Does anyone use a spot or flood light to shine out on the water when banking for cats at night? Would it be beneficial or detrimental to the fishing?

I have a couple old security lights I was thinking about mounting to my dock.

I've often wondered about this. The old timers say light shining in the water will spook catfish, but I don't know. Maybe someone will have an answer. I do know I use as little light as possible at night because of bugs.

Lights draw bait, and bait draws....? I do most of my catfishing during the daylight hours anymore. They don't seem to mind the sunshine, so i guess a little spotlight isn't gonna bother em either..

Usually, the bugs are worse the first hour after dark, if you have a light on.

As for Yellows (big ones), they do not like coming to the surface, especially during the day, and also if you have a powerful spotlight on them at night (dark).

Usually light from a campfire, or the old Coleman lantern at your back at a little distance to give just enough light to reflect off your rod in order to detect a bite, as well as help when it comes time to re-bait, or land a fish.
White rods can be seen from some distance with minimal light.
You could mount those lights on poles right at the point where your dock joins the shore so while fishing on the dock the light is at your back and far enough away to keep the bugs off you, but close enough to draw in the shad toward the light.

I Find any color other then green attracts bugs. Mostly mosquitoes, nats and beatles.

I've also heard that a light will attract snakes, but I can't verify that. I do know that fish splashing around on a stringer is a dinner bell for snakes.

I�ve got overhead led lights on my boat for night fishing. Used them 3 nights ago yella catting. Fish didn�t cooperate but I bagged a double bag limit of mosquitoes in about an hour. Needless to say, it got real dark on my boat the rest of the night. Loved the old red Coleman lanterns when I was young! I think the smell and low hissing sounds they made were a magical fish attractant...

Can�t say it affected anything the other night.

On or off I didn�t get a bite.

I personally prefer setting up lights shining out on the water to attract baitfish that will in turn attract a variety of fish. I just wont sit close to them so the bugs only become a problem while reeling in fish.

That is true, JJ4MEL. Bugs didn�t bother me at all.

Hey Tommar, how you been!? Anecdotal... I have been on several boats and my kayak where the green LED's brought in small to medium sized Yellows.

Been good but you know where I live. I�m NOT night fishing from my yak or boat!

I won't bank it at night with lights in the spring/summer/fall unless I am wearing my breathable chest waders and one of these:

Bugshirt




Best 75 bucks I ever spent. Bugs just bounce off no matter what I want to use for light, and it's extremely cool/breathable.