Smart bivvy light for night fishing – what FishSense LumiCatch does differently
In the middle of the night your bite alarm goes off, you climb out of the bivvy – and there is no light exactly where you need it. FishSense LumiCatch tackles this familiar problem: instead of a single bivvy light, you get an expandable LED lighting system for the swim and the bivvy – with dimmable light, app control, a proximity sensor and a built-in power bank.
- Smart LED fishing light: The LumiCatch Basic can be controlled manually or via the app and has a proximity sensor for automatic light.
- Modular and expandable: Support and BuzzOff poles can be paired with the Basic and controlled together.
- More than just light: USB-C, a power bank and accessories such as the LumiTripod or Lumi-Extension broaden its use when night fishing.
- BuzzOff with green light: FishSense describes a mosquito-repelling effect in the immediate vicinity for the additional green LED mode.
FishSense LumiCatch combines dimmable LED lighting, a proximity sensor, smartphone control and a power bank into a modular lighting system for long nights in the swim and in the bivvy.
❓ What makes FishSense LumiCatch special?
LumiCatch is more than a classic bivvy light. The Basic combines dimmable LED light with a proximity sensor, Bluetooth app and power bank. Additional Support or BuzzOff poles can be paired and controlled together. This lets you turn a single light source into a lighting system for the bivvy, the path, the rod area and your work surface.
FishSense LumiCatch – born from a real night fishing problem
The man behind FishSense is Bastiaan Boelens. The idea for LumiCatch came from a situation many night anglers know only too well: fumbling with impractical lamps in the dark while you actually need both hands for tackle, landing net, rig or fish.
This problem led to a system in which the light does not just hang somewhere in the bivvy. A LumiCatch pole can be attached to the bivvy, pushed into suitable ground or set up free-standing with additional accessories. That way you can position the lighting exactly where you actually need it.
The benefit really shows on longer carp sessions. At night you move between the bivvy, the rods, your work area and the landing spot – and each of these areas needs different lighting.
LumiCatch Basic – the smart LED fishing light at the heart of the system
The LumiCatch Basic is the central unit and works on its own. It combines an extendable aluminium pole with dimmable LED lighting, a battery, power bank, proximity sensor and app control.
The pole is one metre long and extends to 1.43 metres. It can be attached to the bivvy or positioned directly in the swim. The aluminium housing is splash-proof to IP45, so it is designed for typical damp conditions and rain at the waterside – not for full submersion.
The Basic works with dimmable warm white light at 3000 Kelvin. FishSense specifies a maximum output of 3 watts. You can operate it directly on the lamp or via the LumiCatch app.
Proximity sensor – automatic light on the way from the bivvy to the rods
One of the most interesting features of the LumiCatch Basic is the proximity sensor. The light can switch on automatically when you walk past the lamp.
So when the bite alarm goes off and you have to get from the bivvy to the rods, you don’t need to look for a button or a head torch first. A fixed light source can light up the path and your work area automatically.
Several LumiCatch poles can be spread out so that, for example, the bivvy, path, rods and landing area each get their own light. On awkward, cluttered banks in particular, that can make it much easier to find your way around.
LumiCatch app – control and dim the fishing light via Bluetooth
The LumiCatch app connects your smartphone to the Basic via Bluetooth. You can switch the light on and off, adjust the brightness and control several paired LumiCatch poles together.
You need neither Wi-Fi nor mobile data to control the lamps. The connection runs via Bluetooth – an important point in swims where a reliable internet connection is anything but a given.
The app also offers a catch log where you can record your catches with photos and notes. FishSense thus combines lighting control with an additional digital session tool.
Power bank, USB-C and battery life – power for long nights on the bank
LumiCatch is not just a light source. The models also have a power bank function that lets you charge a smartphone or suitable accessories on the bank, for example. The LumiCatch itself is charged via USB-C.
FishSense fits four rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries. The actual run time depends on the brightness setting. According to the manufacturer, around nine hours are possible at full brightness; at 60 per cent brightness, run time can reach up to 16 hours.
That makes the dimming function useful for energy management too: you can adapt the brightness to each area and do not have to run everything at full power.
LumiCatch Support – extra lighting for the bivvy and the swim
If one light is not enough, you can expand the system with the LumiCatch Support. The Support pole is not a standalone base unit; it is paired with a LumiCatch Basic.
Instead of operating several independent lamps one by one, you connect additional lights to the base unit. For example, you can place one lamp by the bivvy, another towards the rods and an extra light at your work or landing area.
For larger swims or sessions with clearly separate areas in particular, this is far more flexible than a single central bivvy light.
LumiCatch BuzzOff – green light mode against mosquitoes in the swim
With LumiCatch BuzzOff, FishSense adds a feature for summer nights by the water. The extension pole also has a green LED mode, which FishSense credits with a mosquito-repelling effect.
The manufacturer quotes an effective radius of roughly two metres for this function. Like the standard Support pole, BuzzOff only works together with a LumiCatch Basic.
BuzzOff also has dimmable light, USB-C and a power bank function. The key difference from the Support pole is the additional green light mode.
LumiCatch Basic, Support or BuzzOff – which fishing light do you need?
The LumiCatch Basic is always the starting point. It works on its own and forms the central unit. Support and BuzzOff are extensions and need a paired Basic.
| Model | Role | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Central, standalone LED fishing light | Sensor, app, power bank, manual control |
| Support | Additional light | Paired with the Basic |
| BuzzOff | Additional light | Green LED mode with a mosquito-repelling effect according to FishSense |
All three models have a power bank function and are splash-proof to IP45. Basic and Support work with warm white light at 3000 Kelvin; BuzzOff also offers its green light mode.
LumiTripod – a stable stand on jetties, concrete and hard ground
Not every swim has ground you can push a light pole into. That is exactly what the LumiTripod is for. The stainless steel holder uses the BFT thread common in carp fishing and can be combined with up to three standard banksticks.
This lets you position LumiCatch securely on a jetty, a concrete surface or uneven ground. Depending on the situation, the tripod can also be used with fewer banksticks.
Lumi-Extension, LumiBag and other FishSense accessories
The system can be adapted to larger bivvies too. The Lumi-Extension adds an adjustable range of 39 to 70 centimetres to LumiCatch. It is made of aluminium, weighs around 150 grams and is attached via the matching thread.
The product range also includes the LumiBag for transport and protection, plus other accessories such as the Lumi-Volt. This lets you adapt the system to different bivvies, swims and transport needs.
Who should consider FishSense LumiCatch for carp fishing?
LumiCatch is particularly interesting if your sessions regularly run into the night or you spend several nights on the bank. Then it is no longer just about having some sort of lamp with you. What matters is finding your way around, keeping your hands free and having light exactly in the areas where you are actually working.
Cooking in the bivvy needs different light from changing a rig. When you get a bite, you want to see the way to your rods, and when you are looking after a fish, you need both hands. This is exactly where a lighting system you can position and expand plays to its strengths.
If you are generally interested in carp fishing accessories for the bivvy and long sessions, lighting belongs in your planning just as much as power supply, weather protection and organisation in the swim.
FishSense LumiCatch in Austria – compare the smart fishing light live
Technical products like LumiCatch should not be judged on a product photo alone. How stable is the pole? How bright is the light? How does the sensor work? How intuitive is the app? And how much sense does a complete system make for your own swim?
At Carp Austria you can see FishSense LumiCatch up close, compare its functions and have someone explain how the Basic, Support, BuzzOff and accessories work together. With a modular tech product in particular, that is a clear advantage over a simple product photo in an online shop.
You can also compare other fishing accessories and technical gear directly at the show. On top of that, there are new products, strong show deals and selected products at unbeatable show prices.
Smart lighting instead of lamp chaos – why LumiCatch takes its own approach
LumiCatch is not necessarily meant to replace your head torch. The key difference lies elsewhere: the lighting becomes part of your swim set-up. Instead of constantly looking for or carrying a lamp, you position lights where you need them.
The proximity sensor, Bluetooth app, paired light poles, power bank and BuzzOff make this a much more comprehensive system than an ordinary bivvy light. Whether you need a single Basic or want to light your entire swim with additional lights depends on how you fish – which is exactly why a direct comparison is worthwhile.
