Does boat color matter?

[MickD]

Any opinions on whether boat color would affect the smallmouth bite while fishing 4-8 foot rockpiles in clear water?  Like red vs black hull color?

[MickD]

Any opinions on whether boat color would affect the smallmouth bite while fishing 4-8 foot rockpiles in clear water?  Like red vs black hull color?

 

I've been told that it is better to not wear a bright shirt as it can spook fish.  What about a bright boat?

[A-Jay]

I have no Idea - I just prefer to make very long casts and that seems like it does the trick.

I have heard that smallies really hate Taylor Swift Music though.

So there's that.

A-Jay

 

 

[BrianinMD]

well A-Jay that explains why I like smallies....

 

I don't think it matters, if your boat is above them they are not going to see much more than a silhouette.

[fissure_man]

Green pumpkin boats are best in clear water.   Muddy, go for black/blue.

[WRB]

Flat calm bright over head sunlight  bass can see above water very good, add a little wind chop and the light defuses and bass don't seem to get spooked by boats. The bass know you are nearby because the feel your boats water displacing waves is more important than color. Would camouflage color boat be less of a problem then  bright colors metal flake bass boat....yes under some circumstances. Look at it this way; the boat is anchored on a buoy over night, bass will move under it in clear water because it provides cover and attracts baitfish. 

I know a tournament bass angler who has Shad school painted on the bottom of his bass boat!

Tom

[S. Sass]

51 minutes ago, WRB said:

I know a tournament bass angler who has Shad school painted on the bottom of his bass boat!

Well how long ago did he have this done? 

What were his results like before the paint job?

What were his results like after the paint job? 

 

Come on man you can't give us some inside info like that and not spill the beans on how it worked out. 

 

OP just my opinion No. But hey I was wrong 1 time before in my life. 

[RoLo]

In the Thousand Islands in Ontario, I've often watched a group of smallies follow the lure to the boat,

then congregate in the shadow of my hull (very frustrating). On another vacation in Parry Sound, Ontario,

I often seen a school of bass follow my lure to the boat, but when the pod dispersed

some of the bass remained in the shade of my boat. I realize that bass in gin-clear water

are supposed to be ultra-spooky, but these renegades never read the guidebook.

In any case, I seriously doubt that smallmouth know or care about the color of our hulls.

 

Roger
 

[A-Jay]

28 minutes ago, RoLo said:

In the Thousand Islands in Ontario, I have often seen a string of smallmouth bass follow the lure

up to the boat, then congregate in the shadow of my hull (very frustrating). On another vacation

in Parry Sound, Ontario, on several occasions I would watch a string of bass follow my lure to the boat,

but when the pod dispersed some of the schoolies remained in the shade of my boat.

I realize that bass in gin-clear water are supposed to be ultra-spooky, but these arrogant renegades

never read the guidebook.

 

In any case, I seriously doubt that smallmouth know or care about the color of our hulls.

 

Roger
 

 

You really should consider putting the hooks back on those baits Roger

A-Jay

[RoLo]

38 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

You really should consider putting the hooks back on those baits Roger

A-Jay

 

 

We're still using those lures that hook 'one' fish at a time  

But maybe I should take the 'A-jay' recommendation and throw an 'A-rig'? 

 

[Further North]

Not in my opinion.

[Bass Turd]

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

 

 

We're still using those lures that hook 'one' fish at a time  

But maybe I should take the 'A-jay' recommendation and throw an 'A-rig'? 

 

LOL ~ You have to be better than me with that A-Rig deal.

I can't seem to catch a cold with that thing - with or without the hooks . . .

A-Jay

[RoLo]

13 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

LOL ~ You have to be better than me with that A-Rig deal.

I can't seem to catch a cold with that thing - with or without the hooks . . .

A-Jay

 

In all honesty, I've never gave the Alabama Rig a fair shake in sweetwater.

In saltwater though, I must say that the umbrella rig is pure poison for bluefish and bonito

and for better trollers than me, striped bass too.

 

Sorry for changing water salinity  

 

 

[Dyerbassman]

Based on the elaborate boat designs on professionals boats, I'm sure it's not too big of a factor.  

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, RoLo said:

 

In all honesty, I've never gave the Alabama Rig a fair shake in sweetwater.

In saltwater though, I must say that the umbrella rigs is pure poison for bluefish and bonito

and for better trollers than me, striped bass too.

 

Sorry for changing water salinity  

 

 

You have to know I will Always have a Huge Sweet spot for the Briny Sea.

A-Jay

 

[Further North]

I know guys with bright red boats who catch buckets of fish in water so clear you can see a dime on the bottom of 10 feet of water.

 

...not sure I buy the yellow thing either.  Caught plenty of fish on yellow baits/lures, including this guy:

 

...that's a 30" musky caught on a white and yellow Clouser minnow in 18" of crystal clear water that I was wading in at the time.

[RoLo]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

You have to know I will Always have a Huge Sweet spot for the Briny Sea.

A-Jay

 

I do indeed.

Not only for your military service, but also your angling exploits.

[MickD]

Thanksfor all the comments; I knew when I posted it would be interesting.  I'll go with Doug Hannon; I think  he is probably the most expert on the subject.  I really didn't expect to get a comment that was that definitive.  Thanks especially to Bass Turd (you gotta do something about that name :-)  )

[crypt]

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I have no Idea - I just prefer to make very long casts and that seems like it does the trick.

I have heard that smallies really hate Taylor Swift Music though.

So there's that.

A-Jay

 

 

largemouth don't like her music either.

[Further North]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

Thanksfor all the comments; I knew when I posted it would be interesting.  I'll go with Doug Hannon; I think  he is probably the most expert on the subject.  I really didn't expect to get a comment that was that definitive.  Thanks especially to Bass Turd (you gotta do something about that name :-)  )

That'll work...

 

One thing about the pros: A significant part of their job is sell their sponsor's product.  I always keep that in mind.

 

I've seen fish unhooked from the lure that caught them and a sponsor's lure put in for the picture...I know of more than one who runs the competitor's electronics where they can't be easily seen...

[Bass Turd]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

Thanksfor all the comments; I knew when I posted it would be interesting.  I'll go with Doug Hannon; I think  he is probably the most expert on the subject.  I really didn't expect to get a comment that was that definitive.  Thanks especially to Bass Turd (you gotta do something about that name :-)  )

My first name is you... Heh.

 

I find this thread interesting. How many anglers are fanatical about color in choice of lures, line hooks and weights but dismiss the giant colored thing they are fishing in.

[Further North]

32 minutes ago, Bass Turd said:

I find this thread interesting. How many anglers are fanatical about color in choice of lures, line hooks and weights but dismiss the giant colored thing they are fishing in.

A lot of 'em.

 

None of it makes as much difference as they want to believe it does.

 

Same with choke on a shotgun.  No one misses by the inch or difference choke makes in a pattern.

[scaleface]

I tend to make my presence   stealthy .I wouldnt buy a colorful boat unless it was a heck of a deal . That said my boat is white . I got what was available and my wife wanted it . 

[S. Sass]

4 minutes ago, Bass Turd said:

I find this thread interesting. How many anglers are fanatical about color in choice of lures, line hooks and weights but dismiss the giant colored thing they are fishing in.

Well if I had my boat tied on the end of my line. Then cast it out away from where I was, and presented it in a manner to entice a fish to want to eat it I would put more consideration in to the color. My boat isn't a lure if it was it would be a huge topwater. 

 

But seriously I totally agree the extremes some of us go to over insignificant stuff is amusing. Many threads I read are strictly for the amusement when thing get to the rediciouls. 

 

Also if the trolling motor isn't spooking them off I seriously doubt the color on the bottom of my boat is a issue. But hey if someone wants to paint the bottom of their boat thinking that it's going to help, it's not my place to tell them different.

 

I would like to mention we have different colors on these baits because fish react differently to different colors all the time. Sometimes within hours the preference changes. How often do these people plan to change the color of their boat?  This could get to be a lot of work and expensive.