Does kayak color make a difference? I watched a YouTube video where a professional fisherman said his opinion is that a bright colored kayak could have a negative impact on fishing.

FS Digest

I watched a YouTube video where a professional fisherman said his opinion is that a bright colored kayak could have a negative impact on fishing. Have any of you experienced any noticeable difference in being able to catch fish in a bright colored yak versus a more natural colored one?

Just curious. I’d be shocked if it made a difference but it was an interesting thing to consider.

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by ATS200

FS Digest

You said it. It’s his opinion - don’t confuse this with facts. My opinion is it doesn’t matter. I’d rather be noticed by motor boats around me, and a bright colored kayak will definitely help make my trips safer.

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by NameIsYoshimi

FS Digest

Great counter point. I think the safety outweighs the one or two fish that might hate the color orange

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by ATS200

FS Digest

In my opinion its the opposite. I think a brighter color would be better. The best top water frogs are normally dark colored, the way the sky looks they would stand out. Same could be said with a kayak, a dark colored kayak would look like a giant log going against the current whereas a bright colored kayak may even be harder for fish to see.

With that being said, I dont think it would make any sizeable difference.

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by canttakeme1

FS Digest

I’ve heard similar about wearing brightly colored shirts. I think everything(kayaks, shirts, boats) will cast a shadow on sunny days in clear water so I say get whatever color you want and just cast far enough away so that the shadows and/or color you’re projecting aren’t a factor.

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by socobassin

FS Digest

I don't think color matters, kayaks probably all appear as a big dark silhouette looking up from below.

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by PearlTrade

FS Digest

I've experienced no detriment and have quietly glided over the top of tons of fish without spooking them. If I float into an area paddling hard and splashing around, different story. My current yak is bright orange, no issues, catch plenty of fish. :)

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by kursah

FS Digest

Caught many of fish on my buds bright yellow kayak. The bass didn't care.

My kayak is tan, only because that's the only color the store had in stock at the time. Next kayak will be bright colors. I'm more worried about a boater not seeing me than I am the fish potentially not liking the color of my kayak.

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by mca90guitar

FS Digest

I bought a bright red one to be more visible at sea.

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by NingNangNingNangNong

Egghead

There's a million different answers to this. Here's my opinion. When looking up into the sky what colors stand out to you.??? Dark colors do. And fish see dark colors looking up better. And see lighter colors better looking down. If being sneaky is a must I would go with a lighter color bottom. But like these other people say. I would want the top that's Gunna get ran over by another boat to be as bright as you can get.lol. you'd think by now that you could get a two tone Yak.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Egghead wrote:

There's a million different answers to this. Here's my opinion. When looking up into the sky what colors stand out to you.??? Dark colors do. And fish see dark colors looking up better. And see lighter colors better looking down. If being sneaky is a must I would go with a lighter color bottom. But like these other people say. I would want the top that's Gunna get ran over by another boat to be as bright as you can get.lol. you'd think by now that you could get a two tone Yak.

You could probably paint the bottom with that Krylon Fusion paint for plastic.

Jeremy Loc: America

Have Ben Bragg paint it to look like a lure :)

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Jeremy wrote:

Have Ben Bragg paint it to look like a lure :)

There you go!

Headline : "Giant Striper swallows kayak!"

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

My opinion is stealth is my concern. I have a Army green yak and dress appropriately to be seen by a boater. If the boater can see me, then they can see the yak.

As for sneaking up on the fish, 99% of my catches were 10 - 60 feet away from the yak and now and then some within 5 feet. Even a few times within inches of the yak because it appears as a floating log.

Jeremy Loc: America

Be cool to paint one to look like a tree. They used to be made from trees after all. Some have a cremation and funeral in them. I don't think it would burn completely though in water. I wouldn't want to come up on one....