Author Topic: Blue ribbing or blue flies (Read 667 times)

Mark Hanes · « **on:** August 24, 2010, 09:37:51 AM »

I have seen a lot of flies lately in my weekly internet recon for new patterns that are using blue in them as ribbing or even dubbing. What is it wish blue that attracts trout? I have not used the color much myself but I know some of you on here have. Anyone have any insight?

Aaron Laing · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2010, 10:20:31 AM »

Blue is the last colour spetrum to disappear as light passes through water. This means that in deep water blue will continue to be visible as a colour long after reds and oranges have disappeared. The same goes for water that is coloured or murky.

Todd has done a bunch of work on this and much of my understanding of the priniples of colour in water come from working with him and from courses he put together.

Aaron

Chad Gauerke · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2010, 02:38:08 PM »

I think purple is the last color in the spectrum to disappear in deep dark water. The blue will disappear before purple. I think there is an article about using purple in flies that came out recently by Walter Wise Head guide at Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT. I believe the article is in Flyfishing and Tying Journal.

Tim Barker · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2010, 02:59:59 PM »

Chad is correct, purple IS the last color in the spectrum to disappear...

The article, "Purple Trout Flies" appears on Ppgs: 62-65 in Flyfishing and Tying Journal, Fall 2010. Walter discusses and recipes The Purple Haze, Purple Clacka Caddis, Purple PFS Bastard Midge, Purple Lightning Bug SH, Purple Para-Midge Emerger, Craven's Purple Jujubaetis, Purple Haze Cripple and Purple Woolly Bugger... all good patterns for one's fly boxes...

Some of Walter's other Purple patterns are here:

http://www.parksflyshop.com/newflies.htm

PT/TB

Aaron Laing · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2010, 03:58:17 PM »

I suppose I should have said "one of the last" colours to fade.

If you want to get all technical it's indigo and then violet that disappear after blue, but that would be splitting hairs.

Blue shows well at depth and it lends itself to wider variation of colours and depth of hues given modern dye and colouring techniques. Of course purple is a long time favourite for deep/coloured water presentations, but the question was more "why blue?" so I tried to come up with something plausible.

Aaron

Chad Gauerke · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2010, 07:07:05 PM »

Why blue? I remember a few years ago there was an article in one of the magazines about rainbows keying in on the color blue in flies. I think it was based on blue being one the last colors to disappear and was visible at great depths as well.

Mike Norton · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2010, 11:37:48 PM »

good topic guys I always wonder the same myself..now know why

Eugene Shuler · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2010, 01:30:07 PM »

This study on color was explored years ago by professional bass anglers.
Some articles written in Bassmaters Magazine on it are well over ten years old. While some of this stuff may be newer info to our genre of fishing. I think there is alot we can learn from our hardware throwing brethern. Millions of dollars are on the line in many of their tournamets, so the "science of fishing" is well explored over in those "waters"
If you look at alot of what is offered, and what is winning those tournaments, blue in some shape, form, or fashion rises to the top in many cases.

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2010, 05:16:15 PM »

I think it is reference UV light. Uv Light penetrates furthur than regular light so in theory a fish could see the "reflection" off of a blue or purple nymph in deeper water. since the blue or purple would "glow" or reflect longer and deeper.

On the flip side studies have shown that the cones in trouts eyes that pick up UV light dissapear after the fish are fry so an adult cannot distinguish. Im not a trout I dont know.

Another study said UV light will only penetrate 5 feet more than regular light but thats five feet. The same study (Uof Tenn) said that water filters out UV light. Same principle why berkley copolymer line that is gold in daylight and clear underwater works. The gold in the sunlight is due to fluorescence in natural UV light so underwater there is no gold. That tells me UV underwater is BS. Do i like blue flies, damn right. So it is what it is.

While im on a tangent I recently saw a "fluorescent black" dubbing. This is scentifically imossible. Black is not strictly a color, it absorbs nor reflects any light so fluorescent black is impossible. But im a nerd so.....

Eugene Shuler · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2010, 09:17:22 PM »

Here's a few interesting links where studies were conducted on UV light penetration.
Yes, part of this is talking in terms of bass fishing as with the study conducted by the Tight Lines Lure company. But their science is there, and the studies are more indepth for us "science geeks" with the other two links. Check out the charts, they offer some great information we can all use in our applictaions for flies, and fly selection.

http://www.uv-tackle.com/tightlines_uv_color_process.php

http://www.bassintips.com/bassseecolors.html

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter06/chapter06_10.htm