Thread: Color

I have been reading about color and whether it attracts fish or not. I have also read that fish are color blind (don't know how they test for that).

What are your thoughts on color for lines, leader, flash, etc. Is there a difference? Or does it make a difference?

Most fish do see in color... Don't know where you received your information, but it is wrong.

What Do Fish See?

Scientists really do not know exactly what fish see, or in other words, what images reach their brains. Most research on the vision of fish is done either by physical or chemical examination of different parts of their eyes or by determining how laboratory fish respond to various images or stimuli. Making broad generalizations about a fish’s vision is complicated by the fact that different species may have different vision capabilities and that laboratory results may not represent what happens in the real world of an ocean, lake, or river.

Physical studies of the eyes and retinas of fish show that the majority can obtain a clearly focused image, detect motion, and have good contrast-detection ability. A limited number of experiments have shown that a minimum level of light is necessary before a fish can recognize colors. Another finding, but one that needs more study, is that some fish favor a specific color. This point may contradict or affirm your own fishing experiences, but remember that the attractiveness of your fly is a combination of many things, including its motion, shape, and color, as well as the scents in and depth of the water.

Most fish have an adequate sense of vision, but this is usually not so impressive as their sense of smell and ability to detect vibrations through their lateral lines. Fish usually use their sense of hearing or smell to initially perceive their prey, and then use their vision only in the final attack. Most fish can see in low-light conditions or dirty water, and a few can see objects over moderately long distances. Fish such as tuna have especially good vision; others less so. Fish are usually nearsighted, although it is believed that sharks are farsighted.

The majority of fish have developed eyes that will detect the type of colors typical of their environment. For example, inshore fish have good color vision, whereas offshore pelagic fish have limited color vision and detect only a few if any colors other than black and white. This is not surprising from an evolutionary point of view, because nearshore waters are lit with many colors; offshore waters, on the other hand, are mainly blue or green and contain few other colors.

The actual ability of a specific color to attract or even repel fish has fascinated both anglers and scientists. While there are no uniform answers, scientists have conducted experiments on this interesting question. For example, studies of sticklebacks during their spawning season have shown that males, which then have bright red coloring on their bellies, become very aggressive to decoys that also have bright red bellies. Similarly, decoys with extended bellies, which look like females carrying eggs, attract the males. But it isn’t that simple: it wasn’t just the case of a perfect decoy imitation, but rather the color or shape of the decoy. In addition, it was noted that a passing red car, seen from the fish tank, also excited male sticklebacks.

dont use gold swivels when i first started king fishing i probably had half a dozen kings turn on my bait because of them then a guy told me i needed to throw out that gold swivel because that was my problem and sure enough i got one after that

Good info ! Thanks ! Always looking to learn .

[quote author=Shore Thang link=topic=2781.msg25138#msg25138 date=1362240964]
What are your thoughts on color for lines, leader, flash, etc.
Is there a difference? Or does it make a difference?
[/quote]

My personal preference is to shy away from coloroured lines.
I started out using Stren (which had a flourecent quality) and noticed fish turning away from it.
I went to clear Ande and have not experienced that as often.
Flourocarbon leader seems to be even better, but it is prohibitively expensive IMHO.

Line and leader diameter does make a difference (at times) as the fish can undoubtedly see (and feel?) line in the water especially when it is moving.

Swivel and hook size seem to make a difference too.
I try to use ONLY as large as I have to get the job done.
Same with weights (when applicable). Fish see it moving and 'hear' and/or 'feel' a weight hit the water,
especially in clear & calm conditions.

Odd thing anglers seem to 'preach' using black swivels and bronze hooks, but in bright backlit situations (like king fishing on a sunny day) that dark colored terminal tackle is contrasted against the bright sky and I've seen fish turn away because of that too.
On sunny days I like to use silver colored trebles ;-)

I appreciate the quote. I read the color blindness information in a copy of Field & Stream! I thought it should have been myth, but wanted to ask some experts. The leader, and swivel advice...I have heard that down here in good old gulf shores. For line, I have one spool of clear and one spool of green, so I can switch on and off.

Personally, I AM color blind. I need the addition of color to catch the contrast when I fish.

Thanks for the advice. Now if you can only get the weather to turn!

That's one of the main advantages of using colored line, the ability to quickly spot your own line or multiple lines when fishing from a boat. Helps with the depth perception making it easier to estimate range and distance. Most rigging techniques call for some sort or leader attachment to your main line therefore it shouldn't matter.

I prefer it in offshore applications but don't use it targeting inshore species, I try to eliminate any possibility for a future "excuse"

Is "long distance release" an excuse or a fish health tactic? :yay:

[quote author=Shore Thang link=topic=2781.msg25285#msg25285 date=1362413681]
Is "long distance release" an excuse or a fish health tactic? :yay:
[/quote]

Both ;-) LOL