The fine line between lure visibility and scaring the fish!: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Rather than hijack the Brewer vs Todd Rivrfshr thread on Silver Spinners, I thought that their conversation comparing Jed Davis's Spinner Fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and Trout and Dr. Colin Kageyama's What Fish See would be better addressed in a separate topic.

I've read both books (each in the distant past) so what I remember is probably garbled. On the other hand, I am only remembering the Stuff You Actually Think About on the River so for those who want the Cliff's Notes version here's what I recollect:

Jed Davis introduces two variables -- water temperature and lure size -- plus a crucial hypothesis that says the higher the water temp, the greater the likelihood bright finishes will spook fish. The goal, therefore, is to use a lure that is big (but not too big) and flashy (but not overly bright) to attract the quarry at various temperature ranges. So in 35F degree water, Jed uses #5 silver spinners whereas in 60F water he might use a #2 black bladed spinner. In the ultra cold water scenario, the fish are lethargic so the brighter the finish the greater the distance the lure can call the fish in from. In the warmer water cases, big and flashy will spook these metabolically maxed-out fish.

There's a whole lot in the book describing (with photos) of all sorts of spinner sizes and color combinations.

I must have read and re-read this book 5+ times, but not recently. It's a classic that's worth having, but I would rank it below three other how-to's if building a library:

Bill Herzog Color Guide to Steelhead Drift Fishing
Bill Herzog Spoon Fishing for Steelhead
Dave Vedder Float Fishing for Steelhead

Colin Kageyama: I only read the book once and found parts of it good and parts of it repetitive/ irrelevant. There's much controversy over whether fish's eyes (retinas) are sufficiently human-like that we can properly draw analogies in respect of what a fish sees under water vs. what we see when we view a lure in the water. Elsewhere, for example, I've read that fish eyes can "see" ultraviolet light so flies/ lures tied with materials that glow under a black (UV) light are more highly visible. I believe that Dr. K endorses this view (could be wrong here!). I know that there's an intrguing -- and ultimately convincing -- discussion of several counter intuitive points:

a) A black lure is more visible in murky water on a sunny day than a bright lure

b) Dark lures fished above the fish show up better against a light sky than bright lures.

c) Fish eyesight may be close to 360 degrees (!) when the fish's ability to see reflected images off the underside of the surface of the water is taken into consideration (when fishing in rivers with clear water, during daylight hours and somewhere where the surface is fairly smooth). That awareness of what might be behind them keeps salmonids from being easy prey to, e.g. otters, sneaking up behind them as they lay in place.

A lot of the book describes the different depths at which colors become less visible, eventually fading to black. So Dr. K's work is more about trying to design/ identify colors that are more visible over greater distances given changes in water clarity and depth (ulitmately, both affecting the same issue: penetration of visible light).

Again, I may have misrepresented the good doctor's work as I read the book when it first came out almost 10 years ago.

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As a practical matter, I use a lot of Jed Davis in selecting spoon colors. Early and late in the day in clear, cold water I use genuine sliver (w/ and w/o a pink stripe for contrast). In sunny very clear water, I use duller brass finishes or black. On cloudy days in 40-45F water with 4-6' viz (the Skeena conditions I mostly encounter) I use either the Mongrel (copper/ nickel) or, if earlier or later in the day or particularly cold water (<40F) or particularly shallow I'll deploy a Paris Hilton (silver/ gold finish). Pure gold gets a lot of afternoon work in clear water when the sun is on the way down, say 3 p.m. or later. Of course, I mix 'em up as well and throw just about anything any time (save black early/ late) over the course of the trip.

As with most experiments in lure selection, there's no way to figure out what the results would have been had I used something else. All I can say is that Davis's theories have intellectual appeal, many good fishermen I have met also subscribe to them, and as long as you don't go crazy painting or pasting dots on the blades/ bodies of your lures I think that there's little harm and possibly some benefit.

Todd and Brewer, I look forward to your comments!

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There's two types of anglers who fish fall steelhead on the Skeena and its tribs: thems thats got a spoon tied on, and thems that thinks that they should be usin' a spoon.