Wow -- if this is true....

[Preytorien]

Saw this on YouTube, and I can say I fish a small lake/pond almost this exact size in the video, and if this trick really works it could literally revolutionize my kayak outings. Might need to bring a bottle of Colavita with me next time! 

 

 

 

BTW -- someone in a state that DOESN'T already have ice on the water needs to try this out STAT

 

Seems like it only does much good on slightly windy days, nothing gusty. So in otherwords, a pretty typical day with small-ish waves, the kind of day that you'd deem "not too windy to take the kayak out"

[A-Jay]

Can't actually determine if this is a satirical or not.

 

If it's not - then I got nothing. 

 

May not want to pour oil of any kind in your lake.

 

A-Jay

[Choporoz]

I don't know how practical it would be, but the dude seems to be legit:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/physics/author/greg-kestin/

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/202213/pouring-oil-on-choppy-water-to-calm-it-does-it-work-and-if-so-how

 

For you geeks and engineers....

[BrianinMD]

While true I would not go around pouring oil into your pond/lake....

[bassguytom]

I always do better on a rippled surface then a flat calm one. I'll keep the olive oil for pasta and salads. 

[Bass Turd]

I've seen slicks like that made by Trout and Redfish. Presumably by fish oil in their stomachs as they inhale another baitfish or shrimp. 

[tcbass]

Can't watch the video at work.

 

 

How did the olive oil calm the lake?

[Choporoz]

do you have a degree in chem or physics?

"From the attenuation data at frequencies between 251 and 551Hz, we conclude that the calming effect of oil on surface waves is principally due to the dissipation of wave energy caused by the Gibbs surface elasticity of the monolayer, with only a secondary contribution from the reduction in surface tension. Our data also indicate that the surface-dilational viscosity of the oil monolayer is negligible and plays an insignificant role in calming the waves. "

-Behroozi

[tcbass]

20 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

do you have a degree in chem or physics?

 

 

No. I barely have a regular degree! lol.

 

 

Layman's terms please! lol

[Choporoz]

Watch the vid when you get home...something about how water makes olive oil all tingly and the evoo molecules get up on their toes and tell the wind to bug off

[Logan S]

Not really new...guys have been using vegetable oil to slick off the water for sight fishing for a long time.  It does work, BASS has even done some articles on it.  It also disperses yellow pollen from the surface which helps a great deal as well, especially around here .  Dish soap also works (which is what I use)...Only need a tiny amount of either, like 1 spoonful total.  

 

The squirt gun rides in the rod locker during April/May just in case it's services are needed .

 

[Fishing Rhino]

Never heard of pouring oil on troubled waters?

 

The spillage of oil into the sea hasn't had a good press in recent years following the many ecological disasters caused by wrecked tankers discharging thousands of tons of crude oil into the world's oceans. In earlier times, the pouring of modest quantities of oil into the sea was done deliberately in order to forestall rough seas. This phrase alludes to the calming effect of that oil has on wave action as it spreads over the surface of the sea. Very small quantities of oil can cover a surprisingly large area as it spreads into a layer just a few molecules in thickness. The surface tension of the oil layer has an effect similar to that of a thin skin and is highly effective at calming 'troubled' water.

'Oil spread on water can become as thin as a few hundred nanometres.

 

The calming effect of oil was known to the ancient Greeks. In 1762, Benjamin Franklin repeated an experiment first performed by Pliny, which he reported in A Letter from Benjamin Franklin to William Brownrigg, 1773:

 

"

"At length being at Clapham, where there is on the common a large pond which I observed one day to be very rough with the wind, I fetched out a cruet of oil and dropped a little of it on the water. I saw it spread itself with surprising swiftness upon the surface; but the effect of smoothing the waves was not produced; for I had applied it first on the leeward side of the pond where the waves were greatest; and the wind drove my oil back upon the shore. I then went to the windward side where they began to form; and there the oil, though not more than a teaspoonful, produced an instant calm over a space several yards square which spread amazingly and extended itself gradually till it reached the lee side, making all that quarter of the pond, perhaps half an acre, as smooth as a looking glass."

The use of 'waters', as opposed to 'water', began in the late 18th century; for example, this piece from Benjamin Rush's Essays, literary, moral and philosophical, 1798:

"His presence and advice, like oil upon troubled waters, have composed the contending waves of faction."

"

[contium]

Why would you want it totally flat? I'm usually looking for a little wind.

[Logan S]

54 minutes ago, contium said:

Why would you want it totally flat? I'm usually looking for a little wind.

Normally, I agree with that... But sight fishing for bedding bass is different.  Being able to clearly see the fish and the bed is a big advantage, so taking a wind ripple and pollen out of the equation helps a great deal.  

[wdp]

1 hour ago, contium said:

Why would you want it totally flat? I'm usually looking for a little wind.

I agree. My experience is the fish bite better with a ripple on the water. 

 

I could see using for sight fishing tho. 

I'm pretty sure this wouldn't work for calming stormy seas. I gotta call shenanigans on that statement. Calming a slight ripple on the water is one thing, calming big storm waves in the open ocean is another. 

[slonezp]

If you put vinegar in the water will the lake lose the fishy smell?

[ClackerBuzz]

if this seems like a good idea to anyone you need to immediately turn in ur outdoorsmans card. you're banned effective immediately.

 

it's hard to even comprehend the volume of insect and number of species that a teaspoon of oil could kill. "well there goes the whole Mayfly hatch but I sure can see fish better.  oops looks like spiders and dragonflies drown b/c they don't have water tension anymore.  who knew?"

 

Preytorien you are forgiven for your temporary insanity. happens to me more often than I'd like to admit

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

If you put vinegar in the water will the lake lose the fishy smell?

 

I thought that was Lemon juice . . ?

A-Jay

[Logan S]

9 hours ago, ClackerBuzz said:

if this seems like a good idea to anyone you need to immediately turn in ur outdoorsmans card. you're banned effective immediately.

 

it's hard to even comprehend the volume of insect and number of species that a teaspoon of oil could kill. "well there goes the whole Mayfly hatch but I sure can see fish better.  oops looks like spiders and dragonflies drown b/c they don't have water tension anymore.  who knew?"

 

Preytorien you are forgiven for your temporary insanity. happens to me more often than I'd like to admit

I think that's a little overly dramatic....

 

I don't think many people use oils anyway, most people I know use dish soap (myself included).  It clears about a 15' circle for about 15 minutes before being washed out.  One dock owner washing his boat one time is going to put more soap in the lake than I will in several seasons.  Two wrongs don't make a right...But I'm comfortable with it personally and I don't believe it's doing any harm.  I can live with effecting a 15' circle for 15 minutes on a 20,000+ acre lake.  

 

I wouldn't use oils, but if you're talking dish soap too we'll just agree to disagree.  FWIW, some people also just use their spray scents....The oils in those have the same effect, something to think about if you are concerned about the oils on the water surface and use those scents.

[the reel ess]

22 hours ago, contium said:

Why would you want it totally flat? I'm usually looking for a little wind.

If you're in a kayak you might want it calm. But that's the wind, not the wave action. The wind is still there and it will still push your oily kayak around.