I'm sure there will be those who will say that luminous flies shouldn't be allowed. There is certainly no doubt that these "glow in the dark" lures are very effective when used for trout fishing after sunset. Rainbows are particularly curious of lumo flies as are landlocked salmon in the Canterbury high country. Browns trout will also take lumo flies and lures.
I like to fish lumo lures on dark nights around lake margins. I feel it is essential not to shine your torch on the water when "lighting up" your lure. Try placing the lure in your palm and cupping your hand over the lens. This way you also avoid looking into the light yourself and being blinded by it. After which it takes your eyes sometime to adjust to the darkness! The lure will glow for hours with one blast of the torch, but I like to brighten it up every half hour or so. Some anglers like to charge their lumo flies with the aid of a camera flash. This is a good idea if you have a small one otherwise you would have to lug a big flash around all night.
The basic idea is to maintain the same lure action after dark as you would during the day. The little darts of yellow light are what attracts a strike, so keep the lure moving.
If you are fly fishing it really makes no difference which patterns you decide to make into lumo flies. I prefer black rabbit patterns with a luminescent coating on the head only. Another method is to apply a thin strip of Aurora skirt along both side of the fly, tied in when completing the head. Again a popular Doll fly pattern can be made up with Aurora skirt strip wrapped around the body.
Fire Fly.
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For metal lures the best method is to first coat a small section of the lure with white Fire Fly paint. Over the top of this is painted the lumo mixture. This is called Lumo Kit from Leadbeater Floats, and is available from leading tackle stores. It is made up from about ten drops of lacquer or rod varnish off the end of a match then add a small amount of the powder to make a thick paste. This same mixture can be also be applied to the heads of your night fly patterns. This Lumo Kit stuff really glows brightly and only a small amount is needed. Being in liquid form it is the most versatile to use.
When retrieved in darkness it is amazing just how easily your eyes can pick up the lure as it nears the shallows. As trout will often take close in it is important to be ready to give line if an instant bust-off, or the hook pulling out, is to be avoided.
If you haven't yet tried lumo lures why not give it a go? The younger anglers in the family will find the experience great fun.
You might also be interested in these New Zealand trout lure patterns: Hope's Silvery, Mrs Simpson and Hamills Killer, the Yellow Rabbit Lure, Silicon Rubber Trout Flies, Beetle Trout Flies, Muddler Minnow, Canterbury Searun Trout Lures.
Black Phantom night fishing trout lure.
You may be interested in Trout Fishing Lake Georgina in the Canterbury high country.
Trout Fishing around New Zealand
