FishwithGary
Fish with Gary Tackle Co.
Greetings of the Season to all my buds at the Kokanee Fishing Forum.
I am stuck in Las Vegas for truck repairs, so I have some time on my hands and ran across this thread from last summer.
I would like to add the following comments and information.
There is a vast difference between the natural color red, and a fluorescent red. Most fishermen do not fathom the difference. Hence a question about red is generic, but a generic response is not at all helpful.
True red has wavelength in the visible spectrum that is the longest wavelength of the visible colors. Above the water, we see the color red because it reacts with the red wavelength of the visible spectrum. Above the water, if there were no red in the light hitting it, the color red would be seen as gray, a shade of gray or black. This is because the color red has specific wavelength, but shades of red begin to fade as the wavelength of visible light hitting it is shortened. If you take an true red object into a dark closet and shine a pure orange light on it, the red object will appear black. If you shine a red-orange light on it, the red will be faded.
When the color true red is in the water, the same rules apply. Water changes the light that passes through it. For a true color to survive, its wavelength needs to survive the depth it is desired to be seen. As it turns out, the wavelength for the color true red is the very first color to be removed (actually absorbed) as you descend the water column. When the wavelengths for the color red have been totally absorbed, the wavelengths for the other colors remain. The same will be true for all the remaining colors as you descend the water column. Thus it will be the same for true orange as it is absorbed, leaving the wavelengths for green, blue, indigo and violet intact. And the process continues down the water column until no light occurs at depth.
The rule is really quite simple. For true colors, the deeper you go in the water column, the shorter the color wavelength survives. This is to also say that the longer wavelengths can no longer be seen, and those become objects without color. The absence of color is black.
This brings up a couple more things. Kindly review this chart:
Red: 620 - 720 nm (The longest wavelength of the visible spectrum)
Orange: 590 – 620 nm
Yellow: 570 – 590 nm
Green: 495 – 570 nm
Blue: 450 – 495 nm
Violet: 380 – 450 nm (The shortest wavelength of the visible spectrum)
What you perceive on the surface as the color red may actually contain additional colors. Shades of red that contain other colors (such as green and orange mixed in) are still subject to the same rules as you descend the water column. The true red goes out first yet this still leaves the non-absorbed colors intact, depending on how deep you go. That accounts for the perceived shades of gray at depth from a perceived true red at the surface.
Just how far down the water column does these changes occur depends on the water itself. The more particulates in the water, the faster the longer wavelengths are absorbed. Particulates can be such things as suspended inorganics (mud) and suspended organics (plankton – kokanee food). A healthy plankton population reduces available light at depth, but it means there is food for the kokanee.
Generally speaking, most kokanee fishing will occur where the only available light is green, blue, and violet. (Yellow, then orange is added the farther north you go, because the fishing tends to be shallower. Also, the “bluer” the lake, the clearer the water. The clearer the water, the less particulates, and color wavelengths descend deeper).
So far I have only dealt with true colors. Now is the time to shift to fluorescent colors.
Fluorescent colors are those that will remain their color when struck by light of shorter wavelength. Thus a fluorescent red will still be red when struck by yellow, or orange, or green, or blue, or violet wavelengths. Which is to say, that a fluorescent red will still be red as you descend the water column until it reaches a depth where there is no visible light to act on it.
The same principle applies to all of the fluorescent colors. If you want yellow at depth, make sure it is fluorescent. Same with orange. Same with all fluorescent colors. The colors red, orange, yellow, and green are all available as fluorescent colors. Add pink (aka hot pink), and one has a huge array of colors available.
Will the color you see at the surface be the same color at presentation depth? If there is any light at presentation depth, the answer will be yes IF the color is fluorescent. Ordinary blues and greens will be seen also, but those colors will be brighter at depth if fluorescent.
Much has been made and marketed and sold to the fishing community as UV tackle. The primary marketing point is that it is claimed that UV light penetrates the water column. That is patently false. Real science by biologists (who are not marketing lures) have determined that UV light penetrates just a few inches in water with green plankton. UV light will penetrate a bit deeper in blue water (such as the ocean). It really does not take much to eliminate the UV light. Sunglasses are worn for that purpose, and sun screen is applied to keep you from getting sunburned. I have never caught a kokanee or trout that has been sunburned. So why is what is marketed as UV some pretty good stuff?
When you shine a black light on some material and it appears to light up, all that tells you is that the material is fluorescent. The material is what I call UV reactive. That is because the UV light has a shorter wavelength than all of the visible true colors. And as I have explained above, fluorescent colors retain their color when struck by a shorter wavelength. Thus a “UV” color is seen at depth, NOT because there is UV light to act on it, but because it is fluorescent. Use a black light to determine if a color is really fluorescent.
Don (MMM) is correct that contrast is very important in your presentation. Here is why. First, color is not the very first attractant, vibration is. Once the fish has determined that the vibration is not a threat, it is attracted (attraction response) and comes in to investigate. The goal is to stimulate a biting response. Can kokanee and trout see color? Yes, BUT, the science supports color discernment at about 10% of what a salmonid can see, and this is directly in front of the fish just a few feet – not side to side. However, what the fish can see the best is contrast. And the fish can see almost 360 degrees, as well as up and down, and all spaces in between. So the fish sees 100% contrast and 10% color. The goal to maximize your presentation is to use color to enhance the contrast.
There reaches a point where the color presented is distanced outside the ability of the fish to see color. As the fish gets closer, suddenly the color literally shifts to color from the non-color it perceived just inches earlier. This color shift is a significant factor in stimulating the biting response. And a dramatic color shift will not happen unless your colors are fluorescent. The concept of color shift will occur at all levels of depth in the water column provided there is some light.
This is not to detract from the role of scent, and the additional role of vibration to stimulate the biting response. Indeed these factors are additive. But when you think about it, scent is a contrast (from non scent in the rest of the water) and the lure should have a different vibration contrast from the dodger.
Clearly you want to use all factors to fish at 100% efficiency. But if you are not using fluorescent colors, you efficiency will be significantly reduced. But also remember, on any given day, stimulant color shifted colors may change.
A further note on Don’s observation. As it turns out, pre-spawn salmon go through a biological change that enhances their sensitivity to the color red. This enhancement is not present in the younger class of fish. This accounts for the difference in catch rate.
And as for the steelhead info, I doubt it was presented with the idea of the science of fluorescent colors in mind, and one is not targeting steelhead at depth.
Fluorescent colors are not phosphorescent. Phosphorescence is the ability to carry light to depth, and is commonly called glow. Cheap glow is marketed to unsuspecting fisherman. Cheap glow won’t even last to the target depth. Extended glow is the ticket. In low light and lack of light conditions, good extended glow provides the necessary contrast. There is some thought that using a bright extended glow adjacent to a fluorescent color will result in that fluorescent color being made visible when it would not otherwise be seen.
I wish all of you a very prosperous and safe New Year.
Gary
I am stuck in Las Vegas for truck repairs, so I have some time on my hands and ran across this thread from last summer.
MMM posted re Ririe 7-25-09:
The fish are ... into spawning mode. Anything red at 40' works!
Reply from Silver Bullets
If red supposedly turns to grey around the 20' depth, is it the shade of grey their attracted to down at 40'?
MMM reply:I think fish are adept at perceiving gray scale... I think they know where on the gray scale red lies when all colors turn gray. I think red also has a good contrast against the underwater background. We've been experimenting with colors for next year’s crop vs. colors for the spawning class. At 35 to 40 feet next year’s class is hitting green at a rate of 4 to 1 over red. Just the opposite for the spawning class and the males are not touching the green at all while the try to rip the red apart!
Now for gray. I watched a show that was a color test for steelhead... The big surprise was the color of a lead split shot was the number one color in test after test!
The fish are ... into spawning mode. Anything red at 40' works!
Reply from Silver Bullets
If red supposedly turns to grey around the 20' depth, is it the shade of grey their attracted to down at 40'?
MMM reply:I think fish are adept at perceiving gray scale... I think they know where on the gray scale red lies when all colors turn gray. I think red also has a good contrast against the underwater background. We've been experimenting with colors for next year’s crop vs. colors for the spawning class. At 35 to 40 feet next year’s class is hitting green at a rate of 4 to 1 over red. Just the opposite for the spawning class and the males are not touching the green at all while the try to rip the red apart!
Now for gray. I watched a show that was a color test for steelhead... The big surprise was the color of a lead split shot was the number one color in test after test!
I would like to add the following comments and information.
There is a vast difference between the natural color red, and a fluorescent red. Most fishermen do not fathom the difference. Hence a question about red is generic, but a generic response is not at all helpful.
True red has wavelength in the visible spectrum that is the longest wavelength of the visible colors. Above the water, we see the color red because it reacts with the red wavelength of the visible spectrum. Above the water, if there were no red in the light hitting it, the color red would be seen as gray, a shade of gray or black. This is because the color red has specific wavelength, but shades of red begin to fade as the wavelength of visible light hitting it is shortened. If you take an true red object into a dark closet and shine a pure orange light on it, the red object will appear black. If you shine a red-orange light on it, the red will be faded.
When the color true red is in the water, the same rules apply. Water changes the light that passes through it. For a true color to survive, its wavelength needs to survive the depth it is desired to be seen. As it turns out, the wavelength for the color true red is the very first color to be removed (actually absorbed) as you descend the water column. When the wavelengths for the color red have been totally absorbed, the wavelengths for the other colors remain. The same will be true for all the remaining colors as you descend the water column. Thus it will be the same for true orange as it is absorbed, leaving the wavelengths for green, blue, indigo and violet intact. And the process continues down the water column until no light occurs at depth.
The rule is really quite simple. For true colors, the deeper you go in the water column, the shorter the color wavelength survives. This is to also say that the longer wavelengths can no longer be seen, and those become objects without color. The absence of color is black.
This brings up a couple more things. Kindly review this chart:
Red: 620 - 720 nm (The longest wavelength of the visible spectrum)
Orange: 590 – 620 nm
Yellow: 570 – 590 nm
Green: 495 – 570 nm
Blue: 450 – 495 nm
Violet: 380 – 450 nm (The shortest wavelength of the visible spectrum)
What you perceive on the surface as the color red may actually contain additional colors. Shades of red that contain other colors (such as green and orange mixed in) are still subject to the same rules as you descend the water column. The true red goes out first yet this still leaves the non-absorbed colors intact, depending on how deep you go. That accounts for the perceived shades of gray at depth from a perceived true red at the surface.
Just how far down the water column does these changes occur depends on the water itself. The more particulates in the water, the faster the longer wavelengths are absorbed. Particulates can be such things as suspended inorganics (mud) and suspended organics (plankton – kokanee food). A healthy plankton population reduces available light at depth, but it means there is food for the kokanee.
Generally speaking, most kokanee fishing will occur where the only available light is green, blue, and violet. (Yellow, then orange is added the farther north you go, because the fishing tends to be shallower. Also, the “bluer” the lake, the clearer the water. The clearer the water, the less particulates, and color wavelengths descend deeper).
So far I have only dealt with true colors. Now is the time to shift to fluorescent colors.
Fluorescent colors are those that will remain their color when struck by light of shorter wavelength. Thus a fluorescent red will still be red when struck by yellow, or orange, or green, or blue, or violet wavelengths. Which is to say, that a fluorescent red will still be red as you descend the water column until it reaches a depth where there is no visible light to act on it.
The same principle applies to all of the fluorescent colors. If you want yellow at depth, make sure it is fluorescent. Same with orange. Same with all fluorescent colors. The colors red, orange, yellow, and green are all available as fluorescent colors. Add pink (aka hot pink), and one has a huge array of colors available.
Will the color you see at the surface be the same color at presentation depth? If there is any light at presentation depth, the answer will be yes IF the color is fluorescent. Ordinary blues and greens will be seen also, but those colors will be brighter at depth if fluorescent.
Much has been made and marketed and sold to the fishing community as UV tackle. The primary marketing point is that it is claimed that UV light penetrates the water column. That is patently false. Real science by biologists (who are not marketing lures) have determined that UV light penetrates just a few inches in water with green plankton. UV light will penetrate a bit deeper in blue water (such as the ocean). It really does not take much to eliminate the UV light. Sunglasses are worn for that purpose, and sun screen is applied to keep you from getting sunburned. I have never caught a kokanee or trout that has been sunburned. So why is what is marketed as UV some pretty good stuff?
When you shine a black light on some material and it appears to light up, all that tells you is that the material is fluorescent. The material is what I call UV reactive. That is because the UV light has a shorter wavelength than all of the visible true colors. And as I have explained above, fluorescent colors retain their color when struck by a shorter wavelength. Thus a “UV” color is seen at depth, NOT because there is UV light to act on it, but because it is fluorescent. Use a black light to determine if a color is really fluorescent.
Don (MMM) is correct that contrast is very important in your presentation. Here is why. First, color is not the very first attractant, vibration is. Once the fish has determined that the vibration is not a threat, it is attracted (attraction response) and comes in to investigate. The goal is to stimulate a biting response. Can kokanee and trout see color? Yes, BUT, the science supports color discernment at about 10% of what a salmonid can see, and this is directly in front of the fish just a few feet – not side to side. However, what the fish can see the best is contrast. And the fish can see almost 360 degrees, as well as up and down, and all spaces in between. So the fish sees 100% contrast and 10% color. The goal to maximize your presentation is to use color to enhance the contrast.
There reaches a point where the color presented is distanced outside the ability of the fish to see color. As the fish gets closer, suddenly the color literally shifts to color from the non-color it perceived just inches earlier. This color shift is a significant factor in stimulating the biting response. And a dramatic color shift will not happen unless your colors are fluorescent. The concept of color shift will occur at all levels of depth in the water column provided there is some light.
This is not to detract from the role of scent, and the additional role of vibration to stimulate the biting response. Indeed these factors are additive. But when you think about it, scent is a contrast (from non scent in the rest of the water) and the lure should have a different vibration contrast from the dodger.
Clearly you want to use all factors to fish at 100% efficiency. But if you are not using fluorescent colors, you efficiency will be significantly reduced. But also remember, on any given day, stimulant color shifted colors may change.
A further note on Don’s observation. As it turns out, pre-spawn salmon go through a biological change that enhances their sensitivity to the color red. This enhancement is not present in the younger class of fish. This accounts for the difference in catch rate.
And as for the steelhead info, I doubt it was presented with the idea of the science of fluorescent colors in mind, and one is not targeting steelhead at depth.
Fluorescent colors are not phosphorescent. Phosphorescence is the ability to carry light to depth, and is commonly called glow. Cheap glow is marketed to unsuspecting fisherman. Cheap glow won’t even last to the target depth. Extended glow is the ticket. In low light and lack of light conditions, good extended glow provides the necessary contrast. There is some thought that using a bright extended glow adjacent to a fluorescent color will result in that fluorescent color being made visible when it would not otherwise be seen.
I wish all of you a very prosperous and safe New Year.
Gary
