Can Bass See The Color Red???

[wuchr20]

There are a lot of red hooks and lines but also a lot of completely red lures.  I'm confused on whether the can see the color red or they can. Pls Help. Thx

[scaleface]

I have no idea. But they are big sunfish and I avoid red firetail worms because the bluegills wont leave them alone .

[Ozark_Basser]

Research has been done that suggests bass can see color. As far as red goes, it's supposed to be the first color that becomes less visible with the lack of light. Blue is last. If that pertains to bass or not is not known for certain. Here is a good thread discussing how bass see color and red is discussed in the first couple pages.http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/147612-how-bass-see-color/

[Penguino]

It has to do with the wavelength of light. Unless someone here is a physics major or knows the workings of rods and cones in a eye, then there probably wont be a definite answer.

[WRB]

Consider this bit of trivia; Eppinger Daredevle IMP spoon was one of the most popular bass lures at one time, the red with white stripe the leading color. Because of EPA Eppinger change red paint suppliers and as a result the new red painted spoons stopped selling, everyone wanted the original red white spoons.

The color was the same to the human eye, evidently the bass could tell the difference. Eppinger had both the new and original red paint analyzed and it turn out under ultraviolet light the original red looked florescent blue, the new red looked black. Eppinger went back to the original red paint supplier and sales picked up.

Sometimes there is more to things then we currently know.

Tom

[bassinnoobie]

ive hear that after about5 to 8 feet red looks like grey

[WRB]

ive hear that after about5 to 8 feet red looks like grey

Did you hear that from a bass?

[Ozark_Basser]

Did you hear that from a bass?

Haha. Well put.

[WRB]

The only thing that matters with color is how the bass react to it and they definitely see red at night, in very deep water during the day light based on successful lure color combinations that bass anglers use across the country. Red is used as a highlite for several soft plastics (green pumpkin with red flak) (black with red flake) and a primary color in crankbaits (red craw) for examples.

Tom

[Dylcook91]

The way I look at it is, it can't hurt to have it somewhere on the lure/hook. Do scents really work? Who knows, but the more "gimmicks" I have the more versatile I feel.

[WRB]

Use grey color lures if that is what you believe in, why waste time with colored lures.

Tom

[primetime]

I have read so many studies and opinions on color and what fish see, but like anything else, there are so many variables. Red may be the first color to vanish in the spectrum in perfectly clear water under standard lighting, but in green water or brown water in cloudy conditions then Red would not be the first color to turn into the "Grayscale" of colors. I don't know what Bass See and when they see it, but I can say with 100% certainty that on a few days in my Fishing Life, Color has made a huge difference and I was able to determine that color was what was making the difference since we were both using same lb test and line, and same brand of worms, hooks etc. One time the color that made the difference was black with red flake as opposed to standard black which has always been a favorite of mine, but on this particular sunny day in the summer, they wanted the Red Flake and the water was 2-3' visibility and 5-6' deep. Why? I have no idea and only reason I threw a black and red flake was because I was out of black and it was a lake that Red Shad (another producer for me in stained water since I first started fishing) and I would say that Red shad is a color that flat out works on some days but for all I know any laminate with a black top and flash would work.

 

Think about this..Many studies are done by Berkley Labs, or funded by a tackle company so if Tightlines Plastics as an example decides to hire a lab to test UV color and Bass reactions, and then publish the results in a magazine, I would bet my life that whatever colors the company wanted Bass to see they would not only see but attack. Red line and leader is invisible, fluorocarbon is invisible, Pink is invisible if you fish saltwater, and camo line is invisible with 3 colors in strips in colored water....Never believe what marketing tells you on a package, we are all suckers for the next new thing and I am a beliviever that if you believe UV color works great, then it will since you will have confidence.

 

I have had days where I lost confidence due to weather conditions not being what I expected when I arrived at the lake and after telling a friend how awesome the lake is, I would do awful to start the day, yet my buddy would be slaying them since he was only thinking positive thoughts and he did not have any pre conceived notions on wind, temperature, or boat traffic....Mindset and confidence are key, I used to love buzz baits as a kid and would throw them all the time on every lake and would always get a few on the buzzbait if not a bunch. In the last 10 years, I have caught maybe 1 dink on a buzzbait while I have seen other's catch quality fish on them, so I know they still work, but I put one on and for some reason I just don't believe, and I put in down after 3-4 casts every time and now they collect dust. I just started to use pinks since I have been surprised at how many people buy pinks over purples, gp, and black.

[Cameron211]

Not this topic again... lol

[Cameron211]

I'll second that primetime. Think confidence is huge. I usually fish with my set colors wm rd flk, motor oil, gp anything. But I like to buy different bait colors just to try or experience. You never know what will work. So does it matter really if they see red or color? Try anything, its all about catching bass.

[bigbill]

For color info about what colors the bass can see search for Dr Loren Hill of OKLAHOMA UNV 10 years of research into this subject.

Bass can't see all the colors like we do all the time.

The sunlite, the hues in the water and the vegetation determines what colors the bass can see at certain times.

Dr Loren Hill invented the Color C lector or and the Combo C Lector. I purchased a Combo C Lector just to if it really worked. After reading some of the doctors research results.

My test was done at the same exact at the same time. I'm using the Bomber crankbaits.

Day 1 the Combo c lector chose a multiple color. One was red. Red caught fish when the other colors didn't.

Day 2 it chose brown. Brown worked when the other colors didn't.

Day 3 it chose green. Green worked when the other colors didn't.

Day 4 I used every color crank I had ever color, red, Brown, green all caught fish.

This tells me the bass on certain days can see all the colors, on other days there limited to seeing colors.

My fishing experience has taught me we can also have different water conditions as we go deeper conditions can change. To test this on a tough day when the surface water looked clear I tossed a firefighter and caught fish.

Do scents work? Yes they do.

[bass1980]

That sucks, do I have to change my profile pic now???

[Catt]

What Empirical Research Shows

Can bass red? Yes they can

What do they see when looking at red? Aint no body knows!

Does red catch bass? Ya bet ya!

[bigbill]

My crawfish locally are red sides with black backs in my ponds and lakes.

In the rivers there a tan color.

The bomber FAT A / Model A crankbaits in redapplecraw with the Orange bottom is one of the hottest crank colors.

[RoLo]

Food For Thought

There’s really no way to prove that bass see the same colors as humans.

For that matter, there’s no way to prove that one human sees the same colors as another human.

For example, we’re all taught to stop for a ‘red’ light, but ‘red’ is not a color.

"Red" is the noise humans utter to describe a certain perceived color.

If ‘red’ objects appeared 'green’ to my eyes, I’m going to call that color ‘red’ because that's what everyone calls that color.

I'm also going to stop for 'green' lights, but I'll be calling them 'red' lights just like everyone else.

 

Blue is the shortest, most penetrable light wave; the last color to be diffused.

That's why the sky is blue, and also why blue is the last color to disappear underwater.

"Red" at the opposite end of the 'roygbiv' spectrum is the largest, sloppiest light wave and the easiest color to scatter.

That's why we see a lot of red during sunrise & sunset, and also why red is the first color to turn BLACK underwater.

In any case, it's been known for decades that 'RED' lipless cranks are big producers during the pre-spawn in Texas.

Red is believed to imitate the color of a common spring crayfish found in Texas (i.e. Match-The-Hatch).

 

The "Color-C-Lector" is a device that selects the most visible color based on current light conditions.

However, if you're a believer in "Matching The Hatch", then using a Color-C-Lector would be a grave conflict of interest.

Nature typically uses patterns and colors that make forage more difficult to see,

but the Color-C-Lector strives to make lures easier to see.    Things that make you go "Hmmm".

 

Roger

[Senko lover]

All I know is that something about a red lipless crankbait slays them this time of year in the prespawn. I caught my PB on one about a week ago.

[Sam]

Yes, bass are not color blind and can see colors.

 

Red turns to black as it gets deeper into the water column and out of the light.

[Sam]

All I know is that something about a red lipless crankbait slays them this time of year in the prespawn. I caught my PB on one about a week ago.

 

Looks like a crawfish to the bass so they will hit it at this time of the year.

[F14A-B]

You could read on color temp. Or kelvin and learn more about this..http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature

Vision screening in the US Naval service is such that either you see Red & Green or you do not qualify to serve. Period! Basically a series of repeated color testing, one is not likely to "game" this testing either.. The majority of men see color the same, maybe "perceive" is a better word. Red is the first color to go. Colors are lost in the the ROYGBIV order.

[Joedodge]

Had a day I was fishing a local lake. Fishing a flat cove crystal clear two feet or so deep. Small one pound bass where coming out of the cover and kind of starring and entertaining the idea of my June bug ribbon tail worm. But would not commit. I switched to another identical worm but in St. John's river red (red with blue specs) and it absolutely slammed it first pass by texas rigged. I have no idea if they can truly tell that's the first evidence I have. Was it the way I worked the worm, the color or action. Had I pist the fish off just as I switched and it finally hit it. Who knows! But bait colors sure do sell a ton of tackle lol!

[BassObsessed]

They were liking this red crankbait yesterday in 52 degree water.