I tried the ping pong ball on the end of a maglite, but it looked a little dim for really getting out on a public lake. I've seen posts that Scotty's were expensive and not worth it. so what is a good "light on a stick" for a kayak?

Yeah I was wondering that too, something I could rig and make it nice and stable. Possibley something that is removable during day light hours.

My rigging is great just the light itself doesn't quite cut it. I mounted a Ram ball on the deck just behind and to the left of my seat so I can reach it but it'll be out of my backcast. I took a telescoping cane like a man with a bad leg mighi use. I fitted another Ram ball to it. At the other end I slipped on a piece of hose leaving about 2 inches sticking out to slip the MiniMagLite in. When not in use it lays down next to my crate out of the way. When in use I just adjust it vertically at whatever height I choose. It's a neat rig, just kind of dim.

I use a sea light that i bought from Academy for less than $10. I mount it on a 3\4 inch PVC and then mount it in my crate. I can remove it during the day and store it in the hull. You can see this little light for 2 miles. Runs on AA batteries, I just keep extra in the kayak just in case.

This shows the PVC

This shows the mounting of the light

This is the inside of my crate with the 45 degree PVC to mount the light into

This is the light mounted

I have the same setup as Steve but the regular pole and flag Scotty sells with it. I have it mounted behind my seat, and it seems to work pretty well.

Here is the best light to put at he top of your PVC pole, http://www.tek-tite.com/src/product_info.php?id=3065

nice setup guys

steve,
why did you do the 45

I actually did the 45 because it can come out of my crate and slide down in one of the flush mount rod holders behind my seat. This way if I decide to just take a big cooler instead of my crate I can still use my light. I have the two rod holders up front now and that would leave me with one still behind my seat. I had to shave down the 1 1/2 inch PVC to fit in the flush mount rod holder tight. But works great.

If i could have found a 30 degree fitting it would have made the light pole stand verticle, however, this set up actually puts the light above my head and gives me a little extra light when changing lures in the dark. I use a head light as well.

I'm so going to have to steal your set up there texas steve. Though I don't have a crate in my kayak ill just have to put it in a pole holder untill after dawn is all I'm thinking. Night fishing might be different if I get a chance to go but ill deal with that when it happens

So I'm just curious but why not make your own light using a normal bult, a bulb outlet, and run the wire down the PVC to your battery or a battery box of its own that hold AA or something? seems to me it would be way cheaper than buying a premade light. Its not that I dont see the convince in the premade one but I have seen yalls kayaks and know you are very much DIY kind of people, but nobody has a home made 360 light it seems. Just kinda odd to me.

i decided on the C light because it can fall in the water and not be harme. It was less than $10. The rest of mine is DIY. I would like something i could run to m bttery that is powerng my FF and just mount an on off switch, but i rarely go out after dark so not sure how much I would use it.

how do you keep it from spinning in the rod holder?

I took a 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe and shaved/carved it down so it is an extremely tight fit in the rod holder. Takes all I have to get it out each time. No spinning at all.