Updated: October 2026. Glow Float sizes and price checked on the live product page Oct 16, 2026.

Glow in the dark bobbers, the short answer: use a Gapen Glow Float when you need a tip you can see after sunset. Charge the glow tip with a UV light (a regular flashlight also works), set Slip-N-Lock for slip, hang a light jig or bait under it, and fish crappie, bluegill, and perch in the dark. From $3.60 in sizes 6", 7", 8", and 9".

Below: glow vs plain floats, a night panfish slip setup, a short charge tip, size picks, and when to leave glow for another float. For the full Slip-N-Lock deep dive, see our Glow Float Slip-N-Lock guide.

What are glow in the dark bobbers?

Glow in the dark bobbers are floats with a tip that lights up after you charge it, so you can track the float after dark or in low light. On gapen.com that product is the Gapen Glow Float. The product page lists Glow-in-the-Dark Technology, premium balsa, a fiberglass core, high impact finish, Slip-N-Lock (slip or fixed), and a tip meant to sit high above the water so you can see it after sunset or before sunrise. Header chip on the page: Night: Glow.

The shop packs and ships from State Center, Iowa. Gapen Slip-N-Lock floats are imported. Breakage guarantee: one year under normal fishing -- return to The Gapen Company, PO Box 385, State Center, IA 50247.

Daniel Magara (Jamestown, NY) wrote on the product page, "these are the best floats." STEVEN ORTH (Lyle, MN) left "Great service." Six reviews sit on the page as of this draft.

Glow vs plain floats -- which should you buy?

Pick glow when the tip has to stay visible in the dark. Pick a plain Slip-N-Lock float when you fish daylight or you already have a headlamp on the float and want a different body shape.

	Glow Float	Plain Gapen floats (Anne, Pencil, Crappie, Panfish, Bream)
Tip	Glow tip; charge with UV or flashlight	Painted tip; no glow charge
Best light	After dark, dusk, dawn, stained water at night	Daylight and clear water
Parent price (Oct 16, 2026)	from $3.60	from $4.40
Sizes on Glow	6", 7", 8" (Add $0.15), 9" (Add $0.30)	Varies by model
Lock	Slip-N-Lock	Slip-N-Lock on the same line

Shop judgment: if your night bites come on docks, weed edges, and brush piles, buy glow first. If you mostly fish sun-up to mid-afternoon, start with a plain body such as the Bobber Anne or the larger Panfish Float, and add a Glow Float for the evening session.

How do you set a night panfish slip float?

This is the night slip setup. Keep it simple so you can change depth without retying in the dark.

1. Thread a float stop and a bead. Put a Gapen float stop on the line, then a small bead. Wet the line above the stop so it slides clean.
2. Attach the Glow Float with Slip-N-Lock. Open the side slot, set the line in, and leave the sleeve partway for slip. Push the sleeve all the way only when you want a fixed float.
3. Add a light swivel, then a short leader. Six to 18 inches is enough for most panfish hangs. Use a small jig, a minnow, a wax worm, or a piece of crawler.
4. Set the stop for the depth you want. Cast past the cover, then reel until the stop hits the float and the bait hangs at that depth.
5. Watch the glow tip. A slow lean, a twitch, or a tip that slides under means set the hook.

For a full crappie slip-bobber walkthrough (day or night), see our slip bobber for crappie guide. For every Slip-N-Lock sleeve step and cock angle on this float, use the Glow Float how-to.

How do you charge a glow tip?

Charge the tip before the first cast. Hold a UV flashlight on the tip for a few seconds. A regular flashlight works too; UV just loads it brighter. Recharge when the tip fades. That is the whole tip -- our Glow Float Slip-N-Lock guide covers the rest of the float setup in detail.

Shop judgment: charge two Glow Floats at the start of the night and swap if one fades while you are on a bite.

What bait or jig hangs under a night glow float?

Keep the hang light so the float can cock and show soft bites.

Hang	When it fits night panfish
Small jig + minnow or wax worm	Crappie and bluegill on docks and brush
Plain hook + live minnow	When fish want a still bait under a set depth
Small piece of crawler	Bluegill and perch on weed edges
Light jig alone	Clear water and pressured fish

Shop judgment: start with a 1/32 to 1/16 oz jig under a 7" Glow Float. If the float lays flat, the hang is too heavy -- drop jig weight or move up a float size.

Which size for night panfish -- 6", 7", 8", or 9"?

Live sizes on Oct 16, 2026: 6", 7", 8", and 9". Parent price from $3.60. The 8" adds $0.15; the 9" adds $0.30.

Size	Price note	Night panfish use (shop judgment)
6"	from $3.60	Calm docks, light jigs, bluegill and small crappie
7"	from $3.60	Default night panfish size for most Midwest ponds and lakes
8"	Add $0.15	Light wind, a slightly heavier jig, or bigger crappie
9"	Add $0.30	Choppy water, longer cast, or a heavier bait that needs more lift

Larger floats hold better in waves and wind. Smaller floats show soft bites sooner. Start with 7" unless the water or bait tells you otherwise.

When should you leave the Glow Float in the box?

• Bright midday on clear water. A plain tip is easier to see in sun glare, and you gain nothing from the glow charge. Use a Bobber Anne or Panfish Float.
• Heavy current on a river bottom. A float is the wrong tool; use a bottom walk / current rig instead.
• Fish tight to thick weeds where any float hangs up. Flip a small jig without a float, or fish the open edge only.
• You need a bottom presentation in current. Switch to a Bait-Walker or another bottom rig instead of forcing a float through the flow.

Shop the Gapen Glow Float

Gapen Glow Float, from $3.60. Sizes 6", 7", 8", and 9". Glow tip, Slip-N-Lock, balsa body, fiberglass core, one-year breakage guarantee to PO Box 385, State Center, IA 50247.

Gapen Tackle, a family shop in State Center, Iowa. Related guides: Glow Float Slip-N-Lock, slip bobber for crappie, Bobber Anne, Panfish Float.

FAQ

What are glow in the dark bobbers?

Floats with a tip you charge so you can see them after dark. Gapen's version is the Glow Float with Slip-N-Lock, sizes 6" to 9", from $3.60.

Glow Float or a plain Gapen float?

Buy glow for night and low light. Buy plain (Anne, Pencil, Crappie, Panfish, Bream -- from $4.40) for daylight. Many anglers keep one of each.

How do you charge the tip?

Point a UV flashlight at the tip for a few seconds before you fish. A regular flashlight also works. Charge again when the tip fades.

Slip or fixed at night?

Slip for brush piles, channel edges, and any depth you want to change without retying. Fixed for short dock hangs. Sleeve partway = slip; all the way = fixed.

What size Glow Float for crappie at night?

7" is the shop default. Move to 8" or 9" in wind or with a heavier bait; use 6" with a light jig on calm water.

Where is the full Slip-N-Lock guide?

How to Fish a Gapen Glow Float covers sleeve steps, cock angle, and low-light tactics in more depth.

Are Gapen Glow Floats imported?

Yes. Gapen Slip-N-Lock floats are imported. The shop in State Center, Iowa packs orders and honors the one-year breakage return to PO Box 385, State Center, IA 50247.