My new water is shallow and clear, not fished it yet, but the tuftys are a problem apparently, I know nothing about these bird scarers, are they effective? And if so what ones do the job? Tia.
In reply to Post #1
I recently got a Merrko Tufty Torch having seen how much more effective they were than my cheap eBay version, seems pricey but it's a solid bit of kit. has a proper charging socket built in (comes with mains charger) as well so no faffing about with batteries etc. Doesn't work on all birds and at range in bright daylight practically nothing works anyway but definitely much better than the cheap copies.
I recently got a Merrko Tufty Torch having seen how much more effective they were than my cheap eBay version, seems pricey but it's a solid bit of kit. has a proper charging socket built in (comes with mains charger) as well so no faffing about with batteries etc. Doesn't work on all birds and at range in bright daylight practically nothing works anyway but definitely much better than the cheap copies.
I tried a green laser pen, was literally flashing it in their eyes and they just carried on diving on my bait. Maybe try a darker colour bait so they cant see it?
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In reply to Post #3
When I used my green laser it would rebound of the lake surface on calmer day and shoot into either the sky or the opposite bank. I scrapped it after that as I didn't feel comfortable using it this way.
When I used my green laser it would rebound of the lake surface on calmer day and shoot into either the sky or the opposite bank. I scrapped it after that as I didn't feel comfortable using it this way.
In reply to Post #3
The buggers can find a single Tiger nut. Only time you've got a chance is the 2 hours they are asleep in the summer. Feed them off in an area where no one is fishing.
The buggers can find a single Tiger nut. Only time you've got a chance is the 2 hours they are asleep in the summer. Feed them off in an area where no one is fishing.
In reply to Post #3
Tuftys can't see your bait at night, they are smelling it.
Green lazer pen for me, but dawn, dusk and night time only. Daylight is a pain.
Tuftys can't see your bait at night, they are smelling it.
Green lazer pen for me, but dawn, dusk and night time only. Daylight is a pain.
In reply to Post #1
I've got the cree torches of eBay they run on the rechargeable e-cig batteries I think they are or 3 AAA , these are fine if you get the zoomable type, I have 2 types the fixed lens is pretty useless to be honest that lives in my day bag now the zoomable type will spook tuftys in the day at least 100yds away and the odd mallard
I've got the cree torches of eBay they run on the rechargeable e-cig batteries I think they are or 3 AAA , these are fine if you get the zoomable type, I have 2 types the fixed lens is pretty useless to be honest that lives in my day bag now the zoomable type will spook tuftys in the day at least 100yds away and the odd mallard
In reply to Post #8
Are they green.. Is the general consensus that green is better than red?
Are they green.. Is the general consensus that green is better than red?
In reply to Post #2
The Merrco one is red isn't it?
The Merrco one is red isn't it?
In reply to Post #1
A few of my mates on the syndicate I fish have the red tufty torches...they work very well 👍
A few of my mates on the syndicate I fish have the red tufty torches...they work very well 👍
In reply to Post #8
Have you got a link for the zoomable one please.
Have you got a link for the zoomable one please.
In reply to Post #12
I've found one that looks very similar to mine on ebay, I did get mine from China about 4 or 5 years ago now though but at less than a tenner worth a go, item no 403045471752
I've found one that looks very similar to mine on ebay, I did get mine from China about 4 or 5 years ago now though but at less than a tenner worth a go, item no 403045471752
In reply to Post #13
Just ordered one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A100-Red-Green-Blue-White-Light-Flashlight-outdoor-Hunting-Tactical-Zoom-Torch-/403045471752?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Just ordered one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A100-Red-Green-Blue-White-Light-Flashlight-outdoor-Hunting-Tactical-Zoom-Torch-/403045471752?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
In reply to Post #2
I use this , and have tried another one from ebay, the merko one works a lot lot better than the one i bought from ebay. A green lazer pen is used as a last resort if there is one stubborn bird out there , A group of tufties freak as a pack with a flash of the merko torch , but as mentioned other birds are not fazed by it, but might be moved on by the lazer. I would say the merko one is expensive but it does do the job very well and is solid. Ive used mine for about a year on one charge of the battery.
I use this , and have tried another one from ebay, the merko one works a lot lot better than the one i bought from ebay. A green lazer pen is used as a last resort if there is one stubborn bird out there , A group of tufties freak as a pack with a flash of the merko torch , but as mentioned other birds are not fazed by it, but might be moved on by the lazer. I would say the merko one is expensive but it does do the job very well and is solid. Ive used mine for about a year on one charge of the battery.
Many thanks for all replys and advice, I am most likely going to get the 'tufty torch', bit of a shame they are less effective for coots, but I'm assured they definitely spook tuftys.
I use a green laser pen, it gets rid of coots, swans, mallards and tufties in dull light, although daytime, can be a bit 'hit or miss'..
Something I found this week, I was holding it under my Praktica Sport binoculars and it meant it was pointing directly towards the particular bird, so I could aim very accurately as I hit the trigger.
Gets rid of a whole swarm of tufties at once, and coots and swans do swim away in a hurry.
Something I found this week, I was holding it under my Praktica Sport binoculars and it meant it was pointing directly towards the particular bird, so I could aim very accurately as I hit the trigger.
Gets rid of a whole swarm of tufties at once, and coots and swans do swim away in a hurry.
In reply to Post #17
What make of lazer pen are you using? Thanks.
What make of lazer pen are you using? Thanks.
In reply to Post #18
Reference Thread: 07 May 2022 20:26:39In reply to Post #17
What make of lazer pen are you using? Thanks.
It was an ebay special.
I just found the box, can't find a manufacturers name on it.
Only details it has on it, "USB line, USB interface Laser Pointer".
Got a feeling it might be a naughty item...
Reference Thread: 07 May 2022 20:26:39In reply to Post #17
What make of lazer pen are you using? Thanks.
It was an ebay special.
I just found the box, can't find a manufacturers name on it.
Only details it has on it, "USB line, USB interface Laser Pointer".
Got a feeling it might be a naughty item...
Just make sure you avoid the blue...it has a knack of revealing dodgy and incriminating stains .......
Look into one of these myself am I right in thinking the carp life one is the same as the tufty torch?
In reply to Post #7
Technically you cant smell under water as you need air
Technically you cant smell under water as you need air
In reply to Post #22
True, but they can smell the air above the water where the food smell is emerging. Maybe they also have another technique...
I saw a video of how otters smell underwater, they put their nose against a fish and blow a tiny air bubble and then sniff it back in so the bubble is never separated from its nose.
True, but they can smell the air above the water where the food smell is emerging. Maybe they also have another technique...
I saw a video of how otters smell underwater, they put their nose against a fish and blow a tiny air bubble and then sniff it back in so the bubble is never separated from its nose.
In reply to Post #1
Phase 1 - Red LED torch like the tufty scarer but at a fraction of the price. On it's own can be very effective but not every bird is affected by it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233806039368?var=533480898453&hash=item366fed0948:g:7mUAAOSw8xphnL9E
Phase 2 - Green laser seems to work better than red I've found. You know where to aim this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125185870488?hash=item1d25a8ca98:g:E~0AAOSwzI5fyLAJ
You'll need to get 18650 battery for the laser.
Yes, they can be relentless. ...So you may need to keep on your toes... If they see you bait up or can see the bait in the water they can be more difficult to move on but then again sometimes they flee with the red torch and don't come back for hours, just another flash of it and they go again.
Please be respectful of anglers fishing opposite .
Phase 1 - Red LED torch like the tufty scarer but at a fraction of the price. On it's own can be very effective but not every bird is affected by it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233806039368?var=533480898453&hash=item366fed0948:g:7mUAAOSw8xphnL9E
Phase 2 - Green laser seems to work better than red I've found. You know where to aim this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125185870488?hash=item1d25a8ca98:g:E~0AAOSwzI5fyLAJ
You'll need to get 18650 battery for the laser.
Yes, they can be relentless. ...So you may need to keep on your toes... If they see you bait up or can see the bait in the water they can be more difficult to move on but then again sometimes they flee with the red torch and don't come back for hours, just another flash of it and they go again.
Please be respectful of anglers fishing opposite .
In reply to Post #23
The olfactory senses of ducks/tufties are missing for one, and technically when diving they hold their breath so they won't be smelling anything. They rely on sight and have significantly better vision than we credit them for.
The olfactory senses of ducks/tufties are missing for one, and technically when diving they hold their breath so they won't be smelling anything. They rely on sight and have significantly better vision than we credit them for.
In reply to Post #25
I did say they were smelling the food from above the water, not below
You can clearly see tufties approaching an area of bait from downwind, they will circle, then centre on the bait and then dive.
I did say they were smelling the food from above the water, not below
You can clearly see tufties approaching an area of bait from downwind, they will circle, then centre on the bait and then dive.
In reply to Post #24
Thanks for your help, opposite bank is no fishing, and farm land behind, so safe there 👍
Thanks for your help, opposite bank is no fishing, and farm land behind, so safe there 👍
In reply to Post #27
Ohh, dear... I forgot why I avoid this place. Thanks for the reminder.
Ohh, dear... I forgot why I avoid this place. Thanks for the reminder.
In reply to Post #17
Can you send a link please..
I need one urgently 🙂
Can you send a link please..
I need one urgently 🙂
In reply to Post #30
Ahem..
Ahem..
In reply to Post #30
I just did an ebay search and this looks exactly like the one I got:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154988194956
I just did an ebay search and this looks exactly like the one I got:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154988194956
In reply to Post #1
I bought this one relatively recently after witnessing the original (and much more expensive) merrko working well on my lake. Takes the same battery size as my vaper and comes with a mini USB charging dock so convenient etc
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233806039368?var=533480898453
TBF the product looks exactly the same and dare I say it from the same factory? Either way it works well during full sunlight and tufties def don't like it / also works on some but not all mallards. . . . . .coots / grebes don't seem to be bothered; swans get vaguely annoyed and slowly turn away but still come back once you've stopped aiming it at them . . .
I bought this one relatively recently after witnessing the original (and much more expensive) merrko working well on my lake. Takes the same battery size as my vaper and comes with a mini USB charging dock so convenient etc
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233806039368?var=533480898453
TBF the product looks exactly the same and dare I say it from the same factory? Either way it works well during full sunlight and tufties def don't like it / also works on some but not all mallards. . . . . .coots / grebes don't seem to be bothered; swans get vaguely annoyed and slowly turn away but still come back once you've stopped aiming it at them . . .
In reply to Post #33
Not having a pop but I bought one of these on a recomendation and has no effect on birdlife on several lakes I tried it. I think you need the zoomable higher lumens (20000+) type which are difficult to find in stock on ebay.
Not having a pop but I bought one of these on a recomendation and has no effect on birdlife on several lakes I tried it. I think you need the zoomable higher lumens (20000+) type which are difficult to find in stock on ebay.
In reply to Post #34
This one works as stated on my water - used it on Sunday during bright sunshine - you need to aim like a sniper in their faces and wiggle it about; tufties flap off pronto
This one works as stated on my water - used it on Sunday during bright sunshine - you need to aim like a sniper in their faces and wiggle it about; tufties flap off pronto
In reply to Post #24
I've got a red torch (Carplife) for tufties and a green one for coots. I've found on my waters that Tufties aren't bothered by green but definitely are by red and vice versa for coots.
I've got a red torch (Carplife) for tufties and a green one for coots. I've found on my waters that Tufties aren't bothered by green but definitely are by red and vice versa for coots.
In reply to Post #32
Just ordered one .
Just ordered one .
In reply to Post #37
Me too..🙂
Me too..🙂
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