ULTRA VIOLET COLORS, DO THEY CATCH MORE FISH?

My tackle box under Ultra Violet Light

Anglers have searched for the magic color to catch fish from the beginning of time.  Is it a secret?  Why does one color catch more fish than another color?  Does weather and sunlight change things?  Fishing reports often note the colors of lures and flies to use.  Is it so important?

In normal circumstances, color is only a fraction of the fish-catching equation.  Other factors are equally if not more important.  Consider depth, retrieve speed, location, cover, structure, line size, lure or fly size, water clarity, temperature…and the list goes on.

Another huge factor is exactly what is the lure or fly made for.  Is it actually made to catch fish?  I mean that there are rows and rows of brightly colored lures/flies in every color in the spectrum at most outfitters.  So are those designed to make fish bite OR are they designed to “sell” to consumers?

I have purchased flashy and unusual colors just like almost everyone else at one time or another.  My tackle box and most others have colors in it that have never been in the water.

THE SCIENCE OF VISION

Young trout have four types of cone cells in their eyes that allow them to see ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps them find food. However, as trout age, the cones responsible for UV perception gradually diminish and their retinas revert to a three-cone system similar to humans. Some suggest that trout can also see UV light using a secondary peak in sensitivity of cones that are tuned to longer wavelengths. This secondary peak is called the beta-band or cis-peak.

DOES COLOR MATTER?

So color does make a difference in the right circumstances. Rather than considering all the factors I previously listed, it can be narrowed down based on a simpler formula.  My formula is based on only 2 things.  First, is the sun shining?  Second, how many anglers are around you?

Is the sun shining?  If the answer is yes then using ultraviolet (UV) colors makes your offering more visible. 

Are there other anglers fishing around you?  If the answer is yes then using a UV color will differentiate your fly or lure stand out among all the others.

ULTRA VIOLET COLOR DOES MATTER

Therefore, I conclude that UV colors offer an advantage during sunny and busy times!  For example, if you are fishing where trout are regularly stocked and there is a higher-than-normal amount of pressure from anglers on the stream, then fishing with UV colors offers the fish a fresh look that is out of the ordinary and may just result in more bites.  In this same example, the fish are likely to be younger and therefore be significantly more sensitive to UV light which also offers you an advantage. 

On cloudy days a UV color certainly won’t hurt anything.  And on partly cloudy days the UV fly will shine brightly when the sun peeks out!  So I suggest finding your favorite fly (the one you have the most confidence in) in an Ultra Violet version and fishing it during all weather conditions!  You just might catch more fish than ever before!  Give it a try and good luck!