The use of RED.

[walleye express]

Good topic.

I have heard a lot of discussion on the benefits of red colors in baits and hooks. However, Cajun line claims their red line disappears when it's 8 or 10 feet under water. If this is true, baits running below that depth would be almost invisible if they are red. I am wondering who is full of bull, they obviuosly can't both be right.
Thanks,
Anthony


Anthony.

It would indeed be great if there was a consistent set of criterion for catching walleyes. A specific set of rules and techniques that applied to them consistently in all situations. Something as precise and consistent as reading an Engineers Blue prints. But that would involve knowing the exact finite parameters in a fishes world and his every reaction to them. We do indeed know some, from simple repetitive success. But most all of them are reliably hinged to seasonal habits and instincts, tied into their predictable reactions to climatic changes and just where and when to intercept them during these times. We've come a long way in knowledge and equipment to help us find and catch walleyes. But we are (IMHO) as far away from breaking their physical genetic codes as we were 30 years ago. And thank God walleyes can't and don't rationally think, or we'd never catch one. Our best teachers for fishing success will always be each other. If red works where and how you fish, use it. Capt. Dan.

[monkeypuke]

Hi all,
I was reading some stuff at another forum about this subject. Very interesting stuff. It does make sense that red is the first to loose it's color, and blue is last. I did some surfing around and found a couple links if you feel like reading them here they are, this link talks about fly colors but it's still the same concept http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/science/ross_color.aspx and here's a link to wisconsin seagrant about fish eyesight. http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/lure.html I know while fishing last summer the walleye where runing around 40-50 down and I had good results with kevorkian, mrs pauls, and superman all with a copper finish. I've heard that for us over here on Lake Erie when the eyes are down deep they can see a copper finish better then a silver finish. I did prove that for myself, and copper did catch more walleye. But the trout like the bright colors and a silver finish. I run my dipsys with braided line, and a flourocarbon 30# leader. Same for my wire and leadcore. I would have to think that flourocarbon would be totally invisible at any depth. Well if anyone has any input on this tell us what you think.

monkeypuke :D
Capt. Ray

[shu9265]

Good Read,

Thank You.

[monkeypuke]

Hi all,
you know if you think about this color concept, for instance lets take a boy girl and run it down 40 feet. The first color we lose to grey is the red, but the blue would still be visible (kinda). Ok so we have the red as a grey, the spoon finish in the middle, the blue on the other edge, and the back fully copper. Put that color combination in a stinger spoon motion, spinning back and forth and the visible size is going to represent about half of the spoon width, it would look just like your bait size. Or take a superman, same thing first to lose color red and yellow, blue is left and the full copper back flashing back and forth. It's kinda scary but it really does make sense, who ever saw a red yellow and blue shiner or smelt. I know when the bite is on you can get a walleye to hit just about anything that is above them. The size of the stinger spoon you run to match your bait size is a big factor. I fish the lake erie central basin, early summer scorpions are the best size because the fish are feeding on shiners. Mid summer I mix my sizes to scorpions & standards, there feeding on shiners and smelt, by fall the smelt have grown to the size of the stingray stinger spoon. Rainbow Smelt grow up to 9 inches if there lucky by the end of the summer, but there long and narrow. A spoon is shaped to represent a wounded bait, the head is actually the back of the spoon, a walleye is more apt to go after a wounded bait becuse it's easier to catch. When a bait fish is wounded it can't swim like the others in the school of bait fish, so here comes our spoon wobeling like a wounded fish, we're going to get a hit because it's what the walleye will attack, easy prey.
monkeypuke
Capt. Ray

[GLF]

I am a certified scuba diver and have been down to a depth of 100'. I had a red and black wet suit. Red is the first color to go. If you have an artificial light source, it is viewable at what ever depth you are at.

There are a lot of factors that determine just how deep you can see it. ie...postion of the sun, clouds, water clarity, waves, etc, etc, etc.