Can fish really see colors? Can they see the ultra life-like finish some high end lures sport? Should I change my surface lure color when the light is low? When dropping jigs deep, what are the best colors to use?
These are some of the questions lure chuckers ask. Over the years we’ve been given conflicting information. Sport Fishing Magazine ran an article in their June 2019 issue that is also on their website. “How and What Fish See” written by Doug Olander. The article answers these questions and I’ll summarize the info in a manner you and I can hopefully remember. All the photos in this post were taken from the Sport Fishing Magazine website
Do fish see colors?
Yes. Shallow water fish can see all the colors. Deep water fish living in low light aren’t able to see as many colors because colors are darkened and muted down there.
Do surface fish see the ultra life-like finish on my high end lure?
It’s believed that fish with large eyes in clear water can detect those subtle design patterns but whether their fish brains can process all that info has been heavily debated.
What’s the best color to use near the surface in clear conditions?
44 fishing experts were asked this question. The experts overwhelmingly said white or a white pattern.
What’s the best color to use in murky conditions or low light?
White, or white pattern, again was the color of choice, followed by chartreuse.
What do my surface lures look like when viewed from below?
Against a bright sky, all lures will look dark! No wonder top water experts say color isn’t as important and swimming action.
What do my lures look like in murky water?
Whites, yellows and greens are retained. Blues and darker colors turn to black the soonest.
What colors are retained in the deep?
Red tones are the first to go, in low light, deep water. Blue tones will be retained the deepest, green tones the next deepest, the others will fade to black sooner.
What do fish see in the deep when I retrieve my jig?
Deep water fish feeding in low light aren’t able to distinguish colors much but are geared to see slight movements against the background light. While they can see and feel jigs moving quickly, they can also see jigs slowly retrieved in a repetitive, predictable fashion. That could by why “slow pitching” off the bottom, then speed jigging higher in the water column is an effective strategy.
What’s the takeaway from all of this?
Lure action is more important that lure color pattern but whites and white patterns show up the best in clear and low visibility conditions. When deep jigging, choose whites, blues and greens and present an action that makes your lure the most noticeable since the fish may be straining to see it.
Interesting post. I do believe fish see colors as well, and potentially even colors outside of human-visible spectra. It doesn’t make sense that prey items would evolve such vivid coloration as warnings if they weren’t perceivable. Also, I know for sure that at least some fish can see very
, very well in the dark. Even species that aren’t strictly nocturnal like the bonefish has far better night vision, I believe, than us humans.
You make very valid points Jason. I think slowly retrieved, sub-surface lures may need to match the hatch better than top water lures and quickly retrieved lures.
The fact that blue and green colors are the last color spectrum to darken in the deep may be why green hued plastics on the damashi get bit better in the deep.
-scott