Dock Light

[craddockcreek]

Looking for advice on installing a dock light to attract baitfish.  I've got a fair number of options on my dock.  I'm up just south of C2 in case that's relevant.   Any advice would be appreciated but the questions that come to my mind are

how far off the surface.   At what depth (I could put one at between 8 and 25 feet (plus minus for pond adjustment).  What wattage and/or type.  (Hunting spot light, regular light, construction type light).   Should I make it mobile to adjust to the seasons?
Does it matter based on the type of bait you want to attract?   
Ive got a pretty clean slate to work with so any help is appreciated.  Promise to report back as to productivity and anyone is welcome to catch off of it if you are up that way.  

[smlmike]

I have a 500watt halogen that I hang of the pilings pointed towards throwing area when bait is needed. Works 99% of the time.

[piper]

Check with your local power supplier...which I assume is AEP. I know they will come install a "security" light for no charge in which you pay for the monthly power usage...just a thought. If this isnt an option Id say get the brightest you can afford. Remember Halogen are pretty sensitive and bulbs go fairly quickly (IME) If it were me Id install some nice outdoor flood lights you can control with a switch

[leeb]

Most important tip before installing any light is making sure that the bottom of the lake is clean in that spot so I (you) will not rip a cast net.

Second - 8 foot works until the lake gets low - If fishing the light is your main priority put it in the deep. If catching bait is your priority 12 to 15 feet is nice. It will still be deep enough if the lake gets low and shallow enough that you will not have to throw a super big and heavy net to get the big bait from the bottom.

[deerview]

A spot light is important. I am in craddock creek also and I use a simple adjustable fixture with a very high wattage spot light (not flood light). I have tried several types of bulbs, but stronger the light with the light focused on a certain spot has been the best for me. My light is about 10' off the water. The water is about 12' deep with a clear bottom. Let your net go all the way to the bottom before you start pulling it in.

good luck

[craddockcreek]

Just what I was looking for guys--I appreciate it.

[jb4sml]

I have a double spot on one pole and a 500 watt halogen on the other side of the dock. There are times when all the fish are around the spot and none around the Halogen. But more often they are around the spots. I also attached the lights on a board then with two adjustable metal bands to the poles so I can swing the lights into the dock to change bulbs and move them out of the way or move them up and down. This works great when the lake drops. One of my neighbors has a light that sits 3 feet off the bottom that is on a timer. This also works well and is great for night fishing you can see the fish going after your bait. This light is quite expensive but a hoot to watch the fish at night.. Hope this helps..

[piper]

You could always go this route...underwater lighting

www.amazon.com/LED-Puck-Underwater-Boat-Light/dp/B009AB8FH0

[getlinewet]

I use a 150 halogen light located in the rafters above an empty boat slip. I turn it on about 5 pm. By 6 pm alewives are crawling all over the place. I use a 5 foot net (I know I'll be criticized for the small size), but every throw harvests several dozen ales. My problem is how to use them. I haven't caught any stripers downlining with ales over the last month.

[mwardncsu]

Nothing wrong with a 5' net if the bait is dense. More is not always better when catching bait - too many in the net and they knock the scales all off each other.

What size ales are you catching?

[getlinewet]

Very big ones lately Mike (8"+), twice the size of the ones I was netting in the spring. This is my first year at SML and I have gobs to learn about the lake. For instance, in the spring and fall the ales would come in in the morning. Fishing off the dock as well as the bay during the day and afternoon yielded fantastic results. Now the ales don't come in until the evening. I have to think some stripers would follow them in eventually. My guess is that the stripers come in late evening give or take. I bought some glow in the dark tape I'm going to add to some rods and I thought I'd leave a pole out during the night to see what happens.

[mwardncsu]

Love those big ones This time of year the bait seems to come in to the lights not long after dark before the surface cools that much more as night falls..

[CorneliaGale]

Think a flood light off the end dock at the station would bring in any bait? Thinking about putting one there for next year, since I will have the boat and a camper down there next year.

[mwardncsu]

Jan 7, 2014 22:09:36 GMT -5 CorneliaGale said:

Think a flood light off the end dock at the station would bring in any bait? Thinking about putting one there for next year, since I will have the boat and a camper down there next year.

How deep is water at the end of the dock? I'm sure you'll get bait at least certain parts of the year...... summer might get slim pickings if its not real deep.... well at least for alewive - the gizzards will probably like it. Let me know when you have it setup up

[CorneliaGale]

Right at the end of the dock, I'm thinking 12 foot or so, drops off right good being on the point. Will take a look at it when it warms up a little more and take a reading or two and see, guess I could look at a map of the lake and see what it says. Would a constant burning one or one on a timer work best. I'm thinking the constant one, so you could always just pull up and throw, not have to wait.