Charging Glow and UV

[UkeeDreamin]

I've never charged my glow or UV flashers, hoochies or spoons other than making sure they get lots of sun exposure before using. I know that some folks use black lights, high candle power flashlights and even high powered flashes or "flash guns". What do folks on here use, if anything? Considering picking up something to charge up my gear as I definitely feel UV and Glow help in some circumstances. Any and all info, recommendations and, of course, opinions appreciated.

Ukee

 

[UkeeDreamin]

Oh, and my advance apologies if this has been covered previously. My searches for UV and Glow turned up way too many results and would expect folks may have tried new approaches over the past year.

Ukee

 

[Pippen]

Buy an old flash from a camera. You can find them pretty cheap....just load it with batteries and away you go.

 

[hambone]

You only charge glow I thought.... Can UV be charged??

 

[Fish Assassin]

The flashlight on a iPhone works really well.

 

[Dogbreath]

Buy an old flash from a camera. You can find them pretty cheap....just load it with batteries and away you go.

X2-that's what I use cost less than $10 and came with batteries already in it.

http://www.leoscamera.com/

 

[Seafever]

I never bought into the camera flash idea.......sure it is bright light....but the duration /intensity is extremely short. Since Glow components accumulate and "store" light, you need to expose them to super bright light for longer than a camera flash. if it's a bright sunny day I leave the flasher surface exposed to the natural light for several minutes before I connect it.m If it's dull overcast...I use a Large LED flashlight and "Go over" the flasher slowly for about a minute until she's "white hot". Some old timers claim you can get Glow items to glow too much and there is a certain point where they glow "just right". Bunk as far as i'm concerned........the more glow the better when you need it. Not all Glow components are created equal............ some products lose their glow in half an hour, others will glow for much much longer. UV finish does not need "charging" and as a matter of fact should be kept away and out of the sun until it's going underwater. Direct sunlight is not good for UV products, especially translucent UV hoochies.

 

[demco99]

I use an LED flashlight and charge the glow gear up for a minute before dropping it just like seafever.. for the UV gear, a product called "UV Blast" has been awesome in my experience..

 

[Seafever]

"UV Blast" is a paint-on topical coating that adds UV coat to products that do not have UV. The paint-on coat lasts longer than the spray-on version. The spray-on version you have to be careful with. It can mar certain finishes bigtime. I do not like the spray-on version at all. No need to add UV Blast if your item is already a UV product.

 

[JuandeOne]

Buy an old flash from a camera. You can find them pretty cheap....just load it with batteries and away you go.

This works great and what i used to do but since i am a minimalist, the iphone flashlight is my choice.

 

[NautiGirl]

I use the camera flash on the glow. stay away from that UV blast spray. it is a serious solvent that will melt any plastic it touches along with some paint finishes and I noticed no performance gains.

 

[trophywife]

good ol flashlight on the glow stuff,, and ya that uv blast spray is nasty stuff.. ended up only using it on herring while hali bobbin.

 

[Seafever]

I noticed when I sprayed hoochies with UV Blast SPRAY, the hoochie would become sticky to touch and stay that way. The paint-on in the bottle isn't too bad on spoons etc........but tends to flake off and deteriorate after a short while. Better off just buying a UV spoon or hoochy to start with.......

 

[Dragginbait]

I bought some UV LED flashlights from ebay and Wise-Buys has them in stock now as well, around $3 or $4, they work quite well.

 

[lordofthesprings]

are uv led flashlights different from reg led??

 

[finaddict]

Buy an old flash from a camera. You can find them pretty cheap....just load it with batteries and away you go.

Yup- works excellent. I keep one in the tackle box on the boat always. Keeps em going for 10 + minutes

 

[UkeeDreamin]

I'd heard of folks using UV lights - thus my confusion regarding charging UV lures. Thanks for clarifying that info about UV vs glow Seafever, I'll keep my UV hoochies out of the sun from now on. That's what's so great about this site, always something to learn from the generous fishing community!! Will be looking for some options like a uv flashlight and/or old camera flash to maximize my glow charge.

Ukee

 

[demco99]

don't put these UV guys away in the sun boys, nothing better on a smoking hot summer's day than a UV purple haze jellyfish hootch, absolutely shines in the bright sun... deadly with a glo or glo-splatterback needlefish tucked inside.

 

[spring fever]

Use a water activated LED light in a hootchy-much more effective if you are looking to "shine"

 

[Finished Business]

I just use my deck light.