KiSS Roy…
By Michelle Armstrong
Lots of anglers will tell you that color doesn’t matter much. One look in their tackle box though will leave you furrowing your eyebrow and scratching your head. I’m sure you would find a wide array of colorful lures, all designed to do something specific. Including matching the color of live bait.
No matter how seasoned of a fisherman you are, it’s hard to argue that color, (like size) doesn’t matter. Even underwater, there is color. Though underwater, our human eye prism colors act quite differently. And it’s how these colors “act” that can be the difference in a fishing day and a catching day.
In school your teacher probably taught you the Roy G. Biv mnemonic to help you remember the colors in order on the prism. (R)Ed, (O)range, (Y)ellow, (G)reen, (B)lue, (I)ndigo, and (V)iolet.
Those are our basic, human eye colors and make up all other colors when blended. Studies have found, that fish do indeed see color, just not like us.
Remember, fish are opportunistic eaters. They eat what they see, makes a noise, swims near, or hits them in the head. They may not see the exact color, but they can distinguish shape and size. And if no color exists, no shape can be seen.
Underwater, colors get absorbed at different frequencies, and the color mostly goes away. The first color to lose itself is red, followed by orange, then yellow…the colors disappear in the same order as the prism…with violet keeping it’s color the longest. Depending on cloud cover, sediment, or sun placement, red can suffer noticeable loss in as little as five feet of water. Add wind or current, and it gets even trickier.
A Bass’ underwater blue light environment is made up mostly of sediment and algae. Studies have shown that for this reason, freshwater fish can better distinguish shades of green. It’s not magic, that the #1 selling color to attract Bass are Green Pumpkin. And Mr. Green is the middle guy on the prism.
In fishing terms, here is my thought…
Red and orange are the first colors to disappear. That doesn’t mean you should not fish with them. Red and orange play a dominant role in these parts when it’s crawfish season. Our crawfish here are mostly Orange, crawling around on red clay banks.. You would be a fool not to throw a Jig that mimics this color. However once you get into a little deeper situation when you’re throwing that same color it disappears. Now you’re relying only on the movement your jig makes when it hits a rock or gets right in the fish’s face. Your strike potential is reduced greatly. So it makes sense to make an easy adjustment and tie on a different color jig. Green pumpkin for example will hold its “color” shape of a crawfish more so than red or orange. If you’re fishing deeper go to a black blue jig.
Once you get it into perspective it is pretty easy. Which brings me to another mnemonic that I changed a little…KiSS. (K)eep (I)t (S)imply (S)imple. If the fish are biting, pay attention and repeat what your doing. When they stop, make a simple change and forge ahead.
Now go catch fish,
Michelle Armstrong – Writes about fishing
Michelle is a freelance writer who has been fishing competitively for over 25 years at local and national levels. She loves sharing her knowledge through writing and seminars. Michelle has been part of the Bass Pro Shops fishing team since 1999. She can often be found conducting seminars at the Concord Mills location.