M
mlw
I have been reading an interesting new book:
The New Scientific Angling - Trout and Ultraviolet Vision
the author (Reed Curry), also has a blog where you can read an excerpt.
The author makes some useful distinctions and debunks some applications. The first distinction is between reflected UV light (for example how a bug or baitfish appears to fish), and fluorescence - materials that give off a visible color when hit with uv light). His primary interest is in how insects and other trout food appear to fish capable of percieving UV light (we don't - the lens of the human eye (and most mammals with the exception of whitetail deer) has a yellow filter in it. So if you can see a glow of some color, that material is fluorescing, not reflecting uv. Fluorescing materials may be useful as attractors for sea run fish, but there are no fluorescing food items for trout.
Daylight contains about 8% UV, but a higher percentage at dawn and dusk, when trout are most actively feeding.
Many classic trout fly patterns contain feathers or fur that do reflect UV light in a realistic manner, similar to the wings of common mayflies. Many birds and insects use uv marking for mate selection, etc.
He also debunks some common applications of "UV", such as using Titanium oxide or zinc oxide (both of which absorb uv).
Hareline provided materials for the author to test
Very interesting book, which sheds new light on how fish perceive flies.
Michael
The New Scientific Angling - Trout and Ultraviolet Vision
the author (Reed Curry), also has a blog where you can read an excerpt.
The author makes some useful distinctions and debunks some applications. The first distinction is between reflected UV light (for example how a bug or baitfish appears to fish), and fluorescence - materials that give off a visible color when hit with uv light). His primary interest is in how insects and other trout food appear to fish capable of percieving UV light (we don't - the lens of the human eye (and most mammals with the exception of whitetail deer) has a yellow filter in it. So if you can see a glow of some color, that material is fluorescing, not reflecting uv. Fluorescing materials may be useful as attractors for sea run fish, but there are no fluorescing food items for trout.
Daylight contains about 8% UV, but a higher percentage at dawn and dusk, when trout are most actively feeding.
Many classic trout fly patterns contain feathers or fur that do reflect UV light in a realistic manner, similar to the wings of common mayflies. Many birds and insects use uv marking for mate selection, etc.
He also debunks some common applications of "UV", such as using Titanium oxide or zinc oxide (both of which absorb uv).
Hareline provided materials for the author to test
Very interesting book, which sheds new light on how fish perceive flies.
Michael