Colors that Bass See? 2024

CrazedL.IFisherman reply :

I recently found an article with many different types of research on bass fishing and it was extremely informative, i think this has been discussed this before and i appologize if it has, the article "Something's fishy" stated "largemouth bass, for example, have only receptors that detect primarily red and green wavelenths." The article stated all other colors were precieved by bass as a grey color. It went on to talking about how we the fishermen waste money buying all the new types of colors, thinking back on this past off season ive bought many lures that werent colored red or green, hopefully this wasn't one big waste of money, i was wondering if you guys believed this statement and if other studies have been done to prove this or to prove otherwise? I mean i understand other colors do catch fish, because they have caught me many fish over the years, and some could say it gives the angler confidence to use a color he likes, but still... hopefully they can see more colors.

Sam reply :

According to the research I have studied, bass are nearsighted so they do not see the bait very sharply until they are upon it. They rely on contrast against the background.

However, Uncle Homer Circle writes about bass sight in his book, Bass Wisdom, as follows:

"Sight is our primary sense. Not so with bass. Look at the eye. It's big, bright and you would think super-sharp since it's on such a superb predator. On the contrary. The next time you catch a bass, lay it flat and place your hand over the eye to block the light for a few seconds, then quickly take it away. The iris stays wide open; the burst of light has no effect. Do this to a human eye and the iris quickly contracts to reduce the sudden flood of light.

Like a camera lens, our iris opens or closes to focus on an object to sharpen our vision. But since the bass's iris stays wide open, the fish is myopic, or nearsighted, with limited vision."

So the bass sees the outline of the lure, be it bulky or slim and it either resembles a crawfish or a baitfish or a frog or a lizard or just something that aggravates it.

Now, Uncle Homer continues to write, "Color perception is a moot point among both scientists and veteran anglers, but we know that a bass's eye has the same rods and cones that enable humans to distinguish colors. In numerous tank tests, ichthyologists have proven that bass can discern even pastel shades of red, blue and green."

Fly fishermen "match the hatch" with colors and some colors work better in specific situations based on the water clarity and wind conditions. Remember when you were a kid and went swimming in a swimming pool and looked up towards the water's surface from below? It is the color of silver so the bass see your bait against a silver background or the gras. wood, structures or bottom, etc. and they strike at your bait based on their interpetertation of what it is and can they eat or kill it.

And you may note the colors red or orange on the bottom side of many lures and I know for sure that chartreuse added to the tail of a lizzard or worm entices more strikes. So we know they can see reds, blues, greens and yellows.

So yes, bass can see colors. That's why we change lures as we fish, even staying with the same type lure but changing its color as going to a Firetiger crankbait or to a shad color spinnerbait or a green shade for a worm.

If you look at the research you will find the writings very interesting about this animal that seems to be smarter than us. As long as we present lures that look like natural forage and add some tricks of your own, we will always trigger strikes.

Now gettig them in the boat is another discussion!

RI_Bass_Guy reply :

I believe Bass see colors also. Water clarity plays a major role also. Where I live the water is crystal clear in most of the lakes I fish and if you not throwing a natural color your not catching fish. You may get a suicide strike occasionally on a metholate worm but I would not bet the farm on it catching bass consistently. Each lake in my area has its own color that works better than others. Green pumpkin works pretty much anywhere for Largemouth and Smallmouth.

When smallmouth fishing, if its cloudy we use pumpkin/chart. tail lizards.. if its sunny watermelon or green pumpkin/red flake lizards.

I have seen times when I was catching fish with a black blue jig and my partner could not get a bite with a black/brown jig. and vice versa

Tom Bass reply :

All I know is that I have good luck with silver colored lures and hardly any luck at all with red and some with green.

Go figure.

bass109 reply :

i also believe bass see in color, even though dogs and cats dont.

T-rig reply :

Dogs and cats?????

Valascus reply :

Quote
i also believe bass see in color, even though dogs and cats dont.

Um...I'm pretty sure bass are very different from dogs and cats...sorry...don't see the comparison.

Anyway...In a recent thread Chris created called "Hooking the Gullible", he posted a link to a very interesting article. I will copy and past that article here, because it spoke of this very subject at the end of the article, though I recommend you read the whole thing. I do not think bass can see color. They can see a few, shades of red and green. Everything else is viewed as shades or gray. Here is the link to the article:

http://se02.xif.com/articles/20040424/bob8.asp

Sam reply :

Dogs do not have cones and rods so they do not see in color.

Cats do see in color.

Bass have rods and cones and therefore are suppossed to see colors. But until we can talk to a bass and ask him/her we really will not know.

Finding out if bass do see in color would be a wonderful study for a fisheries biology major at a university, be it on the undergraduate or graduate level.

guest reply :

I have the greatest respect for "uncle Homer" but I think the general consensus among the current experts is that bass are PRIMARILY sight feeders. The other senses play their role, but Doug Hannon for one, is very adamant on this point.

Catt reply :

All predators hunt by sight

Bass fall under the category of predators

Sam reply :

Glad you are up and moving around this Sunday morning.

Yes, we are learning more and more about the fish each year.

I think we will have more information on the bass's senses as the years progress and more and more universities allow their fisheries biology majors to conduct experiments, along with the lure manufacturers studies.

As you know, bass use sight, sound and vibration to seek their prey.

But not to take any chances, do you think we all need to start using red hooks?????

RI_Bass_Guy reply :

I have started using the red hooks when I drop shot and have found that the black nickel works better for me. But on the flip side a red hook on the front of a crankbait or rattle trap seems to be more effective than not. Don't know yet, have not figured out whether there is a big difference when throwing a drop bait.

Needemp reply :

Bass have kick a## eyesight. I pretty much would discount anybodies "so-called" knowledge that said anything otherwise. The fact whether or not bass can see is not a subject that is based on opinion. Its science that can be proven. They even see out of the water accurately enough to catch insects flying by! As for color, they have cone cells for daytime sight, but they do not have the ability to see blues and violets. All other colors they can see, but blues and purples they see as shades of gray. Thats why I like some blues and lavanders on the backs of crankbaits. It seems to me that it might match a shad better than black, but i dont know that for sure.

Catt reply :

So who were these people that interview a bass?

Needemp reply :

I am curious :-/ Do we actually believe that the only way to learn about a bass is if he talks. I don't think we should excuse most science just because bass can't speak. :-/ I hope I never need open heart surgery someday because I know my heart has never spoken to any heart surgent. Uh-oh Don't let any of the successful tournament anglers know that they are just lucky. Bass haven't spoken so they couldn't possibly know how to catch them!

Pa Angler reply :

That's strange, According to In-Fisherman Bass do see colors and so do Walleyes. Without going to the In-Fisherman's site I believe Bass see Greens, Blues, Reds. Orange, Purples and Yellows Bass have lager color range than do Walleyes according to In-Fisherman.

BassBeat101 reply :

Even if a bass could talk I highly doubt he would be willing to answer a question on "what color lure/hook would be the best to stick in your mouth". ;D

bassfisher70 reply :

I guess we could argue on this subject for years. I know different colors at different times of the year work for me. example: early spring (6"june bug plastic worms) works great for me here in GA.

T- rig or C-rig Just fish with what you have confidence in and you'll land fish.

FIN-S-R reply :

I like this this question. Everytime it comes up I hear different stuff on the theory of what a bass can see. Truth is we will probably never know the exact truth, but we do have some "facts" from research about light penetration and photoreceptor size shape and light capturing ability. Based on the studies I have found and read in peer reviewed scientific pubs, here is what I believe is the closest thing to "the truth" science has figured out (check some of my earlier posts on this subject for the research lit. I referred to).

#1 light penetration: redish doesnt penetrate to the depths as does blueish.

#2 Fish eyes: The photoreceptors in a bass eye cause it to absorb greenish wavelengths most efficiently

#3 Training fish: Fish have been "trained" in some experiments respond to certain colors based on feeding (ex. blue line has food on it, so they come to the blue line, or yellow line or clear line.) A multitude of colors was readily recognized by the bass as the color line associated with food.

#4 the color of food: what is the predominant color of the critters fish eat- Green/Purple/white/silver/brown/orange/red/black

So if you look at the forage in a given body of water and match the general core colors of that forage, you will find that you are fishing with blue/purple, green and brown for the most part, and then some white and silver/ gold, and these are all colors that line up with light penetration rules for different depths of water.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote
i also believe bass see in color, even though dogs and cats dont.

What colors would you recommend to catch those wiley old cats and dogs?

CraigBaugher reply :

I wrote a small post on this on my website.

http://fishingbass.home.comcast.net/whatbasssee.html

5bass reply :

Thats a decent little article but none of that is concrete evidence.....just something to ponder at best. A person still has to decide which, of the countless "studies" to believe.

Nonetheless, thanks for sharing the article.

FIN-S-R reply :

Mr. Baugher,

I like that little write up very much. It definately helps a person to graphically wrap their head around the issue. In addition to the info you have there, I think it is very important to stress another point when relating the "can see" issue to people. That issue would be light penetration into water. Water acts as a filter. Pure H2O contains a certain set of light absorbing properties. What we as anglers encounter is far from "pure" H2O, so the most accurate measure and presentation of the "can see" issue needs to include mention of the depths to which various wavelengths of light penetrate. The scale on this measurement would be dictated by the depth to which redish goes on the shallow side, and the depth to which blueish goes on the deeper side, with greenish being somewhere in the middle or towards the bottum. Ultimately what I have found in crunching this info is that blueish leaning to purpleish is the most visible...not necessarily the most accomodating for bass sight properties for deeper clear to semi-stained or semi-murkey water. Above depths of around 10ft in the afore mentioned water clarities, the whole range of colors is "can see". The depths below 10-12 ft create an environment whereas the violetish to greenish colors are the most "can see".

RI_Bass_Guy reply :

Question: Why will smallmouth bass come out of 30 feet of water to crush a chartruese spinnerbait running just below the surface if they are color or yellow blind?

Needemp reply :

Quote
Question: Why will smallmouth bass come out of 30 feet of water to crush a chartruese spinnerbait running just below the surface if they are color or yellow blind?

Lets assume that the bass is coming from 30 feet down. It might not be that deep at all, we just add everything up and it appears it came that far. But lets assume it has the desire, energy and speed to go that distance. For one this would be a rarety for a fish to travel that distance. In other words it wouldn't happen enough to add this technique to your bag of tricks. For seconds, you would have really clear water. In clear water, all colors are visible 20 feet down. At the 20 to 30 foot range red is the first color to begin to turn gray. Then orange at 40, yellow at 70, green at 95, blue 40 to 50, purples at 35, or there about. Mind you this is clear water, but not pure water. Florescent colors however stand out a lot further down. If you had a floroscent chartruese it would stand out more than ordinary primary and secondary colors do. However, a bass 30 feet down, does not have to be attracted to the color, just the possibility of a meal. Color is very low on the scale for a fish that deep. Just my opinion.

spiritgide reply :

It's a little hard to know how bass see colors, but they certainly respond to differences in color- so however they perceive it, color shades do make a difference.

And... they may be nearsighted, but I've had them spot a lure coming in the air, clear water and catch that lure before it hit the surface on many occasions. That takes pretty good vision, not to mention fast reactions, targeting accurately while looking through the surface plane of the water and excellent timing.

By the way- water also serves as a color filter, taking out warm colors first. By 30 ft. there is NO red left in the available light spectrum at all, regardless of water clarity.

RI_Bass_Guy reply :

Ripping a chartreuse spinnerbait just under the surface over deep water for smallie's is a standard practice in the notheast. I have won tournaments doing this.

CraigBaugher reply :

First, we know without a doubt bass see color, as every study conducted in the past 8-years have clearly proven. Berkley (fishing not the University) has funded a number of studies, with the most recent for its Crystal Line. Now while this study was to be limited to how bass see various shades of white, those conducting the study expanded it to include color more for establishing a base. Nevertheless, it was indicated that from this test that bass can see subtle differences in hues and that they can do this at night as well (or should I say, LOW LIGHT) conditions.

Second, http://fishingbass.home.comcast.net/images/colorband.jpg the color grid, is based on 1-foot increments. So each box = 1-foot. In crystal clear water color is visible to 300-feet. From this illustration, Green, Blue, and Voilets can be seen the longest. The color red fades out in 15-feet and its the first to wash out to BLACK. Chartreuse is only good to 34-feet before it is totally turns black. But in muddy water, those 1-Foot boxes = 1/4" roughly speaking

thrid, Strike Zone distance changes based on activity. A active bass MOVING/Cruising will strike a lure up to 30-feet. NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Because it is cruising, it focus is STRAIGHT AHEAD +/- 3-feet. SO its attact CONE is 6-feet wide. An Active Bass moving slowly will attack upto 12-15-feet with a 20° attack cone. An Active Bass sitting still strike zone is roughly 6-8-feet, but has 320° attack Cone. Netrual bass are half the distance of an active bass. A Negative bass, is half that, or roughly 18" 180° cone. ANYTHING coming from behind a Negative bass will SPOOK IT!

Foruth, and this is BIG!!! YA'LL NEED TO WRITE AND THANK BERKLEY PRODUCTS FOR ALL THE MONEY THEY INVEST IN FRESHWATER RESEARCH!!! Because 99% of all fishing related companies DO NOT!!!

Berkley

Pure Fishing USA

1900 18th Street

Spirit Lake, IA 51360

Tel: 1.800.237.5539

Email: berkley@purefishing.com

onebigfish reply :

Speaking of Berkley, there is an AWESOME book from a Berkley researcher named Keith A. Jones ( PhD ) that is related to bass and their senses.

TITLE: Knowing Bass, The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish.

I am on my second pass through the book now.

Who is Keith A. Jones, PhD???

Keith A. Jones, Ph.D. brings a unique professional perspective to the task of illuminating bass senses and behavior. For sixteen years he has studied bass intensively as Director of Fish Research at the Berkley Fish Research Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The Center is dedicated to the study of bass and other gamefish, most notably their attack behaviors, for the purpose of designing improved lures and baits.

What is the book about???

Bass, especially largemouth bass, are easily the single most popular freshwater gamefish in the United States. Knowing Bass is a book about the science of bass fishing, with particular emphasis on the bass itself: What bass can sense, how they use their senses to feed, how they relate to fishing lures, and ultimately how they interact with anglers. Understanding why bass behave as they do will greatly improve your chances of being a better and more successful angler, no matter your present skill level. And that's the purpose behind this book, to improve everyone's chances of success at catching bass, no matter where or how they fish.A renowned aquatic biologist and expert in the field of bass behavior, Dr. Jones has made the finest and most up-to-date scientific research accessible to everyone who loves these great gamefish. Whether you fish with bait-casting, spinning, or fly tackle, the more you know about bass, the more and bigger fish you will catch. Topics covered include bass biology; life history; the bass's organs of vision, hearing, smell, and taste, including the smells and flavors bass like-and don't like; how smell and taste control feeding behavior; the best kinds of lures to trigger the attack response in various situations; what factors will make bass strike your lures and baits - and what might make them shy away.

***DISCLAIMER: The beliefs and science-based information in this book may not necessarily be LAW...and they may not promote YOUR sponsors products...they may simply be trying to sell more Berkley products...but, who knows?

I still find the book VERY VERY informative and interesting.

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