Customer Reviews

What Fish See

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is probably the best fishing book I have ever
read for catching trout, steelhead and salmon,
because the author, Colin Kageyama, backs up his
claims with straight forward science.
I live on the middle Rogue in Oregon, and
fish almost everyday, and build my own spinners,
and have tried many different methods.
I have used his suggestions with instant
success. Mepps also makes his spinners in their
"See Best" line. I have seen fish react to his
spinners like no other, where the fish will
actually strike the lure multiple times.
This book is a must for any serious student
of the sport, and his methods apply to
any form of fishing (fly, spin casting,
float, etc.).

I applaud Dr. Kageyama's energy and interest in this area of great importance to the fishing community. However, as a vision science researcher, I was deeply disappointed at the lack of Kageyama's familiarity with the literature on the visual system of fish, especially Rainbow Trout, Goldfish, and Walleye. (See the journal Vision Research and the work of Edwin Land for many examples.) As an example, the Rainbow Trout is known to have *four* types of photoreceptors; humans have three. There are species that are sensitive to the *polarization* of light; humans have no such sensitivity. These shortcomings, in addition to the use of photography to document what fish might see, leave the work on very shakey theoretical ground. (Photographic film has *yet another* set of sensitivity functions to the color spectrum, neither fish or human!) The definitive work still needs to be written. Perhaps Dr. Kageyama will provide a second edition.

In my opinion, the core of this book is a rehash of what was already brilliantly discovered and documented by Jed Davis in " Spinner Fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and Trout. " I applaud Kageyama's effort in trying to ask important questions but Kagemaya pushes it too far by suggesting theories that are weak or are unproven.

For example, he claims the reason black works so well in bright sunlight is because of the contrast between the white surface and the black blade. I tend to agree with Jed Davis that black " provides presence without spooking fish. " Further explanation in this regard is superfluous.

I think these " How Fish See " books are important because anglers have always asked these questions about what fish see. But the real question here is this: Is there anything here that, from a practical point of view, can help you with your fishing? In this case, not much.

Colin presents much useful info, and some controversial ideas. He gets us thinking about fish vision -- That's important.
I agree with most of Colin's theories, but some need more research.
Many eye-opening, underwater, color photos -- You will select baits differently after you read this book.
Wayne Heinz, author of, How to Catch Salmon, Sturgeon, Lingcod, Rockfish, and Halibut Along the Pacific Coast: Fish On!

Anyone who fishes, especially if you chunk spinners for trout or salmon, will be amazed by the information in this book. Never before has anyone been to give reasons and data why certain colors and lures work for steelhead, salmon and trout. His See-Best technology is great reading and the lures he designed are like nothing you ever fished with.

This book could have been a very valuable resource for all steelheaders, both gear and fly; however, the book is filled with very limited or incomplete explanations. Accordingly, the information is presented in a manner that does not allow the angler to apply the information when on the water. Also, the photos are not presented in a methodical and systematic manner to cover all situations, i.e. different light conditions in each of the water clarity conditions we encounter. The photos also could have been more helpful if each of the colors was indentified to show the effect of the different water and lighting conditions on such color.

This book is not that original (and wasn't when it was published). Save your money and check out a copy from the local library and make color copies of some of the photos that show under water color changes (the only worthwhile part of the text). Additionally, it is worth noting that large sections of the book are essentially book reports on other well written and researched texts.

This product came right on time and it was everything I hoped for.I would recommend the book and seller highly!

I've fished with Dr.K several times. I'm always catching myself trying to pick his brain. He has a wealth of knowledge that I am eager to learn and apply to my own fishing tactics. Bottem line is...If the fish can't see your lure for one reason or another, mainly lure color, water color or background color, he isn't going to be striking your lure. I've tested my lures, as well as my fly material and know wether they stay true, but my biggest question is determining what color the water is. We will be addressing that issue real soon. Do you remember the last time you went fishing and got skunked? There are so many variables to take into consideration when you're fishing. By using Dr.K's knowledge and research findings, some of those days you got skunked just might turn out a little bit better. Between my boat,rods,reels,and all the gear, I've spent the better part of 10 grand. I would sure spend 20 bucks to help me become a better fisherman. What do you have to loose, oh wow $20.00!

You spent that last week to buy beer, and were's the beer now?

Thanks Dr K, see you next time you're in Portland.

Whether Human or fish the eye is merely a receptor and counter of light photons. The discrimination of colours is a brain function. The connections between the eye and the brain, the nurological connections are not a variable thing but once set remain so. Fishes born in water without reds would likely not see red. Fish with blue/green visual sensitivity, most pelagics, cannot see pink because they cannot see red. We see pink as blue and red, no red no pink. If a salmon changes its visual sensitivity during the transition from the sea to the river it is a pretty strange beasty. The fish's eye is continually growing and the older the fish the better the resolution. Spawning fish are old, ie they have the best visual resolution. But we still have to recognise that the science of the fishes visual system, and it's colour sensitivity is best detirmined by those scientists using the Micro-Spectro-Photometer. I could not find any references to this research. Which is a pity because there is some great information out there in the world of the boffins.