If you are purchasing our AlumiGlo FlounderPro 2850 (30W COB) or any of the AlumiGlo FlounderPro 8550 lights, you are given the option of choosing a Color Temperature of 3000K or 5000K. A lot of people ask us which is better, halogen lights or LED lights…hopefully this article will help clear up some of those questions and will help you decide which color would best for you.
Halogen or LED?
Let’s face it, halogen lights have been around a long time and change can sometimes be challenging for us old timers who are set in our ways. But to be honest, the type of lamp you are using (Halogen or LED) isn’t a factor, the color temperature (Kelvin) of the lamp is what’s important. Hopefully, the information below will help you understand how important it is to match the LED (Kelvin) color to the clarity of water you will be fishing in.
We have manufactured and sold millions of halogen lights including our StarFire II, AquaStar and Magnum halogen lights for more than 42 years now but President Biden recently signed an executive order which will prohibit the manufacture, sell, or importing of any incandescent bulb…including halogen bulbs after 12-31-22. So, while halogen lights may be your favorite light, they are a thing of the past and you won’t be able to purchase bulbs for them after the end of 2022.
Which Color Should I Choose?
The primary reason some people prefer halogen lights over LED lights is because halogen lights allow you to see better in stained water. When buying a ‘White” LED light it is important to look at the color temperature of the light. Not all “White” LED lights are the same. Most white LED lights are rated between 3200K (kelvin) and 8000K which can make a big difference in visibility which fishing. Most incandescent lamps including halogen lamps have a color temperature rating in the 3200K range which is much more yellow looking than the standard white LED is usually around 5000K. The 3200K range tends to work better in stained to dirty water while 5000K works better in moderately clear to clear water. The reason for that is because stained to dirty water has a lot of mud or algae particles floating around in it which is why it is stained to begin with. When you shine a bright white light into stained water, the light reflects off the mud and algae particles which prevents the light from penetrating the darker water. Lower color temperatures such as 3200K is about the same color as the stained water, so you get less reflection and better visibility. I tell people, fishing in stained or dirty water is like driving in the fog. If you turn your bright lights on in the fog, the light reflects off of the fog particles, making it harder to see in front of you. Low beams, and the yellowish color fog lights which is a lower color temperature, tend to cut through the fog much better. The same holds true when fishing in stained water with lights. With that said, the whiter lights work much better in moderately clear to clear water and will illuminate the bottom much better.
You can find a lot of different articles and opinions on the internet pertaining to which color temperature is the best color to use for gigging and bowfishing, but typically, lower color temperatures in the 2700K to 3200K range work best in heavily stained and muddy waters and mid-range color temperatures in the 5000K to 6000K range work best in moderately clear to clear water. 85% of our customers purchase 5000K lights which works best in most waters, however if the water in your area is extremely stained or muddy, you may want to consider using a lower color temperature. Just remember, the lights will look much yellower and will not look as bright when compared to the higher color temperature lights, but they should provide better overall visibility because there will be less glare from reflection. If you are fishing in moderately clear to clear water, color temperatures in the 5000K to 6000K range would be your best option.
We want to thank Alan Hults for taking and sending us some great pictures of a flounder gigging rig he made using (6) FlounderPro 2850 (30W) COB lights. He, like many of our other customers was curious which color temperature would work best for him…3000K or 5000K. The attached pictures show (3) 3000K lights and (3) 5000K lights side by side, which may help you decide which color would work best for you. The water Alan was fishing in was moderately clear and he said he preferred the 5000K color to the 3000K, however, we do have some customers who fish in much dirtier water who prefer the lower color temperature. With that said, the majority of lights we sell are 5000K and do work the best in most waters, but with these pictures you can decide for yourself.
