LED Yak Lights

Anybody have them on their yak? Ever install em before? Looking at a few kits out there (Supernova and Wildcat). Do you like them (why or why not)? Any installation tips? $150+ seems a lot just for something that looks cool, but I'm hoping they'd also make me a lot more visible to bigger boats.

Why not just make your own kit? Radio shack sells the LEDs and resistors you need then just build a block out of plastic with holes drilled in it and mount the LEDs run the wired and your done... Total cost probably under 10$. Just a thought. If your not electrically savvy I could probably draw u up a schematic.

Have them mounted on my canoe, but it's made from the same plastic yaks are made from.

$150 is insane, I looked at those kits and first and was blown away with how much they wanted. Get them from Amazon CHEAP (<$10/strip), they're waterproof and mount with some strong 3M tape. I got all of mine for <$50.

http://www.amazon.com/Strip-light-Waterproof-Flexible-Light/dp/B005EHHLD8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395585342&sr=8-1&keywords=waterproof+led+light+strips

Cannot wait to test these out. Got green for the bow, and mounted red under the gunwales tucked away to bathe the entire interior in a soft red glow.


http://www.amazon.com/Strip-light-Waterproof-Flexible-Light/dp/B005EHHLD8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395585342&sr=8-1&keywords=waterproof+led+light+strips

Waterproof leds cheap from ebay work great where like $15.00 for 16ft. just cut to size solder the wire on. I drilled a small holeto get the wire in justa couple inches above the water line . So they are below your line of sight. I put an 18 inch both sides in front ran wire with sicky velcro wire ties down on each side . Put 12 inch on both sides of the back of the kayak did all the conections together in the back hatch. Used a 12V 7amp battery i put in a waterproof case with a 5amp fuse.on a waterproof switch just behind my seat. Works great .

I took a driveway fiberglass marking pole wire tie and ducktaped a $1.99 battery operated glow stick that lasted all summer left it in the garage all winter and still works fine. with my NewEngland Kayak Fishing flag on it.

Bobsdream, those look great! Really like the fighter-plane style decals you have on the front too!

Thanks for the tips guys, didn't even occur to me to try it DIY. Might hit up Radio Shack in a bit just to see what they've got in stock.

What do you guys consider when choosing colors? I understand that proper "nav" lights should be red and green on the front and white on the back, but I've read that this could potentially be confusing to larger craft since yaks are so low on the water. Would blue on the front be more or less confusing? Does it matter?

Anyone else out there with lights? Post some pics!

I'm using this light on my Cobra Fish 'N Dive that has been relocated to MN.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/fulton-stern-light-with-c-clamp.aspx?a=440417

It's cheap, raises a bit more off the water, and uses D-cells. MN mandates at least 1 light on 'yaks, so this was the easiest way to go for me. Lake traffic where we stay is extremely heavy, so this is a good idea, regardless of what MN says.

I undersand the Nav. light confusion. Most of the waters I fish at night are quiet next to no boat traffic.And the small boats I do see have not been an issue so far. I just want to be visiable just in case.At least if they see me out there thats half the battle won. I chose green all the way around only because I had heared green was good for fresh water Blue was good for salt water. What the differance is I don't know.I am going to change the light on my flag pole to white this year to fall into the regulations. I also carry a hand held flashlight at the ready at all times. And wear a PFD.Not many guys want to fish at 2:00 am so I'm all alone out there. And tring to stay safe.

I fish the wee hours too, Bob. Recently I've been doing everything I can to only fish waters that have hp restrictions or only allow electric motors. Have had 2 incidents in the past couple years with irresponsible fisherman in large boats (One at Hampton Ponds in Westfield, the other at Walker Pond in Sturbridge) where someone could have been hurt during low-light conditions. I'm always wearing a headlamp, but think another one of the lights I have on my "away" kayak can't hurt either.

That is exacty why I went with the lights. I'm from Southbridge and because I'm on the boarder of Conn. I fish both States in my area. And although I do like the Quiet waters better just because of the boat traffic. I do enjoy fishing some of the waters shared with the Big Boys so anything I can do to make myself visible is in my best interest. I find it exciting at night you can't see anything but silhouette's . But you hear everything. In the summer it's cooler at night. And when you get use to it. It opens up more time to fish if your not limited only to day time. I just started this last year . Has opened up a whole new world just don't jump out of your yak when the Beaver slaps his tail right next to you . Sounds like a shotgun going off .Scares the crap out of ya. But then after a few times you hear them swimming around first. Then you know when its coming sharpens your sences.

Rivet, what part of Minnesota to you visit? I grew up out there (Owatanna) and love the state. Go back every summer to catch some Walleye and a couple Twins games.

Bob, everything you're saying just makes me want to try night kayak fishing even more!

I checked out Radio Shack in my neighborhood (Cambridge) earlier today, they only had white LEDs in stock, so I'm probably going to order my setup online. Thinking I'll go with red and green up front, white in back, and red inside the cockpit/storage areas. Ordered a white pole light as well, from what I've read those are actually mandatory in Mass if you're gonna be out at night.

Walleye: My in-laws have a house on the water of one of the lakes in the Gull chain in Brainerd. My profile pic is from there a couple years ago on a rented 'yak. I'm the only guy I know that night-fishes up on that particular lake, and I've had some insane quantity nights, taking advantage of docks with weed-rollers on them. Haven't hit anything other than Northerns and Bowfin that went over 4, though. That being said, I target the Bowfin. They're a blast.

Bob: I'll have some pics I've taken of night trips from 2013 up on the site in a couple weeks. Had one night, at a lake that shall remain unnamed, during the fall that I hit 9 bass. 4 of the 9 were over 5lbs. It was a perfect storm: New moon, October, and showers moved in around midnight. Love night-fishing!