What Fish See: Understanding Optics and Color Shifts for Designing Lures and Flies (Paperback)

~ (Author) "IT'S A TOUGH LIFE FOR A YOUNG STEELHEAD FRY, ONE OF SEVERAL thousand eggs planted by its parents in a shallow gravel pit..." (more)
Key Phrases: Pacific Northwest, Paul Johnson, Summer Heat (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: Frank Amato Publications (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571881409
• ISBN-13: 978-1571881403
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #743,142 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fish don't have human retinas!, November 9, 2000

By	Paul J. Beckmann (Mendota Heights, MN USA) - See all my reviews

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Trying To Push What Doesn't Exist, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best fishing book for trout, steelhead and salmon, October 2, 2001

By	David E. Fenstemaker (Rogue River, Or United States) - See all my reviews

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.).