NEW - Rectangular Flags

We all fish differently - and it pays to listen to and learn from other anglers!

I had my reasons for how I devised the original Orange Top Fishing flags. You can read all about that on my Thoughts Behind the Flags blog. These flags worked perfectly for what I needed.

After settling on the dimensions and format, I posted about the flags in some Facebook fishing groups - and asked folks for their thoughts about my creations. Most people had really positive things to say - which was fun to see. Some, however, posted replies about a need to be able to more easily differentiate if the flag was up or down at night. Admittedly, I hadn't thought much about that angle, as I always use tip-up lights. When my flag is up, the light shines. Easy peasy.

What I came to realize was that some folks depend on shining a flashlight to check on their flags at night. In that case, square flags looks the same, regardless if the flag is up or down. Further, after talking to the owner of a bait store in Minocqua (WI), I learned that tip-up lights are hard to come by right now - so shelves are often bare, and many anglers are left without good options.

Going back to my Facebook post, three themes emerged regarding night fishing. Some suggested having reflective borders on two or three sides, which would make it obvious when the flag was up. Others suggested that a rectangular shape would accomplish the same goal, as the reflection would show a horizontal rectangle when the flag was down and a vertical rectangle when the flag was up. Finally, some suggested adding another reflective stripe across the center of the flag, which would also make the orientation of the flag clear.

After doing some experimenting and crafting some prototypes, I landed on a solution - and have now added 3" X 4" flags to the store. This rectangular flag stays true to my original goals for my flags, while addressing the added challenge of fishing at night without a tip-up light.

Which flag should you choose? If you are like me and use tip-up lights when night fishing, the square flag (4" X 4") is your best choice, as it provides maximum visibility during daylight hours, given the larger surface area. On the other hand, if you don't use (or can't find) tip-up lights when night fishing, the rectangular option (3" X 4") is the way to go, as the orientation of the rectangle makes it easy to see when the flag is up. Want the best of both worlds? Consider some of both!

We all fish differently - thanks for sharing your thoughts on the socials, folks!

PS - Orange Top Fishing flags are customizable (more on that soon - check back for additional info in a future blog ). If you want flags with reflective borders on only some sides (e.g., just on the pole side, or just on opposite sides, or even on three sides), let me know. It's easy enough to do, as I can simply flip the silver fabric so the reflective side is hidden. Just say the word!