Knowing a bit of science can help catch more fish
Blog by: David Coulson , CO 12/22/2013 (Return to blogs)
Science and math in school are dreaded topics for many. Even today, it’s rare that I ever discuss these topics outside work. I’ve never fully understood this aversion to learning a little math or science, especially as nearly everything we enjoy in our modern day’s lives has a basis in both, including fishing.
I see the eye’s rolling already, science and math important in fishing? You’ve got to be kidding me! Think about all the engineering that goes into your rod, reel, and some cases terminal tackle. Engineering does not happen without math. And that’s before we even address boats, vehicles to tow them, and those electronics many of us are so dependent on these days. Are you ready to concede on the math point?
How about science? Well, to start with, you do realize the products produced by Berkeley, such as Powerbait and Gulp were developed through scientific research, right? Oh, I know you don’t need to under the science behind them to bait a hook. But I will argue that a bit of understanding of science, such as fish biology will go a long ways to helping you catch more fish. For example, we make sure that our species descriptions cover the basics of the fish’s life cycle aka biology. I’m sure many will agree knowing when and where fish spawn (say largemouth bass) is important to catching, that’s biology.
The other day, I posted about a single property of water. It takes 80 times the energy to change ice to water as it does to heat it up one degree Celsius. That means with the amount of energy required to melt a cup of ice you could heat a cup of water from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degree Fahrenheit and make a nice hot cup of coffee.
Understanding a little science, such as the properties of water can help you be a better angler. How so? Uhm, fish live in what? Get the point? Knowing about water and fish, can help you be a better angler.
I’ve covered this before, but water is densest at 39 degrees, ice freezes at 32 and floats. So the warmest water in an iced over lake is on the bottom. If you think a species such as catfish will seek out the warmest water, than that might give you a clue where to look for them. That bit of information also helps understand turnover, and helps explain the timing of when a lakes will ice up, about one to two weeks after turnover under freezing conditions.
I wrote a series of blogs on what fish see: “ “Water's Impact on Color,” ”Fluorescent Colors For Contrast,” “What Fish See Wrap-up”. While we might concentrate on the eye and brain of fish, the reality is water absorbs the light spectrum at different rates. So the deeper we go the fewer colors that will be visible. The amount of particulates in the water will also influence colors at any given depth. Consequently, when fishing deep color selection might not matter as much as you think. For example over 30 feet deep, red and black will look the same.
Another property worth considering is water density and sound. Simply, the denser the material, in general, the faster sound travels. Sound travels over four times faster in water than air. Also, the transfer of sound from the ground to water is better than from air to water due to the density of the earth. As a result, the kids yelling or the boom box blasting, as annoying as it may be, is far less likely to be heard by fish than your buddy dropping his beer in the boat. But sound is a topic for its own blog.
So is the topic of smell and fish. However, I’ll leave this for you to think about until I write it. For us to smell something it must be air borne in nature, so we don’t typically smell things like salt, but we do smell petroleum particles. For fish to smell something it must be waterborne, as in it dissolves in water. I believe fish can detect salt (smell?), but they can’t smell petroleum products because they’re water insoluble. That doesn’t mean they might not be able to taste oil based products, but they can’t smell them. Again, this is a topic that encompasses more than I can cover here.
Along the lines of water soluble chemicals, fish are able to “breathe” because oxygen is water soluble. But the levels of oxygen water can carry are temperature dependent. We read that trout can’t tolerate high water temperature, but it’s more a matter of oxygen levels than temperature. That why when streams get warm enough the fish stack up in areas with the highest oxygen levels, below areas of faster water. Again, this is a topic that merits a blog of its own.
I’ve made the argument that knowing a little math and science can help you understand the world fish live in and that will help you catch more fish. I’ll expand on some these topics over the next few weeks. In the meantime, spend a little time learning about fish and the world they live in. It will help you catch more fish.
Blog content © David Coulson
Comments
FISHRANGLER
12.22.13 9:22 AM
Good stuff Dave, I hope you fallow up it would be nice to read some facts. I have learned tons just yesterday I was reading up on catfish species in the united states. Channel cats in particular are like giant tongues.
Even their eyes have taste receptors that sends this information into the ear also. The whole body of a cat has some kind of receptors that informs them of food, when food is detected they move in to investigate and then use their whiskers to find out if its edible and safe to eat. Channel cats can See, Hear and Smell everything around them 10 times better than any other fresh water species like LMB and they even have all the properties like walleye to see better at night. They rank up there with sharks and we all know how sharks relate to their environment from watching shark week. I agree understanding your target species through science well help you catch more fish. Lots of information on the Inter- Webby, science related, to learn about the species your targeting. I'm like sponge or Channel cat, I soak all it in and keep asking for more and more.
OldMikkDale
12.22.13 10:21 AM
Skill is not required to catch fish now days. I am an awful fly fisherman and was going sell my fly fishing stuff and take up ice fishing and was checking out the equipment available and decided if I was to be competitive with other ice fishermen it dependent on how deep of pockets I had. Ice fishermen can have sleds, huts, heaters, power augers, tip ups, super electronics, and if they do use rods, they can even see when to set the hook when using electronics. If they take their sweetie and a bottle of cialis along, they can have a great day on the ice. Fishing from a boat is almost the same way with what is available. I decided to keep my fly rods and equipment as that requires skill. Will do stream fishing and boat fishing and will not use electronics to locate fish. I don't blame those who use all the electronics and gadgets, I like a challenge and prefer to hone my skills. To each his own. Sometimes when a fisherman says they had a successful day fishing, I wonder if they should be saying it was a successful day for the manufacturers. Keep up the very good blogs Dave as I and some others like to improve on how to think like a fish. And FISHRANGLER, I learned some things from you today. Pleas don't anyone be offended about my remarks, it is just the state of a 80 plus old mind. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL.
Lloyd Tackitt
12.22.13 1:12 PM
I can't get enough of this type of knowledge. Every piece adds to the puzzle.
opencage
12.23.13 7:13 AM
What!? Having an understanding of the world fish live in helps you catch fish!? :-) I very much look forward to reading those upcoming blogs. If I'm not a better angler because of those "What Fish See" blogs, I'm at least a more confident one with the lure colors I choose. Thanks Dave.
David Coulson (author, aka Flyrodn)
12.23.13 9:04 AM
Thanks for the comments. I agree that some folks depend to much on technology at times and not enough on the gray matter we're all gifted with. I use a depth finder when fly fishing from a float tube. On occassion I forget it, or the batteries die and I leave it on shore. Often Cody gives me grief about it and asks how I'll be able to catch fish. I'm happy to report I thump him just the same with or without it. Point is, if you're using technology to catch fish, and are lost without it, I'd suggest leaving it at home, learn about fish and their environment. Once your adept at catching fish without all that technology, then use it. It helps, but it's a poor substitute for the tools nature blessed you with already. Also, my catfish article covers the basics of catfish senses.
Neyet Stalker
12.23.13 3:10 PM
I agree with OldMikkDale anglers depend waaay tooo much on electronics both on the ice and open water and all the high tech gadgetry! Angling is supposed to be about the challenge of locating/catching fish using your knowledge of each fish specie. The biggest challenge is locating fish in a body of water. Knowlege of seasonal/daily movements, forage, etc,etc. give the angler an starting point on locating fish. Guys that depend on boats, electronics, etc. etc. would be catching far fewer fish than they would on shore without all of the bells! Try going out and fish from shore for an entire season using artificial only. It will hone your skill and make each catch more rewarding!
FISHRANGLER
12.23.13 3:56 PM
You must have read the same book I did? Only your way ahead of me 5 years ago.
Tiny Stevens
12.24.13 12:06 AM
I disagree with some of the comments here. I think there is a common misconception that sonar units are fishfinders. Having taken Dan Swanson's electronics class, I understand that my Lowrance is not for finding fish, RATHER for locating and identifying various structural elements. Knowing the fish I am targeting, with these structural elements identified in the lake, it does help me to locate and catch fish. The same could easily be said for the shore angler. James, would you fish for walleyes in water 6" deep over a mud bottom? Probably not. My Lowrance simply helps me to locate and identify those areas that are known to be walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, trout or whatever fish I happen to be afters preferred habitat. In 20 feet of water, a typical sonar cone is around 7 or 8 feet diameter. That's not very big.
That being said, my use of my boat in the lakes that I fish, has allowed me to be a better shore angler as well. Having been all over the shore lines, in coves, on points, etc with the boat, I have eliminated statistically unproductive areas for certain species when I am on shore.
To me, these things are all tools in an anglers arsenal. No different than a lake map, compass, gps, or even in reality a rod and reel. Perhaps some would prefer we all go back to a cane pole and cotton string?
Everyone has their own opinion, and this simply put is mine.
About the Author
To say fly fishing is a passion for Dave is an understatement, he lives by the adage, �fly fishing isn�t a matter of life or death, it�s much more important than that.� Simply, if it�s a fish, then Dave�s willing to chase it on a fly. This includes making two or three trips a year out of state to places like Alaska, Canada, East and West Coasts to fly fish for salmon, northern pike and salt water species, such as redfish. The rest of the time Dave spends his time plying Colorado waters with a fly rod for everything the state has to offer such as bass, perch, crappie, bluegill, walleye, catfish, pike and yes even trout with a fly.