Lighting systems in your portable fish house

[Fawkinnae]

The lighting in my Clam portable at night is not very good - because it gets dark out. I have a couple of electric lanterns that I set by the hole and that's about it. What I think would be ideal is a light I could hang overhead that would provide some decent light. Others must have dealt with this and I'm wondering what some of the better solutions are?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[101PROOF]

I used propane light hung from the middle and then I used a sportsman rechargeable flash light with the extra side light for the holes.

This worked great for years but after purchasing the Honda generator if I do use the portable I just hang a flood light that lights up the inside.

With the propane light you need to make sure if you purchase the BIG ONE watch out for heating up the canvas, alot of heat comes off the top.

[sjohnnie26]

They make rope lights that plug into a 6V battery like the ones most fish locators run on.  My brother has them wrapped around the top poles in his portable.  They don't put out a ton of light but if you had them with your lanterns you'd be set.

[JoeFisherman]

My daughter gave me this led light for my ice house.  5" diameter runs on 4 AA batteries.  It's amazingly bright.  Much better than my propane lantern.  You can operate it with just the 4 center lights, the outside ring of lights, or all the lights.  I'm not sure where she got it though.  Probably Fleet Farm.  I'll ask next time I see her. 

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[MTCOMMER]

I have seen that with my lanterns, the higher I hang them, they dimmer the light gets, so I put the lanterns by the hole.  Last night I went out when it was dark and I used my battery powered latern and put it by the one hole and I use an LED headlamp so the light is constanty on the ice hole and my pole.
My headlamp has an LED white light setting and a red light that I use when im just jigging, its bright enough, but not overwhelming.
Ive always had to fight with lighting, it usuaully sucks, but i finally found a working process.

----Joe, That light looks like a nice one, I might have to look into one of those!

[BiggA]

My daughter gave me this led light for my ice house.  5" diameter runs on 4 AA batteries.  It's amazingly bright.  Much better than my propane lantern.  You can operate it with just the 4 center lights, the outside ring of lights, or all the lights.  I'm not sure where she got it though.  Probably Fleet Farm.  I'll ask next time I see her. 

I seen a light just like that at Walmart last week was not sure how bright it would be.

[JoeFisherman]

I was surprised how well it worked.

[thunderpout]

Ive gone thru two of the type like Joe's.... they're not very durable.. but they're cheap....(but I hate cheap stuff that take a crap in the middle of using it... I learn pretty quick ) I personally like using a good headlamp like mtcommer brought up with those 12v led rope lites over head for general lighting... but I have a one man trap... if I had a two man or larger, I would just add one of those small one mantle coleman propane lanterns for next to the hole(they pack up small/the size of your fist :happy1:and only $20) again as mtcommer said.( I can tell he's been thru it all as I have ) A good multi setting headlamp is crucial though.... for me, that is as important as my flasher.....

[7outof10]

i got led strips from best hong kong . com or something like that just google it use the water prooth strips they work really good but they do take a while to get 2-3 weeks most of the time i got them in my portable and my perm !!!

[Fawkinnae]

Thanks for all the great feedback.
I'm inclined to see if I can track down the flying saucer light that Joe Fisherman suggested. I like that it's really bright and has an option of setting it to various bright settings.

[thunderpout]

They had two versions of those at Fleet Farm earlier this season... $8 & $15 I think..... Id have some kind of a back-up though.... had two of them take a permanent dirt nap on me half way through outings.....

[boogityn]

I have an eskimo quick flip 3 and I bought an 18 foot led light strip. I ran it on the poles that are just above the door. so it wraps around the inside of the house. mine is 110. I have my 95 dollar gen.set in my truck. will not go back to a lantern. light strip was 8 bucks at fleet farm.and no the generator does not effect the fish.