of the fishing rod. They are designed to operate 1 or 2 fireflies at the same time.

Criteria for selecting fishing fireflies

It is necessary to take into account a number of factors in order to buy the most suitable option and not regret the purchase in the future. The main criteria influencing the choice include:

Manufacturer of products. It is recommended to choose products from well-known brands that have already been tested by other fishermen and have proven positive in the relevant market segment.
The duration of the glow, since if the parameter is incorrectly selected, extinction can occur at the most inopportune moment.
Glow intensity , which is also one of the most significant parameters, since it affects visibility and comfort of use.
The volume of components contained in the flask. This indicator directly affects the intensity and duration of the glow, although both of these parameters may not be interrelated with each other.
The presence of additional fastening elements that are included in the package, and they must fully comply with the selected type of fishing gear.
Glow color. Despite the fact that the most common and popular shades are green and yellow, you must first focus on your own preferences and individual perceptions.

On average, a firefly is capable of emitting light for 8-10 hours; this duration is enough for one night fishing session.

After this, a weak and insignificant glow should persist for another day, which is an indicator of quality. Weaker models emit light for no longer than 4 hours, and in weaker mode they operate for several more days; their cost is usually much lower.

Instructions for use of the device

In general, using such devices is not difficult; you just need to break the flask and then secure it to the float in one of the possible ways. The situation is a little more complicated when using a feeder; in such a situation, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

Activation should be carried out shortly before dark or before immediate use.
Place and fasten the device between the feeder rings using the already disassembled method.
Additionally, secure the firefly with narrow tape so that there are not even minimal gaps left between it and the rods.
After pulling out the feeder for any purpose, you must ensure that the fishing line is always in the taut position.
The feeder is placed on the stand only with smooth movements; free loosening of its upper part is not allowed.
Before making a new cast, you need to make sure that the line moves freely through the guides.

Following these simple instructions allows you to minimize the likelihood of overlap when using such lighting devices.

Types of fireflies

There are two types of fishing fireflies: battery-powered and chemical.

The first option consists of an LED light bulb that is powered by several small batteries. The advantage of this model is that it can be disassembled. This makes it possible to reuse the gear and, of course, replace the batteries.

The second option is the most common and does not require special handling skills during the fishing process. For the equipment to start working, you just need to bend it and then attach it to the equipment.

How to make it yourself

Some fishermen prefer to use not store-bought varieties of fireflies, but models that they make themselves. The most popular way is to use foil, which has the ability to reflect light. To carry out this process, you must follow the following instructions :

Initially, the base material is prepared; yellow or white foil should be cut into strips of the same size. The recommended width is 5 mm.
After this, the foil strips will need to be glued to the float; for these purposes, it is necessary to use a special type of glue that has water-resistant properties.
To activate a firefly, a flashlight is pointed at it, and it is not at all necessary to use powerful light sources.

Another type could be a device that is made using a jar of ascorbic acid and an LED. The following instructions are suitable for creating it :

To begin with, prepare a jar of ascorbic acid, produced in the form of dragees. The standard volume is 500 g.
An LED and batteries are placed inside the container.
The jar is attached to the feeder or to bells, which additionally provide sound notification of the presence of bites.
One or more windows are cut inside the jar, this will make the glow more noticeable at long distances.

An alternative option is to use special paints that glow in the dark. To implement it, you must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

The simplest option is to apply glowing paint directly to the float.
If for some reason painting the float is excluded, then you can apply a luminous substance to a homemade capsule. This element is cut out of wood; its shape must be identical to the store-bought firefly, then fastening can be done using standard methods.