Location

• Lights will only attract fish if there are fish in the area to attract. Choosing a location is an important part of the equation, so choose your spot carefully. Fish tend to utilize structure in the water such as submerged timber, rock piles and drop-offs. Water temperature also plays an important role in locating fish. Monitor your depth carefully and consider using a GPS unit to mark your favorite spot. If you set up and don't see bait coming to the light within half an hour, pack up and move to a new location.
  
  

Number of Lights

• When you're fishing out of a boat, it is always better to have two lights than one. Utilizing a second light source creates a much broader area of light and allows multiple anglers more room to fish. When you're fishing from a dock or pier, multiple lights tend to attract more fish than a single light. Using multiple lights also presents an opportunity to experiment with different-colored lenses.
  
  

Color

• Just like selecting the right color lure can make all the difference, so too can choosing the best color light. Some colors of light travel farther under the water than others. Additionally, water clarity and weather conditions often make one color more effective than another. White, blue and green light are all good choices for attracting fish at night. Don't be afraid to experiment and change your setup; the color that worked one day may not work the next.
  
  

Depth

• It was once thought that fish were drawn to lights because they attracted insects that the fish could feed on. Traditional lights, such as lanterns, were hung just above the water's surface and did indeed attract bugs. Today, most anglers prefer submersible lights that are more efficient and versatile. Suspend your lights just below the surface, but avoid putting them any deeper than 3 feet. If you are hanging lights off a dock or pier in a tidal area, remember to adjust them accordingly as the tides shift.