Last week we discussed whether or not fish can see colors. After cited research we have ascertained that fish do indeed see colors. They most likely don't see colors the same way we see them, but they do see them. We also discussed the environment they live in and how it can effect colors and the rendering of those colors under different conditions, water clarity and amount of visible light. Armed with this knowledge we will delve into some possibly new and exciting research as I precluded to in part one.
But first let's do a little awareness training and reflect on the industry that drives this sport we so love. Yes sport, for most it's not a hobby, this is a term that has been forced on anglers for years. Fishing is a true sport, never doubt it or question this fact. Since the first time an angler picked up a rod some gimmick in one form or another has popped up on the market that promises to enhance one's angling ability. I have fallen prey countless times. This is one of the things I hope this forum can do for us, allow the weeding out of useless and ineffectual, for a lack of a more fitting, and publicly acceptable word, "Garbage". With this said we delve into this new research and experimentation with open eyes and hopefully a critical yet open thought process.
"Rhodopsin" Ever heard of it? I hadn't until just a few months ago. What is it? It is a protein found in the retinas of birds and insects. What's the purpose of this protein? It allows these animals and insects the ability to see in the UV light range. Now for the good part, it has also been proven to be found in the retinas of several species of bony fish. What's this mean? It means, and this is based on solid research, that some fish can see and interpret UV light. How's the ability to see UV Light important to the angler? Well as we discussed in part one of the fish and color vision article we know that colors are washed out and changed or lost in water over forty foot deep. UV light has been proven to be fully visible up to 700 feet deep and possibly up to 2500 feet deep. Now I don't fish in water that deep, as neither do most anglers. However I do fish in water deeper than 40 feet often. UV light is not affected by water conditions, it just blows and flows right on through until it hits a solid object, upon striking a solid object some is absorbed but most just bounces off, this bouncing off causes the object to appear more defined and visible to thing's with UV vision capability. The ability to see UV light gives not only the predator fish, but the prey fish the ability to see things in their environment that were never before imagined by humans. Humans do have the the ability to see UV light buried in our DNA. However through mutation and advancement and self protection we have developed protective measures to filter out the UV light. Remember UV's are bad, sunburns and such, and in order to protect our vision our eyes have adapted to block out these harmful rays. Here is a link to all the scientific research and info; http://www.pnas.org/content/100/14/8308.full.
Information overload? You bet. Lets put it in simple to the fact terms, and state how it can possibly effect our fishing. UV light is broadcast by the sun, and get this, the suns reflected light, we call it moonlight. Yep, moonlight being nothing more than reflected sunlight also has UV light rays. Not enough to give you a moon burn, but enough to provide UV light rays. So we know it is available during the day and sometimes at night when the moon is present. UV light exists in a broad frequency range the frequency most important to us is the frequency that animals possessing Rodopsin is activated by, the range of 360nm, this is the one fish see UV light in, it is also the most reflective, in other words it bounces of things more than most. At this point I am not talking about glow in the dark or "Black Light" stuff I am talking about a light frequency we can not see without sophisticated light sensing, filtering and diagnosing equipment, we are once again not able to see in this light spectrum, plain and simple. Aren't you glad other people have the time, money and resources to prove these things?
Now let's figure out how to put this new found knowledge to work. The more solid an object the more UV's it reflects. The softer or less dense the more it absorbs. So with this fact established a crank bait will tend to reflect UV's and a soft plastic will tend to absorb more. The larger an object the more reflection. This relationship may explain why in murky water soft plastics are not as effective as crank baits. Also as a object moves the UV's are "broadcast" more from the associated movement. UV's travel in a straight line, until bounced of or absorbed by an object they strike. They are like beams of light, just millions of them all lined up waiting for something to break the beam and scatter the rays outward and away from whatever they strike. Less movement equals less beams broken equals less reflected UV's. Most of this information is purely hypothetical and base theory. But, it is important enough for plenty of company's to apply for patent's for UV enhancing items for fishing. How do these UV enhancing items work? They are simply in most cases coating's either temporary or permanent compositions of certain trade secret materials that are known to stop and reflect UV rays. We are already using these items, or should be using these items when we are exposed to the sun, sunscreen and lip balm, and coated sunglasses with UV protection. Have you seen the clothes being marketed that offer UV protection? These clothes are treated with "Zinc Oxide" a permanent treatment that blocks and reflects UV rays. Here is a link to one of what promises to be many future manufacturers and suppliers of these garments as UV ray damage awareness grows; http://www.coolibar.com/suntect.html
From what I can glean from my UV enhancement product research is that by coating or spraying your bait, and yes there are some available that you can soak live bait overnight in, the UV blockers attach to the bait either permanent, an epoxy coating finish, or temporary, spray on. Once attached the blockers cause the UV light rays that strike your bait to basically "Ricochet" off creating a disco ball affect. As some have seen from my post's I enjoy re-doing and restoring old lures. Recently I purchased one of the permanent products to use as my seal coat on my lures, it is a water based epoxy type coating. I have done just a few of my lures with it and have yet to really test it out. I also plan to try it on some spinner blades to see the effect or if it makes any difference, actually if the coating isn't too thick. In interest of science and fishing research if any body would be interested in helping out I have some extra blades I can coat and send to you for field testing just PM me and we will see if I can't get a couple to you. This will just be the blades not the whole spinner bait. Here is a link to the coating that I ordered, http://www.csipaint.com/products/uv-fishing-lure-paint/uv-blast-clear-seal-coat.asp. I feel that the introduction of the UV light principle in fishing holds a important part in the future of fishing, but I am not so sure that we have all the info as of yet. I would like to see research and here is the part I have been wondering about, do different species or varieties of fish reflect a different amount of UV light? Specifically does a bait fish project a larger UV signal than a predator fish or could it be reversed? This factor in itself possibly could be pivotal in the use of UV enhancers, just think, if say predators fish variety's do reflect more UV rays and you use an enhancement product then you move your lure from the prey class into the predator class.
I hope this article has been informative and interesting I found the research to be very in depth and spotty at best, but most research is. As far as the products go I myself have decided to try it, man I have always been a sucker to try stuff out. But on the up side some of the best products I use were bought under the precept of "Try it, it might work and you will like it." If you have used it or have any additional info about the concept of UV light and fish or associated products post up and share don't be bash-full, besides that's what the comment section below is for.
"TIGHT LINES AND SCREEEEEEEEAMING DRAGS"
SARGE
But first let's do a little awareness training and reflect on the industry that drives this sport we so love. Yes sport, for most it's not a hobby, this is a term that has been forced on anglers for years. Fishing is a true sport, never doubt it or question this fact. Since the first time an angler picked up a rod some gimmick in one form or another has popped up on the market that promises to enhance one's angling ability. I have fallen prey countless times. This is one of the things I hope this forum can do for us, allow the weeding out of useless and ineffectual, for a lack of a more fitting, and publicly acceptable word, "Garbage". With this said we delve into this new research and experimentation with open eyes and hopefully a critical yet open thought process.
"Rhodopsin" Ever heard of it? I hadn't until just a few months ago. What is it? It is a protein found in the retinas of birds and insects. What's the purpose of this protein? It allows these animals and insects the ability to see in the UV light range. Now for the good part, it has also been proven to be found in the retinas of several species of bony fish. What's this mean? It means, and this is based on solid research, that some fish can see and interpret UV light. How's the ability to see UV Light important to the angler? Well as we discussed in part one of the fish and color vision article we know that colors are washed out and changed or lost in water over forty foot deep. UV light has been proven to be fully visible up to 700 feet deep and possibly up to 2500 feet deep. Now I don't fish in water that deep, as neither do most anglers. However I do fish in water deeper than 40 feet often. UV light is not affected by water conditions, it just blows and flows right on through until it hits a solid object, upon striking a solid object some is absorbed but most just bounces off, this bouncing off causes the object to appear more defined and visible to thing's with UV vision capability. The ability to see UV light gives not only the predator fish, but the prey fish the ability to see things in their environment that were never before imagined by humans. Humans do have the the ability to see UV light buried in our DNA. However through mutation and advancement and self protection we have developed protective measures to filter out the UV light. Remember UV's are bad, sunburns and such, and in order to protect our vision our eyes have adapted to block out these harmful rays. Here is a link to all the scientific research and info; http://www.pnas.org/content/100/14/8308.full.
Information overload? You bet. Lets put it in simple to the fact terms, and state how it can possibly effect our fishing. UV light is broadcast by the sun, and get this, the suns reflected light, we call it moonlight. Yep, moonlight being nothing more than reflected sunlight also has UV light rays. Not enough to give you a moon burn, but enough to provide UV light rays. So we know it is available during the day and sometimes at night when the moon is present. UV light exists in a broad frequency range the frequency most important to us is the frequency that animals possessing Rodopsin is activated by, the range of 360nm, this is the one fish see UV light in, it is also the most reflective, in other words it bounces of things more than most. At this point I am not talking about glow in the dark or "Black Light" stuff I am talking about a light frequency we can not see without sophisticated light sensing, filtering and diagnosing equipment, we are once again not able to see in this light spectrum, plain and simple. Aren't you glad other people have the time, money and resources to prove these things?
Now let's figure out how to put this new found knowledge to work. The more solid an object the more UV's it reflects. The softer or less dense the more it absorbs. So with this fact established a crank bait will tend to reflect UV's and a soft plastic will tend to absorb more. The larger an object the more reflection. This relationship may explain why in murky water soft plastics are not as effective as crank baits. Also as a object moves the UV's are "broadcast" more from the associated movement. UV's travel in a straight line, until bounced of or absorbed by an object they strike. They are like beams of light, just millions of them all lined up waiting for something to break the beam and scatter the rays outward and away from whatever they strike. Less movement equals less beams broken equals less reflected UV's. Most of this information is purely hypothetical and base theory. But, it is important enough for plenty of company's to apply for patent's for UV enhancing items for fishing. How do these UV enhancing items work? They are simply in most cases coating's either temporary or permanent compositions of certain trade secret materials that are known to stop and reflect UV rays. We are already using these items, or should be using these items when we are exposed to the sun, sunscreen and lip balm, and coated sunglasses with UV protection. Have you seen the clothes being marketed that offer UV protection? These clothes are treated with "Zinc Oxide" a permanent treatment that blocks and reflects UV rays. Here is a link to one of what promises to be many future manufacturers and suppliers of these garments as UV ray damage awareness grows; http://www.coolibar.com/suntect.html
From what I can glean from my UV enhancement product research is that by coating or spraying your bait, and yes there are some available that you can soak live bait overnight in, the UV blockers attach to the bait either permanent, an epoxy coating finish, or temporary, spray on. Once attached the blockers cause the UV light rays that strike your bait to basically "Ricochet" off creating a disco ball affect. As some have seen from my post's I enjoy re-doing and restoring old lures. Recently I purchased one of the permanent products to use as my seal coat on my lures, it is a water based epoxy type coating. I have done just a few of my lures with it and have yet to really test it out. I also plan to try it on some spinner blades to see the effect or if it makes any difference, actually if the coating isn't too thick. In interest of science and fishing research if any body would be interested in helping out I have some extra blades I can coat and send to you for field testing just PM me and we will see if I can't get a couple to you. This will just be the blades not the whole spinner bait. Here is a link to the coating that I ordered, http://www.csipaint.com/products/uv-fishing-lure-paint/uv-blast-clear-seal-coat.asp. I feel that the introduction of the UV light principle in fishing holds a important part in the future of fishing, but I am not so sure that we have all the info as of yet. I would like to see research and here is the part I have been wondering about, do different species or varieties of fish reflect a different amount of UV light? Specifically does a bait fish project a larger UV signal than a predator fish or could it be reversed? This factor in itself possibly could be pivotal in the use of UV enhancers, just think, if say predators fish variety's do reflect more UV rays and you use an enhancement product then you move your lure from the prey class into the predator class.
I hope this article has been informative and interesting I found the research to be very in depth and spotty at best, but most research is. As far as the products go I myself have decided to try it, man I have always been a sucker to try stuff out. But on the up side some of the best products I use were bought under the precept of "Try it, it might work and you will like it." If you have used it or have any additional info about the concept of UV light and fish or associated products post up and share don't be bash-full, besides that's what the comment section below is for.
"TIGHT LINES AND SCREEEEEEEEAMING DRAGS"
SARGE
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Sarge