Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Suggestions for solar light as insect attractant?

We're in late stages of completing a "boathouse"+ dock, etc. for the pond (1/4 acre, middle TN). Gobs of insects everywhere, I regularly zap loads of flies and feed them to the gang. Makes me think I'd like to put up a light (or several?) to encourage insects to live their best life, then get zapped and drop into the water where my fish can enjoy them. I'm sure this is a thoroughly-explored idea, so I'd love to hear suggestions. I'm thinking right on the dock, wall of the boathouse (overlooks deck/pond. Thanks!

Here is a very basic thread about solar lights that seemed to work. (But no specific recommendations.)

Dock Light for Bugs - Pond Boss

Here is another one about the underwater green lights.

Underwater Green Light - Pond Boss

I think the general consensus is that the surface lights work just fine and there is no "magic formula" for the bugs.

catscratch does have a video in the second link of his bluegill eating the bugs attracted by his dock light.

P.S. I have unloaded boats at the dock after dark on many occasions. One bad thing is a light bulb right over the boathouse entrance or the walking path. Personally, I do not enjoy eating five gnats on every trip across the dock!

I would put one light low on the dock just above the water surface for my bug light. I would add another light (on a separate switch) for my working light for people using the dock after dark. I would place that bulb such that it "threw" light where needed, rather than directly above the working area. That way you don't have to eat bugs and you can retain some of your night vision and carry exhausted grand kids, etc. without a flashlight walking back to the cabin or car.

Mine is just a solar yard light (the kind you stick into the ground next to your sidewalk, in a flower bed, or facing the house. I zip-tie it to the dock facing down at the water. No "zap" to it, but bugs fall in anyway.

Great: I'll check these out.

Good advice I will follow in placing the light(s).

Exact same thing I did, I have no power at the pond but picked out several pretty good and bright solar lights that point downward and hung them at the edge of the dock, a few inches above the water and they are swarming with bugs and gnats nearly all nite.

Yeah, that sounds like exactly what I need. I'll probably do likewise.

Good idea. We have those all around our property. I'll just put a few in the bank.

Where are you in TN? My in-laws in Bradford have two small ponds ( 1/5ac ) they're letting me play with. We're also on the schedule to have a 3/4ac pond built this fall. And it's quite lucky that there's a pond fish providing biz in Milan, about 15 miles away.

I'm in Buffalo Valley, in the mountains about an hour east of Nashville; 20 minutes from Cookeville/Smithville. Bradford is about 3.5 hours away to the southeast.