While I certainly agree that most (if not all) fish can see colour, it's very important not to generalize from individual experiences as regards flies. For example, a fly in the surface film on a sunny day will appear black to the fish, a silhouette, just as it does to you. OTOH, on an overcast day, all its colours can be distinguished. Time of day, smog, and a zillion other variables impact on exactly how a "colour" will be viewed. Colour of subsurface flies is always seen, but depth (just one variable) impacts how those colours are seen. As it happens, I agree with Rene as to the importance of contrast, and a colour "spot." One can see this in many of my patterns tied with chartreuse thread to give a "bright" head "spot." This is the theory, and successful practice, of a myriad of Atlantic salmon flies that have colourful tags (or butts), and a smaller number that have a bright collar.
cheers Paul Rene Zillmann wrote: > > Dave, > there are a lot of experiments done in the past, and at least for trout > and a lot others: yes, they see color. > I've made the same experience. In my home water I fish a lot my 'blue > parachute beetle'. I usually tie it with a red or orange dubbed head. I > tried it several times without the head. ANd these flies catch less > fish. I remember 2 days where the plain blue didn't produce a hit, > switching to the one with the red head produced takes imediately. > Switched back to plain blue - nothing. > I'm sure this is not true for all specied of fish. > Rene > David Masson wrote: > > >now here is a question "do fish actually see colour > >dave > > > > > > -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Owner: Gale's End Press. Member: OWAA & OWC. Author of: A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns (co-author), Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon.
