08-21-2010, 03:51 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I wrote an article at one time called "Triggers"...no, not guns...referring to the variations in size, color and patterns on lures and flies that "trigger" fish into striking. I lost my digital file of the article during a computer malfunction but I have issued variations on it several times since.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The main idea is that visually oriented fish respond to a wide range of stimuli that cause them to attack a fly or lure. Even though fish are widely thought to be mostly color blind, I believe that there are colors within certain wavelengths that DO cause fish to respond. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Red, for example, is almost a universal color for many species. Blood? Maybe. Maybe it is just dark enough that it is visible in low light. I have proven to myself that even different shades of red or fluorescent red can have different levels of appeal at different times and on different species.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]White is another universal color...or lack thereof. It shows up under almost any light conditions. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Chartreuse is one of the "hot" colors that appeal to a lot of fish. It really shows up in low light or in murky water and is especially good when used in combination with contrasting darker colors...like red.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Bottom line is that sight feeding fish will respond faster and more aggressively to something they can see well...and which has appealing colors. There are several colors that go together well with chartreuse. Obviously the red works well. But, so do black, hot pink, purple and orange. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I make jigs and tie flies incorporating most of these combinations. All of them work. Some work better under certain conditions than at other times...or in comparison to other colors. But whenever water temps and clarity are changing and you need more visibility, the hot two tones are good to have in the arsenal. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The main idea is that visually oriented fish respond to a wide range of stimuli that cause them to attack a fly or lure. Even though fish are widely thought to be mostly color blind, I believe that there are colors within certain wavelengths that DO cause fish to respond. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Red, for example, is almost a universal color for many species. Blood? Maybe. Maybe it is just dark enough that it is visible in low light. I have proven to myself that even different shades of red or fluorescent red can have different levels of appeal at different times and on different species.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]White is another universal color...or lack thereof. It shows up under almost any light conditions. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Chartreuse is one of the "hot" colors that appeal to a lot of fish. It really shows up in low light or in murky water and is especially good when used in combination with contrasting darker colors...like red.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Bottom line is that sight feeding fish will respond faster and more aggressively to something they can see well...and which has appealing colors. There are several colors that go together well with chartreuse. Obviously the red works well. But, so do black, hot pink, purple and orange. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I make jigs and tie flies incorporating most of these combinations. All of them work. Some work better under certain conditions than at other times...or in comparison to other colors. But whenever water temps and clarity are changing and you need more visibility, the hot two tones are good to have in the arsenal. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[signature]