Boat Colors - Which is Best!

Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.

Ok, it's pretty easy to modify an aluminum boat, but you better know what
you want when ordering a glass boat.

So, I tried to look up the top winningest pro's and then see what color
their boats were. From the very few I could match up, white was the most
common color.

Based on Doug's theory, the best boat would be a black hull, with camo
sides. But have you ever saw a camo colored glass boat. The closest I came
was going to Ranger's website and creating a black hull, duck beige & green
boat. But I think a black bottom, white boat should work well, and then if
you as an angler wore beige, white, power blue clothing, it would only help.

I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Craig Baugher

I think when you fish deeper water, it doesn't matter. White seems to be the
most dominate around here though.

--
Charles B. Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com


"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:iEw2c.194088$uV3.795073@attbi_s51...
Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really
gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his
catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed
his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls
because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend
into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.

Ok, it's pretty easy to modify an aluminum boat, but you better know what
you want when ordering a glass boat.

So, I tried to look up the top winningest pro's and then see what color
their boats were. From the very few I could match up, white was the most
common color.

Based on Doug's theory, the best boat would be a black hull, with camo
sides. But have you ever saw a camo colored glass boat. The closest I
came
was going to Ranger's website and creating a black hull, duck beige &
green
boat. But I think a black bottom, white boat should work well, and then
if
you as an angler wore beige, white, power blue clothing, it would only
help.

I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler
of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Craig Baugher

"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:iEw2c.194088$uV3.795073@attbi_s51...
SNIP
I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler
of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?



I 'm not sure what I think of his theory. I've fished out of a green boat
with grey bottom for 10+ years. This new boat I bought, I based the color
on one criteria. Keeping me cooler in 90+ degree weather. Bought a white
boat with green accents. White hull, because it matched the rest of the
boat. Lt grey carpet, cause I didn't think white carpert was a good idea
(and they didn't offer it...) :-)

If you have any question on the difference white makes, wait til the sun is
beating down and it's hot outside. Put your hand on a colored vehicle
(almost any color), then place it on a white vehicle. The difference is
startling...
--
Andrew Kidd
http://www.amiasoft.com/ - Software for the rest of us!
http://www.rofb.net/ - ROFB Newsgroup Home

Craig,

I saw the same spot which fascinated me...

I posted to a news group (3 or 4 months ago) which Doug Hannon is one of the
experts on a panel in hopes of getting a reply from him along the same lines
of this show.

Doug wrote an article some 20 years ago for one of the fishing magazines
back then, (can't remember which one) where he experimented with hull color.

He painted his boat's aluminum hull to a mottled sky color (blues, whites
and somewhat choppy from wave interference). He reasoned that from his vast
scuba divng experiences to observe bass behavior, that when observing his
own hull that it would be smart to paint the hull to emulate the sky to fool
the bass into thinking the boat was not there.

Craig, I believe that he is on to something and very much respect his
opinions.

Regards,

Suthern

"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:iEw2c.194088$uV3.795073@attbi_s51...
Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really
gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his
catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed
his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls
because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend
into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.
I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler
of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Craig Baugher

On Sun, 07 Mar 2004 03:27:10 GMT, "Craig Baugher"
wrote:

Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Hi all, what color are fish? Most tend to have a light bottom with
darker sides.

What color is a gator? They feed on fish and have a white bottom with
dark sides and top. That might tell you something.

I do a lot of kayak and canoe fishing and own three boats. The kayak
is all off white but it has a very low profile with little white above
the water line. I have had some very close hookups from this boat.

My canoe is solid dark green and I have had fish swim into the bottom
in dark bottom lakes.

My third boat is a camo gelcoat Gheenoe. It also catches fish.

What is best? I think it has a lot to do with the time of day and
color of the bottom. When I go inshore salt water fishing over sandy
bottoms I would have to give the edge to the white kayak.

In darker bottom lakes it seems the green canoe might have the edge.

One thing I try to avoid is wearing white shirts when I fish. I'm
certain that white above the water line is not good except maybe on a
bright overcast day.

It would be interesting if anybody has done any real research on this.

Later, DC

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.

Ok, it's pretty easy to modify an aluminum boat, but you better know what
you want when ordering a glass boat.

So, I tried to look up the top winningest pro's and then see what color
their boats were. From the very few I could match up, white was the most
common color.

Based on Doug's theory, the best boat would be a black hull, with camo
sides. But have you ever saw a camo colored glass boat. The closest I came
was going to Ranger's website and creating a black hull, duck beige & green
boat. But I think a black bottom, white boat should work well, and then if
you as an angler wore beige, white, power blue clothing, it would only help.

I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Dale Colemam

a bright overcast day

?

"J Buck" wrote in message
...
a bright overcast day

?

Not to be confused with a dark, sunny day.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

a bright overcast day

?

Not to be confused with a dark, sunny day.

Ohhhhh...thanks for 'clearing' that up

On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 21:00:07 -0500 (EST), (J Buck)
wrote:

a bright overcast day

?

Come on now, this was a good thread until you got goofy on me.

What I meant by bright overcast is thiner higher ceiling that lets a
lot of light in. Not at all the same as a dark low ceiling like what
you get just before a storm rolls in.

Maybe I should have used the words light overcast. It would be one of
those days you would want to wear sun glasses but everthing has a
bright white look to it.

Is this clear enough?

Later, DC
--
Dale Colemam

DC, The boys were just having fun. The same way, they would, if we were
all gathered around a table sharing coffee or a beer.

--
Craig Baugher