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Kayak bass fishing: Quick 360 light

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Make a 360-degree light to fish after dark safely and, in many states, legally. My young fishing buddy, Mitch Sanders, showed me one that he and his dad, Todd, made for just a few dollars. Mitch had a slimmer conduit pipe from another home project that the LED bulb fit into; I made one with a 5-foot section of 1 1/4-inch black plastic plumbing pipe. The larger-diameter pipe fit perfectly into a tackle crate rod holder — no rattling around. I plan to add some reflective tape and a flag. <p> <em>All captions: Dave Mull</em>
Make a 360-degree light to fish after dark safely and, in many states, legally. My young fishing buddy, Mitch Sanders, showed me one that he and his dad, Todd, made for just a few dollars. Mitch had a slimmer conduit pipe from another home project that the LED bulb fit into; I made one with a 5-foot section of 1 1/4-inch black plastic plumbing pipe. The larger-diameter pipe fit perfectly into a tackle crate rod holder — no rattling around. I plan to add some reflective tape and a flag.

All captions: Dave Mull

The key component is a Diamond Visions COB (Chip On Board) LED light, which I found at a local big-box home-improvement store for $3. Three AAA batteries were included, as was a magnetic base.
The key component is a Diamond Visions COB (Chip On Board) LED light, which I found at a local big-box home-improvement store for $3. Three AAA batteries were included, as was a magnetic base.
Remove the light from the base and “waterproof” the COB LED with a sandwich bag. Press as much air out of the bag as you can.
Remove the light from the base and “waterproof” the COB LED with a sandwich bag. Press as much air out of the bag as you can.
Fold and wrap the plastic bag opening around the base and tape it in place with about 5 inches of friction tape. Place a 3 1/2-inch strip across the light’s bottom to hold your ring of tape in place when pushing the light into the pipe.
Fold and wrap the plastic bag opening around the base and tape it in place with about 5 inches of friction tape. Place a 3 1/2-inch strip across the light’s bottom to hold your ring of tape in place when pushing the light into the pipe.
Carefully work the bottom of the bulb into the pipe — until it fits snugly.
Carefully work the bottom of the bulb into the pipe — until it fits snugly.
Add another ring of tape to take some wrinkles out of the bag. Not the slickest DIY project for your yak, but for about $10, it can keep you legal and safer when fishing between dusk and dawn. Plus, it’s considerably brighter than many kayak lights that cost $50 or more, most of which have much shorter posts.
Add another ring of tape to take some wrinkles out of the bag. Not the slickest DIY project for your yak, but for about $10, it can keep you legal and safer when fishing between dusk and dawn. Plus, it’s considerably brighter than many kayak lights that cost $50 or more, most of which have much shorter posts.

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