September 03, 2013
By Dan Johnson
Nighttime is the right time to target a variety of species, from walleyes to catfish. And when you need to suspend bait above bottom, lighted and glow-in-the-dark floats are invaluable strike indicators. No need to cast a fish-spooking flashlight beam across the surface to check your bobber. Plus, you always know where your rig is. To help anglers find the best bobbers for night fishing and their style of fishing, we reviewed the options and rounded up 10 top picks for lighting up the night.
Billy Boy Catfish Fanatic Lighted Flo-Glo Bobber Built for cat fans looking to dangle beefy livebait, this ultra-buoyant, 3-inch foam float also shines for most any nocturnal fishing mission requiring a large, lighted bobber. Illumination is provided by a Flo-Glo Light Stick inserted in the top. Each bobber comes with four Light Sticks, which may also be purchased separately. Other nice touches include extra weight to boost casting distance, and a bottom-mounted, clip-on design, allowing the bobber to be fished as a slip or fixed float. $4.99.
bettstackle.net
E.B's Lighted Reversible Slip Bobber There's a lot to like about this slick slipbobber. Dual internal switches and multiple options in LED lights let you choose between six different lighting colors, which is handy whenever you deploy more than one bobber and want to keep track of which one's which. Powered by four replaceable lithium batteries, it's durable and resists leaking. Available in 1- and 1.25-inch diameters. $12.91.
ebsbobbers.com Gamakatsu Fire Tip Powered by a gutsy lithium pin battery, the Fire Tip lives up to its name, yielding light visible at up to 100 yards under the right conditions. We also like the soft rubber tip and high-impact plastic body, which are extremely durable. While Gamakatsu once offered the tail-finned Night Flyer and a larger size option in the Fire Tip, these are out of production, though with persistence you can still find them at some tackle shops and online. The remaining production model, the 4¼-inch Fire Tip, floats 1/5 ounce of weight, and is a great option for panfish and walleye rigs not requiring major ballast. Gamakatsu promises that replaceable batteries, which it produces, last more than 24 hours. $17.84.
gamakatsu.com
Little Joe Nite Brite Lighted Pole Float Thanks to time-tested Nite Brite technology, this top-shelf, center-slip balsa float fires up 20 times brighter than most conventional lighted bobbers. We also like the replaceable E.L. battery/light combo, which is easy to turn on or off by simply pushing or pulling its moveable top. Perfect for presenting oversized livebait to trophy catfish and other large predators, the float is available in 6-, 8- and 10-inch sizes, in weighted and unweighted options. $5.84-$8.91.
lindyfishingtackle.com
Mr. Crappie Lighted Flo-Glo Bobber This little hard-foam float is a top option when you need a small, sensitive bobber for panfish. Available in 3 sizes: 1¼-inch round, 1½-inch pear, and 2½-inch cigar, all of which may be fished as slip or fixed floats. Comes with four high-vis Flo-Glo Light Sticks, which are inserted in the top of the bobber, one at a time, of course. $4.99.
bettstackle.net
Rod-N-Bobb's Lucky Jack Lighted Bobber Easy to see and easy to use, the Lucky Jack relies on a replaceable light/battery stick that offers up to 21 hours of runtime and may be switched on and off to conserve juice. Available in four sizes, 4¼ through 5¼ inches, and three light colors. $8.49.
rod-n-bobbs.com
Tackle 2000 Night Stalker Rocket Bobber Glow bobbers eliminate the need for batteries or light sticks, and this one is a hit. The Night Stalker brings the easy-casting properties of the original Rocket Bobber to the table, along with a fine glow after just two minutes of charging with any common light source. Fishable fixed or as a slipfloat, it also features a slit in the top that doubles as a hook disgorger on small fish. Available in 4¾- and 6¼-inch sizes. $3.50.
tackle2000.com
Thill Nite Brite An iconic option for the night shift, the versatile Night Brite center slider features a replaceable E.L. battery-and-light combo that makes it easy to turn on the light. Just unscrew the high-vis yellow cap and push in the battery top. When you're done fishing, simply pull it back out. Available in 4- and 5-inch sizes with red, green, and yellow light options. May also be fished as a fixed float. $7.69.
lindyfishingtackle.com Thill Splash Brite Ease of use is amazing with the fully automatic Splash Brite, which lights up when it hits the water. No buttons or batteries, just cast it out and the bobber does the rest. The built-in battery lasts over 30 hours, after which you have a great daytime slipfloat. Available in three sizes, capable of suspending 1/16-, 1/8-, and 3/16-ounce cargos. We also like the premium brass grommet, which aids line flow and wards off nicks. $5.79-$5.89.
lindyfishingtackle.com Rod-N-Bobb's Revolution X Lighted Bobber Rod-N-Bobb's expanded their night game with the new Revolution X series, which blends premium, vintage balsa bobber designs with the company's 1.5-inch Beacon Lightsticks. Available in ½-inch pencil, 7/8-inch oval, and 1-inch oval shapes that may be fished as slip or fixed floats. $3.99.
rod-n-bobbs.com
