Can fish REALLY see color??????

Seefood Man · 01-13-2002, 05:53 AM

I have always pondered this question. Can fish REALLY see colors, or is it a matter of right place at the right time. In the back of human eye we possess what are called Rods and Cones. These are what makes it possible for us to see colors. Simply, people that lack all or part of these can’t distinguish some or all colors. Dogs lack these rods and cones also, thus their color blind. So the question is; does fish definitely possess these rods and cones? If they do then I’ll keep up my endless impulse buying of different colored warts, flatfish, corkies, ect. every time I see a good color. Or do I get a can of spray paint and say heck with it, and take one more confusing decision out of the game?

Lund · 01-13-2002, 06:09 AM

chinook are suppossed to be color blind, but steelhead are definatly attracted to some colors more than others.

Pete · 01-13-2002, 06:18 AM

I don't know about the physiology of vision in fish, but I do know that different colors reflect different wavelengths of light. Remember how spectrums work? And different colors of water absorb different wavelengths of light. And different sun angles permit different wavelenths to penetrate the water. So, presumably, there is a "best" color for each combination of factors that allows the fish to see the lure. But seeing isn't the whole picture either. There has to be a reaction to what is seen ... maybe the question isn't "what do fish see", but "what do fish think!"

Jim · 01-13-2002, 06:21 AM

Hey Pete,
Well....keep buying all those colors and remain a little confused. Fish eyes are similar to ours with both Rods and Cones. Some of course are more defined than others but they are similar. There sight is of course more fine tuned to the environment they live in. Fish that live in Fresh Clear water have eyes that can distinguish much longer wavelengths of color where as a fish that lives in fairly turbid water is more tuned into shorter wavelengths so as to be able to determine what it is rather than how "pretty" it is.

So, if you wonder why one color works where others don't.......there you go!

Sorry!

Jim

DanS · 01-13-2002, 08:56 AM

The fish we are after are most definitely not color blind. How much color has to do with their willingness to bite is a whole different question.

Man, how simple would an angler's life be if fish were color blind? :shocked:

PEEPS · 01-13-2002, 10:33 AM

An interesting book on the subject is 'What Fish See:' by Colin Kageyama.

He's a doctor of optometry and a steelheader that live's in Oregon.

Some eye opening (pun?)info about the effects of water depth on color transmission and what colors work best in different types of water, and a bunch more on fish eye physiology etc.

He also uses the book to promote his 'see best' system of lures and a kit of filters you can buy from him to check out the colors of lures in different types of water without donning scuba gear.

Says on the cover it's a Frank Amato publication.

PEEPS

periwinkle · 01-13-2002, 05:18 PM

My son was into bass fishin ummmm like 20 years ago and I used to tag along to watch over my equipment :grin: -- and we bought a gizmo that you lowered into the water (lakes) and a meter told you what color to use (invented by some PHD). Seems like it almost always pointed to the same metallic color, regardless of the depth!!!!

William · 01-13-2002, 11:13 PM

Yes they do see color. It is all dependant on light fitration and depth.

William · 01-13-2002, 11:15 PM

Oops, filtration.