Color Affecting Fish Boat or Clothing

[LUNKER]

With lots of clear water around me, lots of people laughed at my hunters orange camo jacket when I wore it on fishing days. As the season went on, I kind of felt it did. I eliminated the funky jacket and ended up doing well.  

Last years Angler of the year in my club bought a new boat. Did the color turn the fish off? He did well in stained to dirty water tourneys. Although he did rotten in clear water tournaments. The only thing that changed was his boats. His numbers in clear water went down.

No Offense Squid, but your boats bright red.

What color would be best or a fish cant see?

[Sam]

I have never heard any discussions about boat colors.  I would think the boat and motor noise would have a greater affect on the fish.  The boats are usually away from the strike zones, unless you are using the drop shot method.  On the other hand, to be more "unseen" by the fish, I purchased a camouflage shirt, hung it in my closet, and now I can't find it. ;D

[Chris]

Here is my thought. In heavy stained water I don't think that the color of your boat or clothes makes a difference atleast for me. Clear water to a degree would matter, and movement matters more. The fish pick up movement and noise more so than an odd color that doesn't blend with the surroundings. When I did alot of sight fishing in Florida we always said if you can see the fish the fish can see you. Fish like deer know whats different to their surroundings and pick up movement like a owl. You can sit there for hours pitching in a bed you can see the fish and the fish knows and see you and never get bit. You can then leave and come back to the bed (fishing from shore) and act like a herring rock back and forth like a wind (you can laugh now but it works). The fish then thinks that you blend with the enviroment and will then hit. You can also pitch into the bed then back off the bed so that the fish calms down and will hit. I think that threatening movement or noise puts fish on notice and are less likly to hit but when fish calm down they then will feed. I don't think boat color matters as long as you keep distance between you and the fish.

[Stickling]

In clear water, if bass are close enouph they can see you and it scares them.

[LUNKER]

I did some more homework and found this: In fresh water, sound waves travel at 1,482 meters per second (about 3,315 mph)  Now given that  ugly casts will certainly alert a fish because that is abnormal from above. Unless your fishing a walnut tree in the fall and there use to nuts falling on them. Odds are, they will  act adversely to this.  But with the speed of travel , I dont believe music or anything else would severely effect a bass as much as a visual would.  

Back on subject. Surely there is a color that bass least likely see for a boat color or garment? Having the understanding that movement would trigger a change in environment. So fish up sun? If your fishing with the sun at your back, your creating shadows with movement.  Does the sun effect fish eyes like humans?  All good questions I believe.

Wheres the bass professor?

[scbassin]

Sun does effect Bass. They have no eye lids so on bright days they use more cover. Years ago when I 1st. started bass fishing it was said the color of your clothes & boat did matter. I don't hear that anymore but I can tell you in clear water shadows matter. If you are in shallow water fish so your shadow falls behind you.

[Aaron_S]

When I went to the bassmaster university last year Denny Brauer said that one thing to look for is your shadow, because he said bass realize from an early age that a shadow could be a herron and this herron could be a potential threat.

[squid]

HUMMMMM????...lol  No the boat color had no effect on the fish.  Was 2 feet from them on some lakes and they didn't run and hide.  I caught a nice one too.  Sight Fishing that day.  But I do know they can see you if you can see them.

[John Cullum]

In a clear pond or smaller lake I think noise and reflections might come into play.I'm not sure it's so much color as what flake you have. The sun will reflect of the water of the side of your boat and back into the water. I'm sure if a bass sees the 10,000 light beams coming from the surface it may spook them a bit in clear water. The noise thing I believe is way over rated. Most of our lakes on the weekends are so busy I would think the bass would get conditioned to boat noise,reflection, music,talking and normal traffic noise. I'm not saying it's a good idea to throw a few rocks or bang around things in the bottom of your metal boat. But normal motor noise and music or talking probadly doesn't spook the fish on a busy lake. On the other hand I think all of the above will probadly spook them ina pond or smaller lake that doesn't get alot of traffic. These fish aren't used to noise and will be less likely to bit if your loud or have your motor running.

[Shad_Master]

I have watched fishing shows where a guy standing in a wrapped boat with a tournament shirt covered in patches is telling me that I should were soft colored shirts and hats to avoid spooking the fish  :-/

[Chris]

Good point lol!

[Nick]

I know a  pro who wrapped his boat in camo last year and swore he had moe good bites close to his boat than ever before.  He fishes clear Ozark waters, and believed that those that followed a crankbait bit a lot better at the end of his cast than he ever had seen previously. I've always opted for a cream to gray hull with blue if possible just to make my boat blend in with the sky.  

Bass can see above the water pretty well in clear water. If you have ever tried to catch a big shallow fish fairly close to you, you know how important it is to keep that rod low to the water to make that all important cast. A high rod position will often spook the fish. Of course, if they are bedding, it usually doesn't mater as much.