[Jaiem]

SJ,

Going to disagree on a point - that of a fish's site. Just 'cause you can't see 3 feet into the water (at night) doesn't mean a bass is siteless at night too. A fish's eye is constructed to see underwater and a nocternal predator like a bass, to see better at night. Besides, a fish has other sense like sound and vibration to go on.

Many years ago I met a caster who swore he fished Orient Pt, with a white Roberts lure (a surface skipper), at night, and on a fast retrieve. He insisted he took a lot of big fish saying that if a bass is hungery enough it will rise to take it the lure. Take it for what it's worth.

I do know many guys use floating poppers at night, slowly swim-fished, especailly when they need greater distance than a swimming lure can get under the circumstances. And I have seen guys take fish working the surface at night around bridges and other lit areas.

I guess if sub-surface isn't working you have nothing to loose trying a surface lure.

Jaiem
ArtsNFlies.com

 

[Jaiem]

I think it's very logical to presume fish can see much better (in clear water) than we could even with a mask. Our eyes just aren't evolved for underwater vision.

Case in point: Some years ago I was SCUBA diving the wreck of the Iberia (60 feet of water South of JB inlet) on an unsually clear September day. There was a school of butter fish feeding in the mid-water column off the bow of the wreck. I could see the flash of their bellys from at least 40 feet away.

Now if my human eye can see the flash an aquatic predator (bass, blue, fluke etc) must be able to see it much clearer and from a greater distance.

I don't think color matters much to bass and blues. Their eyes aren't constructed to see color as much as shades of black & white. As such, I think what we see as color is perceived by a bass as differing shades of light and dark. So when we are using a yellow/white or olive/white or even chartreuse/white lure the bass perceives it as just different shades of dark on top, lighter on the bottom.

Afterall, what baitfish in our local waters looks chartreuse or orange or bright red?

Jaiem
ArtsNFlies.com