Before it gets too hot out, and to beat everyone else to the water, you set out for fishing trips before sunrise with all your gear in tow. Or maybe you prefer to wait until the sun sets before heading out for night fishing. Either way, you need a reliable light to see in the dark, up close, and at a distance.

Fishing headlamps light up the water while keeping your hands free and your attention focused on the task at hand. Having a proper light source can become the deciding factor between going home with dinner on a hook and going home with nothing.

You have plenty of Fenix headlamps to choose from, each with its own unique features. Which are the best fishing headlamps, and which features are best for the open water?

What Makes a Headlamp Good for Fishing?

  • Waterproof body
  • Red light mode
  • Rechargeable
  • High lumens
  • Snug headband fit

We’ve got a list of three Fenix lights that check all the boxes for a good fishing headlamp: the Fenix HM50R V2.0, HM60R, and the HM65R. Before you see whether the fish are jumping, see what makes these fishing headlamps tip the scales in your favor.

HM50R V2.0 - If You Are Looking For Compact & Lightweight Fishing Headlamps

While sitting on a bobbing boat or wading into the water, you may make constant minor adjustments to your center of gravity to stay balanced. Wearing heavy or bulky fishing headlamps is simply a no-go if it means sacrificing your equilibrium. 

The Fenix HM50R V2.0 is a small, lightweight headlamp you may forget you’re wearing when it’s not activated. Once you put the light’s perforated headband over your head, it stays in place. You can look down into the water without worrying about the headlamp coming loose and jumping ship.

The most unique feature of the HM50R V2.0 is that you can quickly remove the light from its headband and use it as a right-angle flashlight. Easily clip the light to your fishing vest for forward-facing light to use while hiking to your honey hole or tying on your favorite lure. 

The HM50R V2.0 blasts a maximum of 700 lumens across a distance of 377 ft (115 m). You can easily see how far to cast your line and where, so it doesn’t get caught on something. Aim the beam where you want it with the headlamp’s 180° lighting angle. Redirect the light before looking down at the water, so you don’t blind yourself accidentally, and aim it away from others on the water, so you don’t blind them too.

Speaking of preserving your vision, this fishing headlamp includes a red light mode for up-close tasks like baiting a hook.

HM60R - If You Want Durable, All-Purpose Fishing Headlamps

fenix hm60r headlamp fishing

We’ve all experienced that heart-skipping moment when an electronic device or fragile item teeters over the edge and threatens to plummet into water or onto a hard surface. You hope to experience a sigh of relief as the object resettles itself, but sometimes, gravity claims the item first. 

The Fenix HM60R is not only submersible underwater, but it also withstands intense drops. Trust this fishing headlamp to continue lighting up the water after taking a few unexpected bumps or dips. The HM60R also withstands sand, dust, and dirt in the water or on the ground.

Use the glove-friendly switch to activate all the headlamp’s lighting modes. The spotlight brightens long distances, ideal for navigating your boat. When you need to see which lure to use, to attract the right fish, use the floodlight to render colors accurately. To bait a hook without harming your fingers or vision, switch to the red light.

HM65R - If Your Are Looking For Rechargeable, High-Lumen Fishing Headlamps

fenix fishing headlamp hm65r

When the fish are biting and the water’s gorgeous, fishing trips may go longer than planned. If you have plenty of gas for your boat, bait for hooks, and space for a bigger haul, you don’t want to have to pack everything up just because your headlamp ran out of batteries.

The Fenix HM65R has a rechargeable battery with a 280-hour runtime on low floodlight mode and a 90-hour runtime on low spotlight mode. You can also power the headlamp with two 3V/CR123A batteries, giving you even more options for extending fishing trips for as long as you like. No matter which power source you use, the fishing headlamp’s battery level indicator shows you how much power you have left. 

Other than options for powering the fishing headlamp, you also have options for using the floodlight and spotlight. You can use the lights independently or combine them and use them simultaneously. Together, the light sources throw a combined maximum of 1400 lumens. If the weather takes a turn and visibility on the water’s reduced, the powerful headlamp easily cuts through the gloom to help you navigate safely.

The best fishing headlamps make your time on the water more enjoyable and boost your confidence in your fishing skills. These are only a few of our headlamps designed for fishing, but we have a full collection of headlamps for everything from running to work for you to explore.