Does the color of bass boat affect fish?

[singerloo]

I was wondering about some of the brightly-colored bass boats, does their color stand out in the water badly enough, so that fish get nervous, or swim away,etc. What is the best color to have on a bass boat, so that it doesnt affect the fish
that you are trying to catch?
Or, does the color not matter at all?


seaphantom

[fredhatch]

Not really sure. Do know that colors begin to disappear the deeper the water. Also if this was a factor you probably wouldn't see all these manufactures producing such an extensive color selection. Im betting one or more of these comp has R&D people looking into stuff like that all the time. Maybe one of the wise ones has a more suitable answer. ???

[jeffman]

PHANTOM,

At least one pro thinks there is something to the idea that the color affects fish. Denny Brauer has his boats colored dark below the water line. He feels that the fish see it as a cloud going overhead. I don't know if there is any truth to this or not, but if you have a choice why take a chance.

JackL

[singerloo]

I think the best choice is to have the bass boat
be colored white on the bottom half and maybe gray
or green on top half.. When fish look up, they see
light, and white would match with it, just like the color
code of the fish, white-bottom dark-top..
Black would stand out.


seaphantom

[catfishtonyd]

Doug Hannon is another one who thinks it might. He used to paint all his aluminum boats in camo.

Personally I doubt it makes any real difference.

Besides, you gotta have a really sharp looking boat to look the part.

[ready2go]

Good point Cajun...we gotta look good doin this fishing thing...seriously...I have owned a lot of different colored boats...even had one that had a silver flaked hull...my experience for what it is worth is it made no difference...besides...how much fishing do we do "under" the boat. If it does it seems it would only make a difference to the fish we were on top of...if we are vertical jigging then it may have an effect.

[socalbasser]

I seem to remember last year or the year before ( I think, forgive the alcohol induced alzheimers) that one pro actually credited his win in a bassmasters or FLW tournament to the bottom color of his boat. He had the bright yellow bottom boat(once again, I think) and claimed that when he hooked the fish that they wouldn't come up and jump on him, which helped reduce the potential for thrown hooks. He felt that the brightly colored bottom of the boat helped keep the fish down in the water.

I know I need some help filling this story in a little bit but that's the basic jist of what I can remember. Anyone that knows the story better please feel free to "improve" my story. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Skeeter

[jeffman]

SKEETER,

Have a couple more beers, that might help improve your story.
Just kidding!! I think these pro's will try anything that they think will help them. Why not, this is thier living and they are trying to increase thier chances to win big money.

JackL

[bearpaw]

I read a while ago that a boat with a silver bottum was less apearent than one with a colored bottum. The fish see it as a reflection of the bottum of the lake.

[Rob Mak]

i think they just see a shadow like a big cloud moving by.
zooker

[BaSsFiShEr20]

i think it is along the same lines as the blue "Sky" camo fishermen came out with a few years ago .To help them blend in with the Sky. LOL.

Just another gimmick to part the fisherman from his money.

I doubt it really matters, unless maybe the water is Gin Clear.

JMO
Charles

[Rob Mak]

boss
i fish very clear water in a mostly white boat anit spooked any fish that i know of..

zooker

[ryan7261]

Why don't you just paint a school of bait fish on the bottom of your boat that might bring them up to take a look! :.


Just had to say it, Couldn't resist sorry lol

Robby.

[mblk181]

According to Navy research done by sending divers down, the most difficult hull color to see is white or light grey. Seaphantom is correct that it blends with the sky.

As for hull color affecting fishing, I personally don't think it does have much, if any affect.

[catfishtonyd]

The only real thing I think hull color MIGHT and note I stress MIGHT affect is the way a fish fights on the line. I suppose a bight color might frighten a fish more, and make him more prone to jump or fight harder than one that is more subdued. That's about all I can think of, and I really don't think that ammounts to a pinch of puppy poop. Get the boat you want, and don't worry about (1) rather someone else likes it, (2) rather it will scare the fish.

[singerloo]

Whatever color, a boat still represents a shadow...
and I think that a bit of white and silver would help, but I im not worried about the color as much anymore, unless the frikin thing is hot pink or somethin, lol.

Now, how about LURE COLORS? DOES IT REALLY MATTER?? ;D

lol, kidding....that's a whole different story,


seaphantom