There are a lot of conversations and opinions on the topic of fish vision, and there are even very interesting publications of authoritative specialists. The fact that fish perceive ultraviolet rays as color, distinguishing them from others, is already a proven fact. If we remember that ultraviolet penetrates deeper than other rays, it turns out that fish eyes are able to identify most geometric shapes. The choice of food baits by fish is significantly influenced by their shape and color. But if it’s more or less clear with the forms, it’s enough to find out what kind of forage fish is present in the reservoir, then here’s how to choose the right color for the bait, everything is somewhat more complicated. To reflect on this topic, here are a few tables from the studies of American specialists.
How water depth affects the visibility of lures with several contrasting colors. 
How water depth affects the visibility of different lure colors 
Comparison of the visibility of colors in calm and waves 
Best bait color choice for use in muddy water 
If these studies are to be believed, in a nutshell, fish see better in descending depths of blue, light blue, chartreuse, yellow, and combinations with contrasting colors. But if you haven't noticed that the white (eyes) looks more and more prominent at all depths. White is actually a great color for many lures!
And here are the Scandinavian surveys in the waters of the Baltic and a visual photo of the visibility of different and even well-known colors of lures at depths of up to 6m taken under normal lighting conditions. I apologize for the quality of the photo, I took it from a magazine there it is exactly the same ... You yourself understand that color pictures would change if they were also made in different conditions transparency or, for example, when the sea is rough.
In any case, those who catch or are going to go fishing in the Baltic, it would be useful to take a closer look, I assure you it will help with the choice of lures ...
And one more useful picture from the Internet on the vision of fish, specifically pike....
It is believed that among vertebrates, all bony fish, bright colors often competing with flowers and plumage of tropical birds, some amphibians (tropical frogs, toads, axolotl) and reptiles (agama, turtles, lizards, geckos, snakes).
A number of regularities in the operation of the color receptor were studied precisely in the study of the retina of the eyes of fish (very similar to the retina of primates) and reptiles, and not on the human retina. Previously, work on the study of color vision in fish was carried out using multi-colored feeders, colored stripes, etc. Then special spectrophotometric equipment came to the aid of ichthyologists, which was not slow to confirm that fish really distinguish colors! Moreover, the color of the surrounding objects for fish is important. Therefore, from a scientific point of view, those anglers who claim that, for example, the color of a fishing line or bait for fish is not important, are fundamentally mistaken!
Although not only fishing enthusiasts, but also scientists are not entirely unanimous in their assessment of the color vision of fish. Some researchers have found that fish perceive color in the same way as humans (only fish, unlike us, are not aware that red is red, etc.). And another part of the researchers believe that fish have an even greater range of perceived color waves compared to humans! So, no matter how anglers try to choose the ideal color of the bait, the human eye is still not like the fish eye and, perhaps, we don’t perceive the most optimal and attractive color for fish at all ...
Fish of some species can perceive polarized light, which contains ultraviolet rays, such light is perceived by many birds and insects, but humans do not notice it. But this is a very important point for fishing practice. What is polarized light? Normally, natural light waves oscillate in all directions, but often after reflection from certain surfaces, most of the light radiation oscillates in one direction, such light is called polarized in that direction. So far, there are preliminary studies that in turbid water, perches (experiments were carried out on largemouth bass) can see objects at a distance three times the human visibility zone!
It should be noted that not all fish are able to see polarized light. In fish that do not have this feature, the visibility zone and the ability to distinguish colors in murky water is approximately the same as a human's - about 40 cm in murky water. And if the fish distinguishes polarized light, then its visibility zone in muddy water can exceed one and a half meters! Moreover, fish that perceive the polarization of light can navigate by the sun even on cloudy days. The reason for discussions about the ability of black and yellow perches, trout and salmon to see polarized light was the ability of these fish to navigate long-distance migrations.
Studies have shown that largemouth bass can see colored objects at a much greater distance than humans. Anglers have known for a long time that predatory fish with developed eyesight perfectly bite on baits at night or in heavily turbid water. Why is this happening? Perhaps this phenomenon is related to the perch's ability to determine the polarization of light? If so, this explains why perch find prey in unfavorable conditions. It has been proven that the green dory fish sees polarized light. And the structure of the eye of the black perch is similar to the structure of the eye of the dory. We don't have much information, but it's possible that zander also have the ability to perceive polarized light. And, for example, in pike and some other fish, the structure of the eyes is different, but they can also determine the polarization of light. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have designed a device that uses polarized light to locate objects in murky water. But studies of the ability of fish to perceive colors, polarized light, ultraviolet rays are technically difficult to implement. We don't expect evidence to come out soon about whether fish can see ultraviolet, polarized light, etc.
What color of fishing line is better to choose?
However, many manufacturers of fishing lures claim that their products reflect ultraviolet and polarized light. Such statements play a role when anglers use transparent lines, which often act as a kind of light guide. So far there is little information, but most likely various perches should react to “reflecting” baits and fishing lines different fish, salmon, trout and many other fish species, which have so far been little studied in this regard.
Well, now we will analyze specific colors and the attitude of fish towards them in order to make the problem of choosing the color of the fishing line less painful ... It should be borne in mind that representatives of the Pisces class have significant morphological and anatomical differences among themselves, including in the structure of the visual analyzer (in other words, in the structure of their eyes). So, fish "in general" distinguish colors, but in comparison with humans, their eyes are more sensitive to warm colors, that is, to yellow, orange and red. And if you are going to attract fish with the color of the bait, then these colors are certainly welcome. But a fishing line of this color will simply scare many fish. Here the color of the surrounding background of the fish also plays a role, just like ours, the red fishing line will merge with the reddish environment, for example, in water bodies where timber is rafted, or on peat lakes. It should be clarified that everything written concerns mainly freshwater fish, since for marine the color of the fishing line is much less important.
In freshwater bodies of water, red, yellow and orange fishing lines are clearly visible to fish even in very turbid water, since the red-yellow color corresponds to light with a longer wavelength and it is less scattered by particles of turbidity (suspension). Green, blue, bluish fishing lines are less noticeable, because, depending on the illumination of the reservoir, they often merge with the water and the sky reflected in it. Fish tend to be less wary of these colors and your line will get less attention. But this applies to pelagic and coastal fish. If you fish at great depths, where the light is low, then any fishing line will be less noticeable there, and this must be taken into account. The perception of red lines by fish extends to a depth of approximately 5 m. According to ichthyologists, a white line will be clearly visible to fish both at depth and at the surface, this color frightens the fish, and they perfectly identify it. The only exceptions are very cloudy days.
The next factor to pay attention to when choosing the color of the fishing line is the season. In winter, on water bodies that are covered with ice, the vision of fish is more sensitive to colorful and bright fishing lines. Yes, and in the open water season in conditions of poor visibility (in cloudy weather, muddy water, etc.), fish are well attracted by any light and bright baits, but such a fishing line is frightening. Thus, in winter season, given the peculiarities of the color vision of fish, an ordinary monofilament fishing line, transparent, colorless or slightly bluish, would be preferable. With such a fishing line in winter, you are likely to catch perch, roach, and silver bream.
If you are going to catch fish that live at a greater depth (for example, pike perch), then for them braided fishing line(excluding bright fluorescent) will not be noticeable. In summer, the conditions are more diverse, and it is difficult to give unambiguous recommendations for choosing the color of the fishing line. In summer, the fishing line is selected based on the color of the water of the reservoir, the presence of vegetation, the color of the bottom, etc. In muddy water, the color of the fishing line is not decisive for masking gear, but this is not always an axiom. Therefore, in the summer, be sure to focus on the specific fish that you are going to catch.
So. bream and other shy fish will take the bait more easily if the line is transparent, colorless (but does not transmit light from the surface of the water). Dark fishing lines in muddy or cloudy water are hardly noticeable to ide, silver bream, bream, perch and some other fish. And for catching carp and carp, a dark, even black color of the fishing line is preferable!
These were all peaceful fish, which are more sensitive to color perception in general and fishing line in particular. Although visual acuity itself predatory fish much higher. But here other biological laws come into force, first of all, different feeding strategies, when “peaceful” fish have the opportunity to examine their prey, while predators are more spontaneous, besides, they are less shy and cautious. That is, when catching predatory fish, you can not choose the colors of the fishing line so carefully, but only if you are not looking for asp (except for periods of fattening). This cautious fish has very sharp eyesight, and asp can be caught only on the thinnest lines that do not stand out in color against the background of the reservoir.
Ichthyologists have found that pike perch is excellent at recognizing and identifying all yellow objects (and most likely colors of a close spectrum), so when catching this fish, avoid yellow lines even on ponds with a yellow sandy bottom. Another important moment for both predatory and peaceful fish. Regardless of the color of the fishing line, it is important that it does not reflect the sun's rays in the water and does not scare the fish away. It would seem that. ideal in terms of invisibility for fish, transparent fishing lines, on the contrary, can scare them with their reflection of light from the surface of the water. That is, on bright and especially sunny days, a transparent fishing line acts as a light guide, which is very sensitive to the vision of almost all types of fish.
Now the Japanese have begun to produce transparent fluorocarbon lines that have a refractive index similar to that of water (for example, lines from Kureha). These monofilaments are almost invisible to most fish. The dark (rather nickel-black) color of some lines (for example, Nexave Extra strong from Shimano) also helps to get rid of the "light transmission" of the fishing line. However, they will be clearly visible to fish in clear water in the coastal zone and near the surface, but for deep fishing this is a very good option. In addition to color, the diameter of the fishing line is also important for the visual perception of fish. Here the rule is: the thinner the fishing line, the less the fish eye notices it.
We must not forget that the color affects the strength of the fishing line. The most difficult color in this regard is black. Therefore, when choosing black fishing lines, try not to save money, but buy proven products from well-known manufacturers. Unfortunately, so far ichthyologists have studied color spectra in a limited number of fish (and most of the species studied in this regard are very exotic for us). So the recommendations of our scientists are often based on fishing experience too. Do not be afraid to experiment with the color of the fishing line, comparing and analyzing factors such as the season, lighting, the color background of the reservoir and the bottom.
Although their sensory experiences differ from ours, they are no less interesting and varied than those of higher vertebrates. And, of course, the full development of these organs is connected with the habitat of fish - water.
1. Vision.
The value of vision is not so great among aquatic inhabitants compared to terrestrial ones.
It's connected, Firstly, with the fact that with increasing depth, the illumination decreases significantly, Secondly, very often fish are forced to live in conditions of low water transparency, Thirdly, the aquatic environment allows them to use other senses with much greater efficiency.
Almost all fish have eyes located on both sides, which provides them with panoramic vision in the absence of a neck and, as a result, the impossibility of turning the head without turning the body. The low elasticity of the lens makes the fish myopic, they cannot see clearly at long distances.
Many species have adapted their vision to highly specific habitat conditions: coral reef fish not only have color vision, but are also able to see in the ultraviolet spectrum, some fish that forage from the surface of the water have eyes divided into two halves: the upper one sees what is happening in the air, the lower one - under water, in fish living in mountain caves, the eyes are generally reduced.
2. Hearing.
Surprisingly, fish have excellent hearing despite their lack of outward signs. Their hearing organs are combined with the organs of balance and are closed sacs with otoliths floating in them. Very often the swim bladder functions as a resonator. In a dense aquatic environment, sound vibrations travel faster than in air, so the importance of hearing for fish is great.
It is a well-known fact that a fish in the water hears the steps of a person walking along the shore.
Many fish are able to make various purposeful sounds: rub scales against each other, vibrate various parts of the body and thus carry out sound communication.
3. Smell.
The sense of smell plays a significant role in the life of fish.
This is due to the fact that odors spread very well in water.
Everyone knows that a drop of blood that has fallen into the water attracts the attention of sharks located a few kilometers from this place.
Including, with the help of the sense of smell, salmon going to spawn find their way home.
Such a subtle sense of smell is developed in fish due to the fact that the olfactory bulb occupies a significant part of their brain.
4. Taste.
Taste substances are also perfectly distinguished by fish, because perfectly soluble in water. Taste buds are located in them not only in the oral cavity, but also throughout the rest of the surface of the body, especially a lot of them on the head and antennae. For the most part, the taste organs are used by fish to find food, as well as for orientation.
5. Touch.
Fish have ordinary mechanical receptors, which, like the organs of taste, are located mainly on the tips of the antennae, and are also scattered over the skin. However, besides this, fish have a completely unique receptor organ - side line.
This organ, located along the middle on both sides of the body, is able to perceive the slightest fluctuations and changes in water pressure.
Thanks to the lateral line, fish can receive information about the size, volume and distance to distant objects. With the help of the lateral line, the fish are able to go around obstacles to avoid predators or find food, and maintain their position in the school.
6. Electrical sensitivity.
Electrical sensitivity is highly developed in many species of fish. It is an excellent addition to the sense organs already listed and allows fish to defend themselves, find and get food, and navigate.
Some fish use electrolocation for communication, and thanks to the ability to feel the Earth's magnetic field, they can migrate over very significant distances.
I decided to take a walk on the topics on the Internet The color of the bait or what the fish sees in the water. Here is what I found, I put one topic for you to review, if there is an opinion of other authors, we will be happy to get to know them.
What can be seen in the water Or does color matter?
Probably, there is no angler who would not ask himself such a question. Indeed, what do we know about it? Is it worth it to put so much effort into depicting scales, fins and various spots on the bait with maximum accuracy, characteristic of the species that it is designed to imitate? If so, how and with what efficiency does its color affect the predator's interest in it? In other words, are the huge amount of colorful artificial lures on the shelves of our fishing stores just a trap for our wallet or are they really necessary?
Each of you, dear colleagues, must have heard such stories: on this lake, the pike takes only on a yellow "wobbler", on the other - it reacts only to a silver one, and, for example, on this stretch of the river, a wobbler must have a blue back - on a black-backed you will never catch a decent chub here.
As a lure manufacturer, I am often asked questions about this and expect professional feedback. Let me comment on these stories, but from the standpoint of not a manufacturer, but an ichthyologist who tested such assumptions in practice and believes that from a scientific point of view they are quite justified.
Scientists have been studying fish vision for over 100 years, and anglers often nudge them into research by providing interesting practical information. But, nevertheless, this process is still only partially understood, and it is not known whether the time will come when our knowledge will allow us to accurately imagine what image appears in the brain of a pike when we see our bait.
And yet we know quite a lot about it, for example-
What happens to the light afterpenetration into the aquatic environment
Everyone knows that white light consists of a spectrum in which specific colors correspond to waves of a certain length. The human eye detects the following components of white light, in order from longest to shortest wavelengths: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo and violet.
Light behaves differently in water and in air. Water is said to "filter light". First, you should know that light loses energy when it penetrates deep into the water. This is due both to the reflection and scattering of part of the waves from the surface, and to their late absorption. Individual colors are absorbed as the depth increases. In the process of penetrating into the depths of the water, warm colors fade and change to gray-black. At a depth of about 3 m, the red color first disappears, then orange, and the yellow begins to fade quickly. At a depth of about 20 m, yellow looks like green-blue, and only blue, blue and violet remain unchanged for the eye. Purple disappears at a depth of 40 m.
However, it should be remembered that these data are approximate and refer to the waters of a crystal clear lake. Any turbidity of the water caused by organic matter, which is often found even in clean water bodies, as well as the swaying of the water surface, drastically change these numbers.
Light energy disappears with increasing depth, so yellow at a depth of 10 m is still perceived as yellow, but its intensity will be much less than at a depth of 3 m. In a clear lake at a depth of 3 m, red color will still be noticeable, but here in a muddy river, it will “turn” into black already half a meter from the surface.
The discussion on whether (and to what extent) the color of artificial lures affects the results of fishing should begin with a brief analysis of our knowledge about the vision of fish. I have heard many times that anglers doubt that the effectiveness of lures depends on their color. Therefore, we are interested, first,
Do fish see the world in different colors?
Since we already know that even dogs have great "problems" in distinguishing between most colors (yellow and blue are best), then fish that are at a lower stage of development, most likely, should not distinguish any colors. . Well, it's not like that at all! Ichthyological studies have irrefutably proven that most species of fish are distinguished by all the colors that a person sees, and some even more! Of course, different fish species have completely different possibilities for distinguishing colors, this also depends on the natural conditions of the habitat (water transparency and light intensity). The eye of a fish is similar to that of other vertebrates. The main role in the process of vision is played by the retina, it is in it that the receptors that react to light are located. These are two types of photoreceptor cells, which consist of so-called rods and cones. The rods receive messages of low intensity, and the cones act in strong light. Cones are responsible for distinguishing colors, just like in vertebrates. In humans, for example, there are three types of cones that are responsible for recognizing the three primary colors - red, green and blue. The retina arranged in this way allows us to distinguish more than 300 thousand shades of colors.
The structure of the fish eye retina depends on the environmental conditions.
Diurnal fish have many more cones in their retinas, so they are much better at seeing colors than nocturnal species. Fish that live in shallow and well-lit areas have four or even five types of cones (eg trout) and can therefore capture more colors than humans (eg ultraviolet). In fish whose eyes are arranged with two types of cones, the ability to distinguish colors, respectively, is more limited (for example, in zander).
Fish living in low light conditions have only one type of cone, and their retinas are characterized by a large number of rods and a small cone. For example, in burbot their ratio is 200:1. Deep-sea fish, as well as some river species known to our anglers (for example, catfish) do not have cones at all. The eyes of these fish are very sensitive to light. They hardly distinguish the details.
The maximum sensitivity of the eye of a fish to light depends not only on its species. This parameter can vary greatly within the same species when adapted to specific conditions (for example, life in the dark).
So, we found out that fish, for the most part, distinguish colors better than humans. How important is this for us anglers? In other words -
Will using baits of different colors increase the chances of a good catch?
Based on studies of the biochemical processes that take place in the retina, as well as experiments in fish training, one can try to imagine how different fish see our baits (see Fig.).
In order for a predator to “buy in” on our baits, he must first capture this bait with his own eye. To do this, it is necessary that it stands out against the background of the environment. This is especially important in low light conditions.
At great depths, where only the remnants of light penetrate, white and silver will be more contrasting against a green-blue background. good effect It is also obtained when using textured foil, which reflects the remnants of light in different directions.
Surely, some special color or color combination that is perfectly visible, for example, against the background of a sandy bottom, will not be just as well visible against a dark bottom or at depth. And, probably, this should be followed when choosing a bait, because most predators detect the presence of a potential prey near them precisely because they see a contrasting object that stands out against the background of the environment. It depends on several factors: the time of day, the type of bottom, the transparency of the water, the amount of light entering this place, etc.
As we have already defined, the color is an important factor, affecting the detection of the bait. Is it the most important? We must remember what is based on catching fish with artificial bait.
The bait imitates the food familiar to the fish; at the sight of it, the predator mobilizes a feeling of hunger. Is this the only motivation to attack? One of the famous Polish writers (passionate fisherman!) once wrote that some baits are so beautiful that fish, grabbing them, express their admiration for the skill of human hands. After all, fish do not have hands - therefore, they “applaud” with their mouths!
Whether the predator attacks the bait or ignores it is based on a number of factors. The fish evaluates the size, shape and method of movement of the object. The sound coming from the object and its smell are also important, and it is quite possible that some other factors that we have no idea about. The more of these factors a predator evaluates as attractive, the more often he decides to attack the bait - this is what matters to the angler.
However, we must remember what senses, in addition to vision, are used by the predators of interest to us. Most of them - pike, perch, asp, trout - have a good visual memory. Others - such as catfish - are used for hunting large quantity feelings. However, the sideline is very important for everyone. It is known that even a pike, which by virtue of different reasons(mainly due to the human factor) is completely devoid of vision, hunts well, detecting its prey only with the help of this supersensitive organ.
So, without a doubt, the use of colored lures can help to deceive the predator if the fishing is
In clear water
Clear and well lit water is a serious challenge for anglers who want to fool predators with artificial lures. In this case, the color and model of the lure become even more important.
However, will success always be guaranteed to us if we choose colors according to our own preferences? One of the American anglers describes an interesting case of the inexplicable effectiveness of the color of oxidized lead in the clear water of a mountain stream. The fact discovered by him was later investigated. It turned out that, for unknown reasons, the trout living in the stream saw and attacked the baits of gray and lead colors, which are hardly noticeable to us, much better than, for example, shiny nickel or the colors of polished silver.
It is possible that fish see these colors in a completely different way than humans. This poses great challenges for bait manufacturers. It is necessary to copy the color of oxidized lead, although in principle it is not known how it should actually look ...
AND Scientific research, and fishing practice show that white and transparent baits work well in clear water. Gentle shiny drawings based on the use of sparkles or holographic foil work well. Perhaps this is how shiny scales are imitated. The blue color is also clearly visible to the fish. Nothing surprising - for example, in the waters of the Baltic for many years the most effective combination for hunting predators is azure, silver and white.
Thus, it turns out that it is quite enough to use only the appropriate colors and their shades in order to successfully catch predators with artificial baits in clear water?
This question often arises in conversations between anglers. Many of them believe that a hungry pike (and usually it is hungry) attacks everything that moves. Does it make sense when making a bait to pay close attention to the image of scale patterns, fins and spots that are characteristic of imitation of the species?
It turns out that fish, which have a more complex retina than humans, have no problem identifying even the smallest objects, and therefore our baits too. In the pike retina, for example, there is only one cone for 3-4 large rods. This structure leads to the fact that the eye of this predator has low sensitivity to light and at the same time is able to perfectly recognize and distinguish various little things.
The low threshold of sensitivity to light intensity does not interfere with the pike, since, as we already know, it usually hunts from dawn to dusk.
But the trout is not only able to better distinguish colors and the smallest details of potential victims - unlike humans, it can also simultaneously see near and far objects, as well as distinguish colors from different distances. These data once again confirm the well-known fact to anglers that trout is a very serious opponent. While fishing, they should carefully disguise themselves, every careless movement on the shore usually threatens to leave them without a catch in this place.
Experiments conducted by one of the German ichthyologists, who fed small pikes with male guppies, proved that predators after short workout could distinguish victims that differed slightly in color.
A simple experiment based on the training of fish shows that they quickly learn to distinguish basic geometric shapes. In addition, predators were interested in some graphic patterns. These were two concentric elements with contrasting colors.
The greatest activity and even aggression was caused by a figure consisting of two concentric circles, and the inner one had to be darker than the outer one. But this is a typical graphic symbol of the eye!
It turned out that at the last moment before the attack, predators aim precisely at the eye of a potential victim.
Usually this is due to a slight "correction" of the direction when attacking - towards the eye. In other words, the predator anticipates that at the last moment the prey will turn to the side on which the eye is located.
Nature made sure that some fish could deceive their pursuers, and created a dark spot, like an "extra eye", on the sides of the body or on the tail. So the application of large eyes on artificial baits has its own rationale. But, of course, for fish active at night, such as catfish, this does not matter.
Now let's try to understand whether it makes sense to devote a lot of time and attention to the colors and patterns of our lures,
When everything turns to gray
Of great importance, of course, is the maximum intensity of lighting at the time of fishing. On an overcast day, the colors fade much faster than on a sunny day. At dusk, when the lighting falls, the eyes of the fish are rearranged and begin to see with sticks. Colors are perceived at this time as faint shades between white and black. To attract the attention of a predator at this time of the day, you need to use a color that will contrast with the surface of the water, so if you fish in clear water, red will be the best choice.
Six years ago, my friend and I were fishing for pike in the Swedish skerries of the Baltic. The day was wonderful, sunny. The fish were biting perfectly, in the crystal clear water the attack was perfectly visible. Predators attacked our Jerkbaits from afar. A friend then learned to fish with a slider and often changed lures. As a result, at the end of the day, I had much more fish in my account.
Before evening, we decided to drop into a small bay between three small islands overgrown with tall pines. Pikes were here too. In a short time I fished out three pikes weighing 2-3 kg. I used the SALMO slider in Real Perch. When the sun went below the horizon, the bites stopped. My friend decided to try fishing with a red slider (Red Tiger). In the conditions of dusk, only this color was visible from afar and made it possible to observe the work of the bait.
I probably would never have believed what happened then if I had not seen it with my own eyes. Over the next fifteen minutes, my friend pulled out 7 beautiful pikes weighing about 5 kg! In the meantime, I, trying to fish with the same natural color bait, did not even see a hint of an attack!
Fish that hunt in low light conditions - at night, in murky water, at great depths - adapt to this in many ways.
The pikeperch eye has two types of cones. Large ones are responsible for yellow and orange, and small ones see green. The effectiveness of these colors can be confirmed by anyone who caught zander. In addition, the cones of this predator are exclusively large sizes, due to which they are the object of research by physiologists who study the process of vision not only in fish.
An additional improvement in the vision of zander is the layer of guanine lining the inside of the eyeball, which reflects light. Due to this, it passes through the cones twice, amplifying the signal passing to the brain. That is why the eyes of pike perch gleam silvery even in very weak light. A similar effect is given by the eyes of some mammals that hunt at night.
Thanks to this structure of the eye, pike perch has incredibly sensitive vision, it sees perfectly even in cases where other fish, not to mention people, see absolutely nothing! Anglers should remember that when catching this predator it is worth paying attention to the smallest details of the lure, and the best combination of colors is yellow-green.
A pioneer in fish vision research is Professor Dwight Burkhardt of the University of Minnesota. The professor started researching the pikeperch retina more than 30 years ago. The current created in the cones under the influence of light stimuli was investigated. Zander cones, although very large, are five times smaller in diameter than a human hair. In order not to disturb their normal functions, electrodes with a diameter of 0.0001 mm were used!
The catfish retina is arranged quite differently. It has no cones at all. They use only sticks, and this leads to the fact that bright light is seen by the catfish as white, and the catfish fixes the rest of the illumination in the eyes as all shades of gray.
Compared to human vision, catfish vision is much more sensitive at low light levels. On a dark, overcast night, the catfish perfectly sees what a person can hardly see with a full moon!
Of course, all anglers know that vision is not the most important quality of these predators. They often live in very muddy and dark waters and mostly feed at night. During the hunt, this predator, in addition to the lateral line, also uses hearing and smell. He is attracted to all kinds of aromatic attractants, sounds. Using a noisy bait - a rattling wobbler or a popper splashing on the surface, the sound of a quok - all these are quite reasonable actions.
However, this does not mean that the color of catfish lures does not matter. An excellent choice in this case is luminescent coloring. The most distinguishable in the dark is the lure that glows green. Under normal lighting, it becomes gray-pink and looks very unattractive, so often anglers neglect it.
There are many fluorescent dyes on the market today. It is enough to shine a flashlight on a bait painted with such a paint for a few seconds so that it gives off the accumulated energy for at least an hour. In addition to green, dyes of other colors appeared - blue, red, pink and yellow. It is recommended to use several colors so that the most contrasting composition can be obtained - for example, a green and red pattern.
Among special dyes, the most famous and most popular are fluorescent. It has long been known that the use of these colors greatly increases the effectiveness of artificial lures, and one of the best selling lure colors is the so-called Green Tiger, also known as Fire Tiger.
However, do we know where this
Fluorescence mystery?
Under normal lighting, fluorescent paints differ from ordinary ones in a lighter shade. They acquire their characteristics when exposed to short light waves, especially ultraviolet. To us, they seem very bright, as if glowing by themselves.
Under water, their range of action is much greater than that of other colors. We already know that only the shortest wavelengths, that is, ultraviolet, are active at depth. The conclusion suggests itself: lures intended for fishing at great depths should be painted in “fluo”. When studying in lakes with clear water, some fluorescent colors, such as yellow and pink, were clearly visible at a depth of more than 40 m!
Low light conditions are not limited to depth alone. Morning and evening dawns, heavy cloudiness, rain and waves, muddy water - all these factors significantly reduce the amount of light due to which the predator sees our bait. Therefore, it is recommended to experiment with these colors just when other colors "turn gray".
We started fishing with the bait that was the most effective that day - SALMO Skinner 15 cm long, RGS color.
Nothing happened for the first hour. The sky was covered with clouds, dusk fell very quickly. I decided to use Green Tiger lure. Over the next hour I had four bites and managed to pull out two fish, including my record-breaking 131 cm muskfish. At the same time, colleagues who fished for the RGS color did not bite even once! Color GT in the twilight and in the dark water of the lake, as they say, hit the bull's-eye.
Muskinong 131 cm long, almost the same color,
like water (the back of the fish is blue-green),
but the lure of fluorescent colors is very noticeable.
On clear, sunny days and at night, the use of fluorescent colors does not make any sense.
In addition, studies have shown that the colors that are best seen with long distance underwater, it is yellow and green fluo. This happens because usually the water in a river or lake is green-yellow, and the wave of fluo flowers is slightly longer than ordinary ones. And anglers have noticed that in conditions of intensive feeding of predators, fluo lures are inferior to lures of natural colors.
As a result, we can draw the following practical conclusion. To lure a predator from a long distance, fluo-colored lures should be used. What, however, must be done so that a predator lured from afar, say, with the color fluo yellow and seeing the bait up close, does not hesitate to attack? The easiest way out is to use a natural pattern on the body of fluorescent baits. Therefore, the Hot Perch color is a record holder, regardless of the reservoir in which it is applied. However, do we know the reasons why fluorescent colors have such an effect on predators? After all, it is very difficult to find forage fish with a similar coloring in nature. The explanation for this phenomenon may be the imperfection of human vision.
As I mentioned earlier, humans see far fewer colors than predators. The fluorescent dye is found in the blood of vertebrates. This fact is used, for example, in forensic science to detect removed blood stains using a UV emitter. It has long been known that predators are very sensitive to traces of blood in their environment. Perhaps they mark it not only with the help of smell. There is a theory according to which this is precisely the magnetic effect of fluorescence.
conclusions
In conclusion, we can confidently state that the color of the baits we use undoubtedly matters. This is also important in those cases when we catch even fish that are not very picky in this respect or those that do not distinguish colors. There are several conclusions that I hope will help you choose the right bait and thus improve your catches.
The key to success is the ability of the bait to attract the attention of a predator. In order for a predator to notice a bait from a distance, more important than its color is its contrast, that is, the difference from the background of the environment.
Most predators watch the surface of the water when hunting, so it is often important how the color of the bait contrasts against its background.
To increase the contrast, a combination of contrasting colors helps - black and white, yellow and black, red and white.
Increase the contrast of your bait in murky water and decrease it by using natural colored lures in clear water.
Don't forget about black, which is probably the most contrasting of all colors regardless of the conditions.
When fishing at night, it is worth using lures painted with luminescent paints, i.e. accumulating light (for example, using a hand torch) and visible at any depth.
And finally, the last and most important conclusion. Remember that the most important factor influencing the effectiveness of the bait is not its color, but the correct feeding and wiring, but in general - your theoretical knowledge and practical skills!
Piotr Piskorski: “This pike burped a couple of fresh herrings into the boat.
Now I understand why she grabbed the silver holographic imitation."
This question, perhaps, is eternal for lovers of fishing. Countless studies have already been carried out, many guesses have been given, many opinions have been heard, but so far no one can answer this question for sure ... Except for the fish itself, but it wets :)
Some believe that the color of the bait in fishing is not important at all, since the fish only reacts to its movement. However, I believe that, nevertheless, whether it be trout or perch, every fish distinguishes colors to some extent. And I found confirmation of this on the Internet. And it’s not without reason that baits are made in such a large color spectrum.
So, does a trout see colors?
(This time we will talk about the color of the bait, but fishing success, of course, depends not only on this parameter)
What is important to know about color
There are, in my opinion, 3 important points when choosing a lure color.
FISHING CONDITIONS
The bait will not reveal all its qualities in neutral conditions - as long as you hold it in your hands. The most interesting thing starts when you use the primac in action. Depending on the degree of transparency of the water, the weather and even the place where you are fishing, it will manifest itself in different ways. Of course, with a fishing method in which you want to attract fish with movement, you don’t need to fool your head too much over which color to choose. However, if you fish, for example, by spinning on reservoirs, or trolling in a lake, then, of course, color plays an important role.
(When trolling fishing (and for any) color does not play a dominant role, you should also take into account the material from which the rod is made, and the type of bait, etc.)
WHICH COLOR FISH SEE MORE
Water is said to "filter light". In the process of penetrating into the water column, warm colors fade and change to sulfur-black. That is, the color in different layers of water will be perceived differently. For example, red in shallow water will be the usual red, but at depth the same color will be perceived as black.
It should also be remembered that the perception of the color of a particular fish depends on the environment in which it lives. Either these are fish that live in good lighting conditions, which distinguish colors well, or fish that live in the dark - their eyes are more sensitive to light, which means they are less able to distinguish details.
(Here you should also pay attention not only to the color of the lure, but also to its shape and movement)
WITHOUT UV ANYWHERE!
Recently, more and more often in the fishing literature, the topic of ultraviolet radiation and its significance in the life of fish emerges. And not in vain!
A little off topic; Have you ever wondered why the sea is blue?
Sunlight is known to be made up of the seven colors of the rainbow. The sun's rays, penetrating through the water column, are scattered and absorbed. The first to scatter are the short-wavelength violet, blue and blue rays of the solar spectrum, which are weakly absorbed by water.
Green and yellow rays, which have a longer wavelength, penetrate somewhat deeper, while orange and red rays go completely to the very depths, being strongly absorbed by water and almost not dissipating in it. That is why in clear weather we see the water surface of blue or blue.
Fish are able to see ultraviolet light, which means that the bait that reflects it will be more noticeable to them and, quite possibly, more attractive. This is where science comes into play, which does not stand still! Thanks to many years of research, it was possible to create the so-called keimura effect. Having covered the bait with varnish with such an effect, when it enters the water, it instantly becomes bright blue due to the polarization of light in the water.
External conditions, fishing conditions and of course UV rays are what I pay special attention to when choosing the color of the lure. However, even with these factors taken into account, the fish may ignore it.
Trout does not see color, but feels it?
Drawing a conclusion from the above, I thought: “maybe the fish does not see the color, but feels it?”
Of course, you can do a lot of research and experimentation, looking for the "perfect" color for a particular fish, but think logically, the fish does not think every time "oh, this is the color that I like. I'm going to eat." Still, fish rely more on their instincts.
BE SIMPLE!
Of course, this phrase does not apply to professional anglers, but for amateur fishermen, I advise you to less load your head with calculations, such as “here it is better to use such and such a color” or “and yet, which color is more attractive for fish?” Take note of the tips that the decrees above, but you should not give them priority :)
