In one of the previous issues of RKG, we gave a fragment of a conversation with employees of the Nizhny Novgorod Laboratory of Lake and River Fisheries. And we began to receive letters from readers with specific questions to Nizhny Novgorod ichthyologists. We present the most interesting questions and answers to them from senior employee of GosNIORH Alexander Evgenievich Minin in today's issue of the newspaper.
The most common question is: Do fish see colors? In your opinion, does the color of a spinning bait matter?
Most fish can distinguish colors; this is a scientifically proven fact. Therefore, the color of the fishing lure matters. It is necessary, however, to take into account that with increasing depth, different colors tend to look different, “turn” into other colors. At great depths, color will be much less important than on the surface.
There is high water in the Volga and Oka all winter. Does this mean that the level of the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station was “quietly” raised?
No, the level has not been raised; moreover, this issue, as far as I know, has been postponed indefinitely. Water levels are high due to an abnormal "winter flood". This situation with high water this winter has one important advantage: ice collapse in the coastal zone, which can “lock in” the fish, is less likely. Such facts took place, for example, near Vasilsursk two years ago. Then one of the bays was “cut off” from the Volga, and as a result a lot of bream and other fish died.
What is the reason for the fact that a lot of fish accumulate under the dam of the Gorky hydroelectric station?
We are talking, apparently, about the so-called “slots”? Under the dam, the ecology is generally favorable for some species of fish, in particular for perch. However, a large number of fish are observed in this zone only under conditions of high water. In this case, a lot of perch actually accumulate in the protected area. The area from the mouth of the Oka to the dam is generally very rich in perch. The share of perch fry, for example, reaches 60% of the total number of fry.
It is not so rare on the Volga that spinning and girdle anglers catch pike with extensive ulcers visible on its body. What kind of disease is this? Isn't it dangerous for humans?
This is pike ulcer disease, a disease caused by copepods. The disease has not yet been sufficiently studied, so it is better not to eat sick fish (and this can be not only pike, but also other species), even if it is heat treated.
How is the science of ichthyology developing at present?
The question requires too detailed an answer. I can only report that the Ministry of Agriculture has named 2007 the year of fish in Russia. This means that the results of scientific research will be in greater demand.
Interviewed by Dmitry Sokolov
I decided to take a look at the topics on the Internet The color of the bait or what the fish sees in the water. This is what I found, I’m putting one topic for you to review, if there is an opinion from other authors, we’ll be happy to get to know them.
What is visible in the water or does color matter?
There is probably no fisherman who would not ask himself such a question. Really, what do we know about this? Is it worth going to so much effort to accurately depict on the bait the scales, fins and various spots characteristic of the species that it is intended to imitate? If so, how and with what effectiveness does its color influence the predator’s interest in it? In other words, are the huge number of colorful artificial lures on the shelves of our fishing stores just a trap for our wallets or are they really necessary?
Each of you, dear colleagues, has probably heard the following stories: on this lake the pike takes only the yellow “wobbler”, on the other - it reacts only to the silver one, and, for example, on this section of the river the wobbler must have a blue back - to the blackback You'll never catch a decent chub here.
As a bait manufacturer, I often get asked questions in this regard and expect professional feedback. Let me comment on these stories, but from the position not of the manufacturer, but of an ichthyologist who has tested such assumptions in practice and believes that from a scientific point of view they are completely justified.
Scientists have been studying fish vision for over 100 years, and fishermen often encourage their research by providing interesting, practical information. But, nevertheless, this process is still only partially studied, and it is unknown whether the time will come when our knowledge will allow us to accurately imagine what image appears in the pike’s brain when it sees our bait.
And yet we know quite a lot about it, for example -
What happens to the light afterits penetration into the aquatic environment
Everyone knows that white light consists of a spectrum in which specific colors correspond to waves of specific lengths. The human eye detects the following components of white light, in order from longest to shortest wavelengths: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo and violet.
Light behaves differently in water and in air. Water is said to “filter light.” Firstly, you should know that light, when penetrating deep into the water, loses energy. This is due both to the reflection and scattering of part of the waves from the surface, and to their late absorption. Individual colors are absorbed as depth increases. As they penetrate into the depths of the water, warm colors fade and change to gray-black. At a depth of about 3 m, first the red color disappears, then the orange, and the yellow begins to fade quickly. At a depth of about 20 m, the yellow color looks like green-blue, and only blue, indigo and violet remain unchanged to the eye. At a depth of 40 m, violet disappears.
It should, however, be remembered that these data are approximate and relate to the waters of a crystal clear lake. Any cloudiness of the water caused by organic substances, which are often present even in clean reservoirs, as well as the ripples of the water surface dramatically change these numbers.
Light energy disappears with increasing depth, so the yellow color at a depth of 10 m is still perceived as yellow, but its intensity will be much less than at a depth of 3 m. In a clear lake at a depth of 3 m, the red color will still be noticeable, but in a muddy river it will “turn” black already half a meter from the surface.
The discussion on whether (and to what extent) the color of artificial baits affects fishing results should begin with a brief analysis of our knowledge of fish vision. Many times I have heard that anglers doubt that the effectiveness of lures depends on their color. Therefore, we are interested, firstly,
Do fish see the world in different colors?
Since we already know that even dogs have great “problems” in distinguishing most colors (they see yellow and blue best), then fish, which are at a lower stage of development, most likely should not distinguish any colors . Well, this is not true at all! Ichthyological studies have irrefutably proven that most fish species distinguish all the colors that a person sees, and some even more! Of course, different species of fish have completely different abilities to distinguish colors; this also depends on the natural conditions of the habitat (water transparency and light intensity). The eye of a fish is designed similarly to the eyes of other vertebrates. The retina plays a major role in vision; it contains receptors that respond to light. These are two types of photoreceptor cells that consist of so-called rods and cones. Rods receive signals of low intensity, and cones act in strong light. Cones are responsible for distinguishing colors, just like in vertebrates. Humans, for example, have three types of cones, which are responsible for recognizing the three primary colors - red, green and blue. The retina arranged in this way allows us to distinguish more than 300 thousand shades of colors.
The structure of the retina of a fish eye depends on environmental conditions.
Diurnal fish have many more cones in their retinas, so they are much better at distinguishing colors than nocturnal species. Fish that live in shallow and well-lit areas have four or even five types of cones (for example, trout), so they can capture more colors than humans (for example, ultraviolet light). In fish whose eyes have two types of cones, the ability to distinguish colors is correspondingly more limited (for example, pike perch).
Fish living in low-light conditions have only one type of cone cell; their retina is characterized by a large number of rods and a small number of cones. For example, in burbot their ratio is 200:1. Deep-sea fish, as well as some river species known to our fishermen (for example, catfish) do not have cones at all. The eyes of these fish are very sensitive to light. They have little discernment of details.
The maximum sensitivity of a fish's eye to light depends not only on its species. This parameter can vary greatly within the same species when adapting to specific conditions (for example, living in the dark).
So, we found out that fish, for the most part, distinguish colors better than people. How important is this for us fishermen? In other words -
Will using baits of different colors increase the chances of a good catch?
Based on studies of the biochemical processes that occur in the retina, as well as experiments involving training fish, you can try to imagine how different fish see our baits (see figure).
In order for a predator to “buy” our bait, he must first capture this bait with his eye. To do this, it is necessary that it stands out against the background of the environment. This is especially important in low light conditions.
At great depths, where only remnants of light penetrate, white and silver will be more contrasting against a green-blue background. A good effect is also obtained when using textured foil, which reflects the remaining light in different directions.
Surely, some special color or color combination, clearly visible, for example, against the background of a sandy bottom, will not be as clearly visible against the background of a dark bottom or at depth. And, probably, this is what we should be guided by when choosing bait, because most predators detect the presence of a potential prey near them precisely because they see a contrasting object that stands out against the background of the environment. This depends on several factors: time of day, type of bottom, water transparency, amount of light entering this place, etc.
As we previously determined, color is an important factor in determining bait detection. Is it the most important? We must remember what fishing with artificial bait is based on.
The bait imitates the food familiar to the fish; the sight of it mobilizes a feeling of hunger in the predator. Is this the only motivation for the attack? One of the famous Polish writers (a passionate fisherman!) once wrote that some baits are so beautiful that fish, grabbing them, thus express their admiration for the skill of human hands. Fish don’t have hands, so they “applaud” with their mouths!
Whether a predator attacks the bait or ignores it is based on a number of factors. Fish evaluates the size, shape and method of movement of an object. The sound emanating from the object and its smell are also important, and quite possibly some other factors that we have no idea about. The more of these factors the predator evaluates as attractive, the more often he decides to attack the bait - that’s what matters to the fisherman.
However, we must remember what senses, besides sight, are used by the predators we are interested in. Most of them - pike, perch, asp, trout - have good visual memory. Others - such as catfish - use more senses to hunt. However, the sideline is very important for everyone. It is known that even the pike, which for various reasons (mainly due to the human factor) is completely deprived of vision, hunts well, detecting its prey only with the help of this supersensitive organ.
Therefore, without a doubt, the use of colored baits can help deceive a predator if fishing takes place
In clean water
Clean and well-lit water is a serious challenge for anglers who want to deceive predators with artificial baits. In this case, the color and model of the bait become even more important.
However, will success always be guaranteed to us if we choose colors depending on our own preferences? One of the American fishermen describes an interesting case of the inexplicable effectiveness of the color of oxidized lead in the clear water of a mountain stream. The fact he discovered was later investigated. It turned out that for unknown reasons, trout living in the stream saw and attacked baits of gray and lead colors that were hardly noticeable to us much better than, for example, shiny nickel or polished silver colors.
It is possible that fish see these colors completely differently than humans. This poses big challenges for bait manufacturers. It is necessary to copy the color of oxidized lead, although in principle it is not known what it should actually look like...
Both scientific research and fishing practice show that white and transparent baits work well in clear water. Delicate shiny designs based on the use of sparkles or holographic foil work well. Perhaps this is how shiny scales are imitated. The blue color is also clearly visible to fish. Nothing surprising - for example, in the waters of the Baltic for many years, the most effective combination when hunting predators has been azure, silver and white.
So, it turns out that it is quite enough to use only the appropriate colors and their shades in order to successfully catch predators with artificial baits in clear water?
This question often arises in conversations between fishermen. Many of them believe that a hungry pike (and usually it is hungry) attacks everything that moves. When making bait, does it make sense to pay close attention to the image of scale patterns, fins and spots characteristic of an imitation species?
It turns out that fish, which have a more complex retina than humans, have no problems recognizing even the smallest objects, and therefore our baits too. In the pike retina, for example, there is only one cone for every 3-4 large rods. This structure leads to the fact that the eye of this predator has low sensitivity to light and at the same time is able to perfectly recognize and distinguish various little things.
The low threshold of sensitivity to light intensity does not interfere with the pike, since, as we already know, it usually hunts from dawn to dusk.
But trout are not only better able to distinguish colors and the smallest details of potential victims - unlike humans, they can also simultaneously see near and distant objects, as well as distinguish colors from different distances. These data once again confirm the fact, well known to anglers, that trout is a very serious opponent. When fishing, they should carefully camouflage themselves; every careless movement on the shore usually threatens to leave them without a catch in that place.
Experiments conducted by one of the German ichthyologists, who fed small pikes with male guppies, proved that predators, after a short training, could distinguish between victims that differed slightly in color.
Simple experience based on training fish shows that they quickly learn to distinguish basic geometric shapes. In addition, predators were interested in certain graphic patterns. These were two concentric elements with contrasting colors.
The greatest activity and even aggression was caused by a figure consisting of two concentric circles, with the inner one supposed to be darker than the outer one. But this is a typical graphic symbol of the eye!
It turned out that at the last moment before an attack, predators aim precisely at the eye of a potential victim.
This is usually associated with a slight “correction” in the direction of the attack - towards the eye. In other words, the predator anticipates that at the last moment the prey will turn to the side on which the eye is located.
Nature made sure that some fish could deceive their pursuers and created a dark spot, like an “extra eye,” on the sides of the body or on the tail. So there is a rationale for putting big eyes on artificial baits. But, naturally, for fish that are active at night, such as catfish, this does not matter.
Now let's try to understand whether it makes sense to devote a lot of time and attention to the colors and patterns of our lures,
When everything turns gray
Of great importance, of course, is the maximum intensity of lighting at the time of fishing. On a cloudy day, colors fade much faster than on a sunny day. At dusk, when the light falls, the fish's eyes readjust and begin to see with rods. Colors are perceived at this time as faint shades between white and black. To attract the attention of a predator at this time of day, you need to use a color that will contrast with the surface of the water, so if you are fishing in clear water, red is the best choice.
Six years ago, my friend and I were fishing for pike in the Swedish Baltic skerries. It was a wonderful, sunny day. The fish bit well, and the attack was clearly visible in the crystal clear water. Predators attacked our jerkbaits from afar. A friend was then learning to fish with a slider and often changed baits. As a result, at the end of the day I had many more fish caught on my account.
Before evening fell, we decided to drop into a small bay between three small islands overgrown with tall pine trees. There were pikes here too. In a short time I caught three pike weighing 2-3 kg. I fished with a SALMO slider in Real Perch color. When the sun went below the horizon, the bites stopped. My friend decided to try fishing with a red slider (Red Tiger). At dusk, only this color was visible from afar and made it possible to observe the work of the bait.
I probably would never have believed what happened then if I had not seen it with my own eyes. Over the next fifteen minutes my friend pulled out 7 beautiful pike weighing about 5 kg! Meanwhile, when I tried to fish with the same natural-colored bait, I didn’t even see a hint of an attack!
Fish that hunt in low light conditions - at night, in turbid water, at great depths - adapt to this in different ways.
The pike perch's eye has two types of cones. The big ones are responsible for yellow and orange, and the small ones see green. The effectiveness of these colors can be confirmed by anyone who has caught pike perch. In addition, the cones of this predator are exceptionally large in size, due to which they are the object of research by physiologists who study the process of vision not only in fish.
An additional improvement in the vision of pike perch is the layer of guanine lining the inside of the eyeball, which reflects light. Thanks to this, it passes through the cones twice, thereby enhancing the signal passing to the brain. This is why the eyes of pike perch sparkle silvery even in very dim light. A similar effect is produced by the eyes of some mammals that hunt at night.
Thanks to this eye structure, pike perch has incredibly sensitive vision and sees perfectly even in cases where other fish, not to mention people, see absolutely nothing! Anglers should remember that when fishing for this predator it is worth paying attention to the smallest details of the bait, and the best color combination is yellow-green.
A pioneer in fish vision research is Professor Dwight Burkhardt of the University of Minnesota. The professor began researching the retina of pike perch more than 30 years ago. The current created in cones under the influence of light stimuli was studied. Walleye cones, although very large, have a diameter five times smaller than a human hair. In order not to disrupt their normal functions, electrodes with a diameter of 0.0001 mm were used!
The catfish retina is structured completely differently. It has no cones at all. They use sticks exclusively, and this leads to the fact that the catfish sees bright light as white, and the rest of the illumination of the catfish’s eyes is recorded as all shades of gray.
Catfish vision, compared to human vision, is much more sensitive at low light levels. On a dark, cloudy night, the catfish perfectly sees what a person can hardly see under the full moon!
Of course, all anglers know that vision is not the most important quality of these predators. They often live in very muddy and dark waters and mainly forage for food at night. During the hunt, this predator, in addition to the lateral line, also uses hearing and smell. He is attracted to all sorts of aromatic attractants and sounds. Using a noisy bait - a rattling wobbler or a popper splashing on the surface, the sound of a quok - all these are completely reasonable actions.
However, this does not mean that the color of catfish baits is not important. An excellent choice in this case is fluorescent painting. The most visible bait in the dark is the one that glows green. In normal lighting, it becomes gray-pink and looks very inconspicuous, so anglers often neglect it.
Today, many fluorescent dyes have appeared on the market. It is enough to shine a flashlight for a few seconds on the bait, painted in such a way that it releases the accumulated energy for at least an hour. In addition to green, dyes of other colors appeared - blue, red, pink and yellow. It is recommended to use several colors so that you can get the most contrasting composition - for example, a green-red pattern.
Among special dyes, the best known and most popular are fluorescent dyes. It has long been known that the use of these colors significantly increases the effectiveness of artificial lures, and one of the best selling wobbler colors is the so-called Green Tiger, also known as the Fire Tiger.
However, do we know where this comes from?
The mystery of fluorescence?
Under normal lighting, fluorescent paints differ from ordinary ones in a lighter shade. They acquire their characteristics when exposed to short light waves, especially ultraviolet. They seem very bright to us, as if glowing by themselves.
Underwater, their range of action is much greater than that of other flowers. We already know that at depth only the shortest waves are active, that is, ultraviolet. The conclusion suggests itself: baits intended for fishing at great depths should be painted in “fluo”. In studies in lakes with clear water, some fluorescent colors, such as yellow and pink, were clearly visible at depths of more than 40 m!
Low-light conditions aren't just limited to depth. Morning and evening dawns, heavy cloudiness, rain and waves, muddy water - all these factors significantly reduce the amount of light thanks to which the predator sees our bait. Therefore, it is recommended to experiment with these colors precisely when other colors “turn grey”.
We started fishing with the bait that was most effective that day - SALMO Skinner 15 cm long in RGS color.
For the first hour nothing happened. The sky became overcast and dusk fell very quickly. I decided to fish with a Green Tiger colored lure. Over the next hour, I had four bites and managed to pull out two fish, including my record muskie, 131 cm long. At the same time, my colleagues who fished with the RGS color did not bite even once! The color of the GT in the approaching twilight and in the dark water of the lake, as they say, hit the bull’s eye.
Maskinong 131 cm long, almost the same color,
like water (the fish’s back is blue-green),
but the fluorescent-colored bait is very visible.
On clear, sunny days and at night, using fluorescent colors does not make the slightest sense.
Additionally, research has shown that the colors that are best seen from a long distance underwater are fluo yellow and fluo green. This happens because usually the water in a river or lake is green-yellow, and fluo flowers have a slightly longer wavelength than ordinary ones. And fishermen noticed that in conditions of intensive feeding of predators, fluo baits are inferior to baits of natural colors.
As a result, we can draw the following practical conclusion. To lure a predator from a long distance, you should use fluo-colored bait. What, however, needs to be done so that a predator lured from afar, say, by the color fluo yellow and seeing the bait up close, does not hesitate to attack? The easiest way out is to use a natural pattern on the body of fluorescent baits. Therefore, the Hot Perch color is a record holder, regardless of the body of water in which it is used. However, do we know the reasons why fluorescent colors have such an effect on predators? After all, it is very difficult to find forage fish in nature with a similar coloring. An explanation for this phenomenon may be the imperfection of human vision.
As I mentioned earlier, humans see far fewer colors than predators. The fluorescent dye is found in the blood of vertebrates. This fact is used, for example, in forensic science to detect distant blood stains using a UV emitter. It has long been known that predators are very sensitive to traces of blood in their environment. Perhaps they notice it not only with the help of smell. There is a theory according to which this is precisely the magnetic effect of fluorescence.
conclusions
In conclusion, we can confidently state that the color of the baits we use undoubtedly matters. This is also important in cases where we catch even fish that are not very picky in this regard or those that do not distinguish colors. Several conclusions emerge that I hope will help you choose the right bait and thus improve your catches.
The key to success is the bait's ability to attract the attention of a predator. For a predator to notice the bait from a long distance, a more important factor than its color is its contrast, that is, its difference from the background of the environment.
Most predators watch the surface of the water when hunting, so it is often important how the color of the bait contrasts against its background.
To increase contrast, a combination of contrasting colors helps - black and white, yellow and black, red and white.
Increase the contrast of your lure in muddy water and decrease it by using natural-colored lures in clear water.
Don't forget about black, which is probably the most contrasting of all colors regardless of conditions.
When fishing at night, you should use baits painted with luminescent paints, i.e. accumulating light (for example, using a hand-held flashlight) and visible at any depth.
And finally, the last and most important conclusion. Remember that the most important factor influencing the effectiveness of a bait is not its color, but the correct presentation and wiring, and in general, your theoretical knowledge and practical skills!
Piotr Piskorski: “This pike vomited a couple of fresh herrings into the boat.
Now it’s clear why she grabbed the silver holographic imitation.”
Does a fish think?
There is no reason to talk about any intelligence of fish. Fish cannot think. Her brain only coordinates activity at the level of unconditioned reflexes, i.e. hereditarily fixed programs characteristic of fish from the day of their birth, but, unlike higher vertebrates, does not make decisions and is not able to make generalizations. With age, fish can accumulate and adopt certain life experiences, which help some to escape from enemies (fishermen, predators), and others - predators - to hunt more successfully.
How well do fish see?
Pisces are myopic by nature. Most fish clearly distinguish objects within one to two meters, and the maximum range of vision does not exceed 15 m. Some fish have very acute vision at a distance of up to 5 cm from the eyes. Predatory fish (taimen, pike), which focus on their prey using their visual organs, have relatively good vision. They distinguish objects at a distance of 10-15 m. Bream, crucian carp and tench, which live in muddy water, lead a school life and search for food objects using the organs of smell and touch, have rather poor vision.
What is the fish's field of vision?
Each eye of a fish has its own field of view, and both eyes cover a large viewing sector - about 270, i.e. the fish sees objects not only in front and to the sides, but also somewhat behind. A similar view of the fish is provided by the structure of the eyes and their location. The fish's eyes do not have eyelids and never close.
Can fish taste food?
Numerous experiments prove that fish are able to distinguish between sweet, sour, salty and bitter in much the same way as humans. The organs of taste - taste buds - in most fish are located in the oral cavity, sometimes at the ends of the antennae and lips (burbot, cod), less often on the surface of the body (carp). These fish can taste food that has not yet entered the mouth.
Can fish smell?
Many fish have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. They perceive bloodworm extract in a dilution of 1:1,000,000,000. Biologically active substances (pheromones) released by fish into the water differ in negligible concentrations - 10-6-10-9 mg/l. Sex pheromones and alarm pheromones have been detected in fish. The odorous secretions (sex pheromone) of males and females specifically influence their behavior and physiological state and contribute to their occurrence at spawning sites. The presence of alarm pheromone, released from the skin of wounded fish at a concentration of 10-7 mg/l, causes alarm in peaceful fish and their departure from a dangerous place. Extracts from swimming beetles and water striders repel roaches and crucian carp; extracts from bear skin cause anxiety in salmon. Crucians and carps even react to water in which predatory fish were kept.
What smells attract or repel fish?
It is known that fish do not take a bait that emits the smell of sweat, tobacco, cologne, fuel oil, or diesel fuel. Anglers widely use the smells of certain oils that attract fish when preparing baits or lures (hemp, mint, camphor, anise, sunflower). Predatory fish are attracted to the smell of wounded and dead victims.
Can fish see color?
Fish of many species see approximately the same colors as humans. And they react even more subtly to shades of blue, blue and violet. Confirmation of the ability to distinguish colors can be seen in the ability of many fish to change color depending on the color of the soil and water. A gudgeon, accustomed to receiving food from a red bowl, always easily finds it from many similar bowls of other colors.
Do fish have memory?
A perch, once caught on a hook, avoids the worm on the hook that is presented to it again, but grabs the worm on the thread offered to it. Many aquarium fish take food from the hands of their owner and never from the hands of other people. Fish that have once been caught in a trawl or net, but have escaped by squeezing through the mesh, are more cautious and fearful, which allows them to subsequently more successfully avoid the fishing gear.
Do the sounds of music scare fish?
ABOUT The timidity and caution of fish has long been known. But sometimes in reservoirs, in places intensively visited by amateur fishermen, fish can develop a reflex of attraction to noise, usually associated with the appearance of complementary food at the bottom at this time. Note that this happens rarely; in most cases, the fish is in a hurry to move away from the source of the sound. If the sound source is on the ground, stone, ice or in a boat, the fish hears it even at a great distance. Acoustic vibrations are directly transmitted through water or through solid objects in contact with water - ice, soil, boat hull. The fish hears these sounds well. To avoid this, the radio should be hung on your shoulder (when fishing from a boat) or on a tree or bush if fishing is carried out from the shore. In this case, acoustic vibrations pass through the air and enter the water already weakened and do not frighten the fish.
Fish feeding time.
Feeding times during the day vary among fish. Some feed during the day, others at night, and others little by little around the clock. Depending on this, they are divided into daytime, twilight and nighttime. Daytime ones include: pike, perch, asp, dace, crucian carp, rudd, gudgeon, bleak and all small fish. Crepuscular: roach, tench, pike perch, ruffe, bream, carp, sterlet, sabrefish. At night - catfish, burbot, eel, silver carp. They feed almost around the clock: chub, silver bream, ide. Consumption of food by fish occurs intermittently, at more or less specific times. In predatory fish such breaks last more than a day; in herbivorous fish they are not long. The fish also feed unevenly throughout the year. Some feed all year round (ruffe, dace), others - almost the whole year (perch, pike, pike perch), others stop feeding during spawning (roach, carp, tench), catfish, carp, crucian carp do not feed in winter.
How do fish "play"?
Not all fish swim calmly and rest in the water; many “play” and even “hit”. Thus, the carp is thrown high out of the water and falls back with a loud splash. Pike and pike perch are also thrown out, but not as high as carp, and their splash is quieter. But the asp simply jumps up over the water, as if taking off, falling with such a noise that it can be heard in any part of the reservoir. They say that the asp hits the water with its tail to stun small fish and then eat them. The perch, chasing the fry on the surface of the water, gasps for air and “slurps”, and the chub in the upper layer of the water gurgles, as if someone is throwing pebbles into the water. Bream does not jump in the water, but on warm summer evenings, usually after rain, it sticks its head out into the air, extends its dorsal fin and, showing its tail, goes into the depths.
Lateral line in fish. What it is?
This is a completely unique device capable of detecting the slightest vibrations in water. A channel runs along the sides of the fish’s body, opening on the surface through holes in the scales. Nerve cells in the canals inform the fish about its surroundings. Waves run from a swimming fish, are reflected from underwater objects and, returning to the fish, are perceived by the lateral line organ. The lateral line, which is what this tactile organ is called, allows fish to sense the vibrations of water, the movement of other fish in the neighborhood, navigate in muddy water, and avoid bumping into obstacles even in the complete absence of light or blindness, while performing the function of a kind of radar.
For most animals, the world is available in black and white. Some species are able to distinguish only certain color shades. The same dogs, for example, see yellow and blue color tones well. There is an opinion that color is inaccessible to fish, and, therefore, the world is black and white for them. But then, how to explain the fact that some of them chose a method of protection from predators, which boils down to changing the color of their body and matching it to the surrounding landscape? So it turns out that the colors of the fish are still distinguishable. Scientists have proven that some of their species see the same color spectrum as humans, and even more. Again, it all depends on living conditions, water transparency, and sunlight intensity.
The retina of a fish eye is replete with light-sensitive receptors. There are two types. The former are represented by rods, the latter by cones. Cones perceive daylight, the most intense light. They are also capable of perceiving different color shades. Sticks are designed to receive weaker light.
The retina of the human eye has three types of cones, which are capable of perceiving three primary colors - red, green, blue. All ostial shades are obtained by applying one color to another. In total, a person is able to distinguish about 300 color shades. Diurnal fish species have significantly more cones in their retinas, which means they are able to perceive a wider range of colors. For obvious reasons, nocturnal fish do not have this opportunity. For example, in fish living in shallow waters, the retina of the eye contains up to five cones. They can see many more colors than humans. This may even include ultraviolet light. Some freshwater fish, such as pike perch, have only two cones, and the color spectrum they perceive is much poorer.
The most disadvantaged in terms of color perception are deep-sea fish. The retina of their eyes contains only one type of cone. Instead, they have a huge number of sticks. Sometimes this ratio can be 200:1. But catfish, which live in deep holes at the bottom of a reservoir, have no cones at all. He sees the world in black and white.
Deep-sea fish that live at depths of more than 500 meters have a similar eye structure. Sunlight does not penetrate there; complete darkness reigns, which is disturbed only by luminous sea inhabitants. Their eyes have a slightly different structure, or are even absent altogether. Well, if so, then the color palette is not available to them.
And so, we have established that fish distinguish colors. It's not difficult to check this. Just take three caps of different colors, one of which will contain food, and lower them into the aquarium. Do this several times. Then remove the food and lower the now empty lids into the aquarium again. You can change their places as you like, but the fish will unerringly find the lid that contained the food.
It is believed that among vertebrates, all bony fishes have bright colors that often rival the colors and plumage of tropical birds, some amphibians (tropical frogs, toads, axolotls) and reptiles (agamas, turtles, lizards, geckos, snakes).
A number of patterns in the functioning of the color receptor were studied specifically in the study of the retina of fish (very similar to the retina of primates) and reptiles, and not on the retina of humans. Previously, work on the study of color vision in fish was carried out using multi-colored feeders, colored stripes, etc. Then, special spectrophotometric equipment came to the aid of ichthyologists, which immediately confirmed that fish really distinguish colors! Moreover, the color of surrounding objects is important for fish. Therefore, from a scientific point of view, those fishermen who claim that, for example, the color of the fishing line or bait is not important for fish, are fundamentally mistaken!
Although not only fishing enthusiasts, but also scientists are not entirely unanimous in their assessment of the color vision of fish. Some researchers have found that fish perceive color in exactly the same way as humans (only fish, unlike us, do not know that red is red, etc.). And another part of the researchers believes that fish have an even greater range of perceived color waves compared to humans! So, no matter how fishermen try to choose the ideal color of the bait, the human eye is still no match for the fish and, perhaps, we do not perceive the most optimal and attractive color for the fish at all...
Fish of some species can perceive polarized light, which contains ultraviolet rays; many birds and insects perceive such light, but humans do not notice it. But this is a very important point for fishing practice. Let's remember what polarized light is? Normally, natural light waves oscillate in all directions, but often, after reflection from some surfaces, most of the light radiation oscillates in one direction, such light is called polarized in that direction. So far, there are preliminary studies that in turbid water, perches (experiments were carried out on largemouth bass) can see objects at a distance three times greater than the human visibility zone!
It should be noted that not all fish are able to see polarized light. In fish that do not have this feature, the visibility range and ability to distinguish colors in muddy water is approximately the same as for humans - about 40 cm in muddy water. And if a fish distinguishes polarized light, then its visibility zone in muddy water can exceed one and a half meters! Moreover, fish that perceive the polarization of light can navigate by the sun even on cloudy days. The reason for the debate about the ability of black and yellow perch, trout and salmon to see polarized light was the ability of these fish to navigate during long-distance migrations.
Research has shown that largemouth bass see colored objects at much greater distances than humans. Fishermen have long known that predatory fish with developed vision bite perfectly on bait at night or in very turbid water. Why is this happening? Perhaps this phenomenon is associated with the ability of perch to determine the polarization of light? If so, this would explain why perch find prey in unfavorable conditions. It has been proven that the green sunfish sees polarized light. And the structure of the black perch's eye is similar to the structure of the sunfish's eye. We have little information, but perhaps pike perch also have the ability to perceive polarized light. And, for example, pike and some other fish have a different eye structure, but they can also determine the polarization of light. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have designed a device that uses polarized light to locate objects in murky water. But research into the ability of fish to perceive colors, polarized light, and ultraviolet rays is technically difficult to implement. We don't expect evidence to emerge soon as to whether fish see ultraviolet, polarized light, etc.
What color of fishing line is better to choose?
However, many manufacturers of fishing lures claim that their products reflect ultraviolet and polarized light. Such statements play a role when anglers use transparent fishing lines, which often act as a kind of light guide. So far there is little information, but most likely various perch-like fish, salmon, trout and many fish of other species, which have so far been little examined in this regard, should respond to “reflective” baits and fishing lines.
Well, now we will analyze specific colors and the attitude of fish to them in order to make the problem of choosing the color of the fishing line less painful... We must take into account that representatives of the Pisces class have significant morphological and anatomical differences among themselves, including in the structure of the visual analyzer (in other words, in the structure of their eyes). So, fish “generally” see colors, but compared to humans, their eyes are more sensitive to warm colors, that is, yellow, orange and red. And if you are going to attract fish with the color of the bait, then these colors are, of course, welcome. But a fishing line of this color will simply scare many fish. Here the color of the surrounding background also plays a role in fish, just like with us, the red fishing line will merge with the reddish surroundings, for example, in reservoirs where timber rafting is carried out, or on peat lakes. It should be clarified that everything written concerns mainly freshwater fish, since for marine fish the color of the fishing line is much less important.
In freshwater bodies of water, red, yellow and orange fishing lines are clearly visible to fish even in very turbid water, since the red-yellow color corresponds to light with a longer wavelength and is less scattered by turbidity (suspension) particles. Green, blue, bluish fishing lines are less noticeable, since, depending on the illumination of the reservoir, they often merge with the water and the sky reflected in it. Fish, as a rule, are less wary of such colors and will pay less attention to your fishing line. But this applies to pelagic and coastal fish. If you fish at great depths, where there is little light, then any line there will be less noticeable, and this must be taken into account. The perception of red fishing lines by fish extends to approximately a depth of 5 m. According to ichthyologists, a white fishing line will be clearly visible to fish both at depth and at the surface; this color frightens fish, and they can identify it perfectly. The only exceptions are very cloudy days.
The next factor that you need to pay attention to when choosing the color of the fishing line is the season. In winter, in reservoirs that are covered with ice, the vision of fish is more sensitive to multi-colored and bright fishing lines. And in the open water season, in conditions of poor visibility (cloudy weather, muddy water, etc.), fish are well attracted by any light and bright bait, but such a fishing line is scary. Thus, in the winter season, taking into account the peculiarities of the color vision of fish, a regular monofilament fishing line, transparent, colorless or slightly bluish, would be preferable. With such a fishing line in winter, you will most likely catch perch, roach, and silver bream.
If you are going to catch fish that live at greater depths (for example, pike perch), then braided fishing line (excluding bright fluorescent line) will not be noticeable to them. In summer, conditions are more varied, and it is difficult to give clear recommendations on the choice of fishing line color. In summer, the fishing line is selected based on the color of the water of the reservoir, the presence of vegetation, the color of the bottom, etc. In muddy water, the color of the fishing line is not decisive for camouflaging the gear, but this is not always an axiom. Therefore, in the summer, be sure to focus on the specific fish you are going to catch.
So. bream and other shy fish will take the bait more easily if the fishing line is transparent and colorless (but does not transmit light from the surface of the water). Dark fishing lines in muddy or cloudy water are hardly noticeable for ide, silver bream, white bream, perch and some other fish. And for fishing for carp and carp, a dark, even black color of fishing line is preferable!
These were all peaceful fish, which are more sensitive to color perception in general and fishing line in particular. Although the visual acuity itself is an order of magnitude higher in predatory fish. But here other biological laws already come into force, primarily different feeding strategies, when “peaceful” fish have the opportunity to examine their prey, while predators are more spontaneous, moreover, they are less timid and cautious. That is, when catching predatory fish, you may not choose the colors of the fishing line so carefully, but only if you are not looking for asp (except for periods of fattening). This cautious fish has very sharp eyesight, and the asp can be caught only with the thinnest fishing lines that do not stand out in color against the background of the reservoir.
Ichthyologists have found that pike perch perfectly recognizes and identifies all objects of yellow color (and most likely colors of a similar spectrum), so when catching this fish, avoid yellow fishing lines, even on reservoirs with a yellow sandy bottom. Another important point for both predatory and peaceful fish. Regardless of the color of the fishing line, it is important that it does not reflect the sun's rays in the water and does not scare away the fish. It would seem that. Transparent fishing lines, which are ideal from the point of view of being invisible to fish, on the contrary, can frighten them with their reflection of light from the surface of the water. That is, on bright and especially sunny days, the transparent fishing line acts as a light guide, which is very sensitive to the vision of fish of almost all species.
Now the Japanese have begun to produce transparent fluorocarbon fishing lines that have a refractive index similar to the refractive index of water (for example, fishing lines from Kureha). These monofilaments are practically invisible to most fish. The dark (more like nickel-black) color of some fishing lines (for example, Nexave Extra strong from Shimano) also helps to get rid of the “light transmission” of the fishing line. However, they will be clearly visible to fish in clear water in the coastal zone and near the surface, but for deep fishing this is a very good option. In addition to color, the diameter of the fishing line is also important for the visual perception of fish. The rule here is this: the thinner the line, the less the fish eye notices it.
We must not forget that coloring affects the strength of the fishing line. The most difficult color in this regard is black. Therefore, when choosing black fishing lines, try not to save money, but to buy proven products from well-known manufacturers. Unfortunately, so far ichthyologists have studied the color spectra of a limited number of fish (and most of the species studied in this regard are very exotic for us). So the recommendations of our scientists are often based on fishing experience too. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the color of the fishing line, comparing and analyzing factors such as season, lighting, and the color background of the reservoir and bottom.
