Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    Optimal range for bass eyes seems to be about 15 inches for smallmouth
    bass and about twice that distance for largemouth bass. I base this
    statement on many observations of how close these fish get to possible
    food before stopping to ponder it. (By possible food, I mean things
    like apparently intact crayfish molt, which always gets a bass's
    attention if lifted and then allowed to sink to the bottom.)
    
    Of course, these observations could only be made in clear water. In
    murky water, *everybody's* visual acuity is severely diminished.
    
    John H-C

    
    Sounds like a fish story to me.....
    

    
    I think your new bait will help you catch more bass.  I know for a fact
    that fish could distinguish colors.  I am a steelheader and I fly fish
    the salmon river in N.Y.  According to National Geographic info,
    steelhead..speci has the best eye-sight.  They could see color and even
    mono under water.  For example, N.Y steelhead will not strike a fly
    which is using a 6-lb tippet in winter month because they could
    actually see the leader.  So, we must drop our leader down to 4-lb or
    lighter in order to get a hook-up.  I actually saw steelhead or trout
    for that matter move away from the bait when a larger diameter leader
    is used.  Hope this helps,
    
    
    
    Larry

I read somewhere that some fish striped bass, bluefish, tuna can see colors
during the day and only black and white at night and low light conditions.
There is a scientific term for this but I don't remember what it is.

However, the color of the lure is distorted by the depth it's running at.
there is a chart around at what depth different colors change.  There was also
a discussiion in this notes file or the archived one on this subject.

Tuna have very keen eyesight and see well at all depths.  They have blood flowing
in the eye and it acts very much like the human eye.

Bluefish can see as well out of water as in the water.  That's why they snap
at your fingers and get them if you're not careful.

I don't know if fish can see well enough to distinguish between a real life 
looking lure and a so-so lure.  I think that size, shape and action are more
important.

As far as different colors the rule seems to be bright colors on bright days and
dark colors on dark overcast days and nights.

Gordon

    FWIW, Bluefin Tuna have actually been seen by ROV to approach a baited
    hook, study it at length (3 of them studying the same hook at the same
    time), and then refuse to consume it, all the while snarfing up all the
    similarly shaped, but not hooked, bait intended to draw them to the
    lines.
    
    John H-C

    John's statement would explain all those red streaks on my fish finder
    that show tuna coming right up to the hook baits and passing them up.
    It drives you nuts! (especially when they pass up a live one).
    
    Bruce

    I don't think freshwater bass have that keen of eyesight.  We had
    Berkley's fish behaviourist speak at a DBA meeting. He said that he
    often observed Bass run into line in the tank and act surprised when
    they hit it.
    
    Brian

    re: .7  
    
    Well, I don't think freshwater bass have that keen an intelligence,
    either. <g> 
    
    Bass behave a lot more like goofy, friendly, and fairly dumb, 
    but nonetheless hungry canine puppies underwater.
    
    Bluefin Tuna, on the other hand, have been shown to be much more
    discriminating (to the point of being able to distinguish between a
    favored diver and an unknown diver, despite the apparent similarity in
    dive gear).
    
    John H-C
     

what a rush -- diving in a school of feeding bluefin tuna.  I'd hate to get too
close!

I new way to catch tuna.  Dive down and hand feed them, when they get 
comfortable and a big one comes along throw out the hooked bait.  Swim like mad
to the boat and reel em in

Gordon

hey -- I've heard stranger stories about catching 'em