Originally Posted by jerry

i use matt hayes red mist in 12lb, i have done for 2 seasons now and have had no problems with it whats so ever, my catch rate has significantly increased while using it and the fish cant see it apparently :-) does wonders for your confidence which always helps tight lines jerry

But maybe, just maybe, you are a significantly better angler than you were two years ago?

I cannot argue with the confidence thing though. Much as I would like to. For I am totally convinced that confidence is a key factor in catch rates. I just wish I knew why.

I've always been confused about the red line-invisible to fish claim, I think it's stated that red is the first colour to disappear from the visible spectrum. However, red baits tend to work very well (red maggots, red boilies - noting they do smell, red headed lures). We're also working on the assumption that a fish's visible spectrum is the same as ours! Anyone got any opinions?

Woody

Originally Posted by BRISTOL TRAVELLER

Hi jerry. PM sent think I've done it right.

hi mate
no pm recieved so i,ll send you one then you can reply
cheers
jerry

Originally Posted by Woody

I've always been confused about the red line-invisible to fish claim, I think it's stated that red is the first colour to disappear from the visible spectrum. However, red baits tend to work very well (red maggots, red boilies - noting they do smell, red headed lures). We're also working on the assumption that a fish's visible spectrum is the same as ours! Anyone got any opinions? Woody

This seems to be one of the more informed opinions about fish seeing colour:

Once upon a time some scientists believed that fish were colour blind. However modern research has shown that nearly all our coarse fish have excellent colour vision.

However, it does differ from our own, and even differs from sea fish. For instance, our eyes can disriminate shades of green best, which isn't surprising when you consider we evolved in the treetops.

Sea fish are most adapted to blue light, this being the colour that penetrates deepest in the ocean.

Freshwater fish tend to live in shallow water that is often stained by suspended mud and rotting vegetation, the latter being coloured by yellowish-red pigments. Additionally this suspended matter scatters the light and creates a murky effect. Photographers have long known that a red filter will cut through such haze.

As a result coarse fish tend to be more sensitive to colours towards the red end of the spectrum (i.e. the opposite to sea fish).

This is especially marked in perch, which can see more into the infra-red than other species. Indeed, perch eyes contain a chemical called porphyropsin that absorbs further into the infra-red than any other known pigment.

Additionally, the cornea of a perch's eye prevents any blue light from reaching the retina, and moreover they have no blue-sensitive cones here, only green and red ones.

Note that perch may still be able to distinguish blue by the difference in stimulation on their green and red cones. This is similar to the human eye's ability to distinguish red, even though we have only yellow, green and blue-sensitive cones. Indeed, this is almost certain as perch have a blue patch under their chin, that often goes unnoticed by the angler, but presumably not by the perch.

What does all this mean in practice?

Well, firstly, perch see red very well. Whether they see red best in a given situation though depends on a number of other factors, including the background. However, I always make sure when maggot fishing for perch that I have some red ones as well as white. Additionally, I like my perch lures to have at least some red on them.

It also means that perch see particular well in murky waters - contrary to what a lot of authors, including some modern ones, write! In fact, of our coarse fish only zander have better eyesight in these conditions.

This gives perch a big advantage in dim light over their poorer-sighted prey, especially in the reddened light of dawn and dusk or in coloured water. Hence this is when they feed best. Indeed, perch rely so much on their vision rather than their other senses that it's extremely rare for them to hunt after dark

Your last line made me smile

I'm thinking of using red line so that I can see when the hook is 5 foot up a tree rather than 5 foot below the surface.

Maybe the fact that you dont see many Red hook length material tells us something,they would be all over the tackle shops if they were any good or are the top anglers keeping quite ??

Barrie

I agree completely with JayZS. A DVD was released a few years ago - Pure Carp - i think! They showed what happens to different colours as the depth of water increases. The Red colour does go first but the result - as Jay stated is a dark grey - it does not dissapear! Even then you need to get down to 20'+!

This begs, perhaps, a more important question - If the fish can see Jerry's red line so easily - why does he catch so well?

I've long been a believer that fish are less spooked by something they can see and therefore avoid, than something they can't see and bump into by accident. A fish can see the red line so aren't bothered by it - if your using a clear line under the impression it won't spook the fish you could be making a big mistake in your fishing!

Originally Posted by Free Spirit

I've long been a believer that fish are less spooked by something they can see and therefore avoid, than something they can't see and bump into by accident. A fish can see the red line so aren't bothered by it - if your using a clear line under the impression it won't spook the fish you could be making a big mistake in your fishing!

That is a theory worthy of some thought.