Do fish really see color

[dick tabbert]

Does color really matter   Part 1 Clear Water
Here is my take or opinion on the subject of color.
Clear water 1’ to 12’ and crystal clear (gin Clear) water 20’ and beyond.  The key word here is Clear and crystal clear-gin clear. Your lure colors are more visible in the upper water column of clear water due to the clarity of the water and light penetration. Light penetration is the biggest factor and can change the way fish see the lure although not as big a factor in our clear water lakes.
In these conditions natural baits work best but still may change and as we go deeper in depth as the sunlight rays change. The light changes the way fish see our lure. The biggest thing that may change the lure color or the way fish see the lure is full sun, intermitting clouds and overcast and something we rarely think about the angle of the sun across the water. One rule of thumb is to fish with multiple colors. I always fish at least 2 colors and 3 if possible.
Nighttime is another story. Fish can see shadows not color although the full moon may help as far as color is concerned but not very likely. Remember a darker color will have a darker shadow. This is a time when you would want to fish lures that may rattle or blade clanking together or bait that would have a lot of vibration. Fish hear using their lateral line. With any clanking, rattling, or vibrating baits the fish can zero in on the target then fine tune when it sees the dark shadow.




 

[dick tabbert]

Does color really matter   Part 4  Tannic Water
Here is my take or opinion on the subject of color.
Tannic waters are harder to fish than stained water due to light penetration. As a rule tannic water intimidates most angles and they tend to stay away from it. Although the water is tannic the color of dark tea it is easier to fish than muddy waters. There are tannic water a weak tea color to almost black. The lighter the tannic acid content the easier it will be to catch fish. Now is where the bait fisherman shines over a lure fisherman. Again the fish uses all his senses to locate his prey with sight being the least affective because the suns rays and light penetration. The suns rays can not penetrate far beneath the water surface and how far it does penetrate depends on how dark the water are. In the extreme upper water column the lure will cast shadows with maybe some colors being visible by the fish if the water isn’t to severely dark. When fishing tannic water it may be a safe bet here to use dark lures if that’s what you intend on using is a lure. Sound and smell are for the most part the most affective senses that the fish can use in tannic water a safe bet here for using scent attractions and baits with extreme vibration. Again with our modern electronic all we have to do is spoon feed them that’s when the live bait fisherman shines. If you can get your baits close to where the fish are chances are good if he’s hungry at all he will be biting on your baits. Don’t let the tannic water intimidate you fish do live there and they do eat the key is like everywhere else we fish is locating them so next time your out there and you happen to come across tannic water do yourself a favor and give it a try.

[dick tabbert]

Part 4 Tannic waters, do fish really see colors

[dick tabbert]

Worth at looking at again we have many new members.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Really awesome, Dick. A helluva a contribution. If we have a "sticky" section where such things are collected, this thread belongs there.

Either way, it will end up in my files :-)

Thank you, Sir Dick.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Very interesting read Dick.....my least favorite water to fish is stained.....at home fishing tannic waters and always consider it a must to trigger any and all of the fishes senses....smell, sight and vibration through the lateral line......that's why I fish a combination artificial/live bait more times than not....Low water temperatures slow me in the Carolinas more than any other factor.....Can catch fish on any moon, ahead or behind a front, extremely high water temperatures around the 90s and changing water levels......below 55 degree water temperatures remain my biggest challenge in the mid-atlantic......

[dick tabbert]

Thank you David. Wanted to get that out there before I forgot it like I have forgotten so many things before. I know we have many young people out there in the learning mode. Knowledge is a valuable thing and when we carry it over and get to use it most times it pays off. It's an interesting subject to say the least. We know the fish are always there and do eat and we know they use all of there senses to achieve there goal relying on which sense or senses works the best for the different scenarios presented  Because there environment is not controlled they use all or part of there various senses to survive . Hearing (vibrations in the water) sight and smell and when it's all tuned and they get lucky then taste.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

And you have at least one old fart that still don't know much - me!

I know I appreciate this.

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Jeffrey. It is interesting subject mater to say the least and most of us don't realize what senses the fish have let alone them having to use them to survive. It's something they have to master or suffer the consequences which is death.

[Badgerloader]

I am very fortunate because my usual haunts range from clear to stained - no tannic water and muddy water only in rivers at certain times of the year (easy to avoid).  My lure selection always starts with something "buggy" (dull brown, tan, olive, black) on at least one line because I'm usually after gills or crappie.  Since we are allowed three lines, I use two "opposite" colors on my two remaining lines.  After the fish tell me what they like, I switch to two lines with the "liked" offering and the third with a complete opposite offering.  If the day starts sunny and then turns cloudy, it is common for pannies to quickly change their preferences.

[dick tabbert]

You are very fortunate to say the least. In our area in Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan all off our big lake are in a river systems and after a rain can change from clear to muddy in a mater of hours/days and this is especially true of Ohio being that 95 percent of our lakes are man made and depending on rain to keep the rivers flowing and the lakes full.

[wag]

 

      Very  good  info ----- THANKS  

      I'm  one  of  them  who  don't  like  tannic  water.   

      The  water  PH  is usually on the low side (5.5 to 5.9) 

     

[dick tabbert]

Hope this may help you. It's still the fishes environment and like everything they have to eat to survive. I think the hardest thing we have to contend with is we can't see the fish so we have a hard time locating them but with our wonderful world of electronics that's a thing of the past so much so we all need to practice catch and release or our children and grandchildren won't have the resource and enjoyment that we enjoy today.