To camouflage or not to camouflage?

[Andrew]

There have been a lot of these sorts of threads lately, and I've already taken in more than I can digest for one season, but I had an experience today which got me thinking about camouflage and steelheading once again. So, ready or not, here's another "what's your opinion?" thread. 

I've never really thought of camouflage attire as a necessity for steelheading, even though I fish a lot of small, clear streams, and spend a lot of my day moving along the bank. I've generally just assumed that drab colors (dark browns, blues, greys) were good enough, and not thought much else of it. And though there has been some doubt in place, largely due to the fact that one of my best fishing buddies swears by camouflage, I've been fairly confident with my assessment: actual camouflage provides no real advantage over other non-alertive clothing. But after today I'm not so sure.

I stepped into one of my favorite holes fairly early this morning in pursuit of June summer-run. Because of the side of the river I was on, my only option for the approach was to creep onto a rock outcropping and work the water above. I crept out with meticulous stealth, as I knew any unnatural disturbance would decrease my chances of luring a fish out of this small depression, but, despite the stealth, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion in my mind that I was eliminating the lower half of the holding water by positioning myself where I was (I could plainly look down into all of this water). I wished I was on the other side, but that was not possible.

Well, to wrap it up quickly, I proceeded to hook* a fish directly below where I stood (with about 5 feet of line out), such that the only conclusion I could or can draw is that this fish had no idea I was there. I was indeed sporting camouflage today, and the pattern was a very good match with the foliage along this river. I guess I don't know for sure that this fish didn't see me, but any self-respecting steelhead I've ever known would have scooted well away from the outcropping and more than likely gone of the bite, or at least acted nervous. To be clear, the fish was not a follower from somewhere else in the hole.

Were this a single experience, I'd probably not even pose this question, but this is the second time something like this has happened, both times with camouflage, nothing like it otherwise. To be sure, I've watched plenty of steelhead scoot out from underneath me while wearing my infamous grey pullover (and beanie, of course). I try to avoid drawing conclusions or even getting ideas from isolated events, but these experiences are so unusual by regular steelheading standards that coincidence doesn't seem that likely. I think there must be something to camo, and I may be expanding my fishing wardrobe a little more before too long.

What do you think, and can you relate any experiences to support your opinions?

Thanks,

Andrew

*As an aside, the brass/green rvrwhirler treated me well today, and I'm really starting to wonder if I'm ever going to lose a rvrwhirler-hooed fish. That first hen today pulled several maneuvers which, by all probability, should have had it swimming free. If you haven't ordered some of these spinners up, yet, do yourself a favor. The deep-digging design with a virtually fail-proof siwash is unmatched by any other spinner on the market, as far as I'm concerned.

[BC Steel]

Yesterday I was fishing a small costal river with Ironhead. We were fishing new water with nothing to show for it. On the way back up river we stopped to try out a very nice looking piece of water that we had already pounded. As I was walking up the bank to get into a casting position I spooked a steelhead and watched it moving across the river away from me. I casted an interception drift and on that first cast to a spooked fish, bobber down and a nice wild steely to hand.

I dont think cammo is necessary, drab clothing will do the trick just fine. If you have cammo on but the fish can see you moving around thats worse than if you sneak up on them in a blaze orange jacket. I have stood right over summer steelhead that were less than 10' away and they obviously knew that I was there and yet they still bit while during the same conditions I have had steelhead spook becasuse they some how saw me 50' away creeping up on them.

If a fish is so super aware that I cant even get to with in casting distance while sneaking up from down river to get into casting distance, I chalk that fish up to concervation. If I can stand right over them and pick which fish I want, Darwins theory of evolution starts to take effect pretty quick.

So to sum it up, I dont worry about it too much as long as I'm wearing drab coloured clothing and using a stealthy aproach.

[Sturzman]

Andrew

As evidenced by our friend's beliefs and your recent experience I would say that yes occasionally it does make a difference. How often though I'm not so sure. I wouldn't be opposed to picking up a camo pullover/shirt or something along those lines. However though I'm not going to go as far as to match my clothing to the type of trees surrounding me.

[Dragfreedrift]

I find camo clothing to help my results more than worrying about a fish seeing my leader.  I have seen steelhead go "lockjaw" on me if they can see me.  Movement is worse than whether a guy has camo or not....fish see movement.  Predators move, prey moves....its a key clue in the animal and fish world.

I really think I could get bites on 20-pound leaders if the fish does not see me first.  Stealth is important!

Regarding the spooking of a fish and then catching it: I recall reading stories about Jim Teeny tossing rocks into a pool in order to spook fish into holding water where they would be less stressed and more easily hooked.  As I recall, this was common practice for him.  I think the key is if a fish is stressed or not when you present a lure to it.  No stress= more bites!

DFD

[Brian]

Camo is for elk hunters , .....I'm going to pull out my finest Hawaiian shirt and hot pink "vb" hat this summer and try to put an end to this myth!

Seriously, I don't put much emphasis in this, like others have said fish are much more sensitive to movement than the color of your shirt. I do think your approach makes a big difference, upstream is much more stealthy than a downstream approach.

[Ironhead]

I like drab colors anyhow so I sticking them  , no way I'm wearing camo though.
We make alot of riverside jokes about guys wearing the camo, I'm not about to become a punchline  .
Low and stealthy, slow and low, soft casts don't hurt either, avoid the "PLOP".

[Andrew]

I can understand the non-believers, as it's been my position for a long time. And no question, I still believe that smooth movements and an upstream approach are more important than what you're wearing. I'm just wondering who believes or does not believe that camo adds an advantage on top of these other stealthy tactics, and why they believe that.

Rod, one of my favorite stand-up comedians has a bit about guys who wear camo in public. It goes something like, "In the woods, camouflage makes you look like a tree. Everywhere else, it makes you look like an ***hole." 

And Brian, I've got no doubt that you'll hook up in that Hawaiian shirt, and would even venture to guess that you'd hook up in a Santa Claus suit, though I hope to God I never see that. 

Andrew

[Brian]

would even venture to guess that you'd hook up in a Santa Claus suit, though I hope to God I never see that

hmmmmmm......note to self, dig that santa suit out of the attic!

[nick]

I have certainly seen fish move away from me when they could see me... camo or no. But usually they don't move too far. I think fish react to movement more than shape or color. I just move reeeeeal slow. 'Course, my wife thinks I do that for everything. "I'm just prak-a-sin for fishin', hun."

[Tee Jay]

Well, I think we can all agree that fish see colors.  When the water is low and gin clear, I think it makes a difference if the color you’re wearing is way out of line with the background the fish are used to seeing.  I’m not convinced a guy has to totally camouflage-out, but I do think that wearing subtle, drab colors that blend in with the background is an advantage.  As I’ve said before, the guy standing on a rock wearing his white t-shirt and fire engine red ball cap can be seen for at least a mile up-stream (was that you, Brian? ) so I figure the fish have to have some sort of advantage.  I agree that movement is what they key in on…I just think they see that white shirt moving before they’ll see most other things.

Something else in this thread caught my interest though.  I can see how a fish might spook out of a particular holding area and then be more susceptible to grabbing your offering.  I’ve seen this happen when a drift boat comes through, or even when working a spinner down through some water and wind up moving the fish to a point where they decide they’ve had enough.  I can’t recall however, that I’ve ever hooked a fish that I know has actually got a good look at me first.  Once those fish have me in full view, the game seems like it’s off.  The only time I’ve had success with these fish is when I walk away from the hole for an hour or so and return later.  When that guy in the white t-shirt returns, I think the fish say, “hey I’ve seen you before, buddy” 

[wannafish]

That santa suit sounds pretty comfy for winter steelheading...surprised no one thought of that sooner!

[rvrfshr]

Andrew... I thought you offed all your camo gear the same day you stopped smoking, shaved off the handlebar moustache and got rid of your jacked-up 4x4 sporting the "Fear no Fish" sticker ! As Terry stated regarding fish being more succeptable to hitting a lure after say a boat has come through or over top, in certain instances yes. So the theory of "all' movement or color of garb promoting lock-jaw kind of goes out the window ? In this anglers perception it's about "type of movement", not all movement. Just as all predator prey relationships go, it's a body language thing. A steelhead scrams at our "mechanical and un-natural stealth" more than any other reason.
  I have hooked fish on the fly-by in the drifter that have moved considerable distance to take and did so at the oar blades, while wearing a white t-shirt and staring each other eye to eye... but this is where it get's complicated and contemplated a bit. Obviously the fish saw the boat (in a natural flowing manner) and now sees what is going to tax it's reserves but will still make the decision on removing the intruder further... If this fish is in veiw to inhale and only ten feet from your rod tip it's pretty hard too stay "cool", but that is what needs to happen ! Cucumber coolness during the entire experience, from wading to hooksetting. If the fish percieves you as "non-threatening" or "retreating" in manner, (stop reeling and don't transmit stress down the line) it will smash your offering, camo or naked ! This is why a "stoner" in fl. orange will continually hook-up and a "drunk" in full face paint camo will get skunked, every time ! (Not promoting either activity, just showing parallel reference to above "theories").
 So don't break the bank on the camo yet,  just become slow, random and weaker in your approach for an increased catch rate !     

[Juan de Fuca]

I know most have already said this, but.......      Approach is my number one concern, slow and low. I am always taking into consideration the upward cone of vision that most fish have. 85% of my fishing is working my way upstream. I even have a few streams that I will walk down a few miles then work my way back up, so I can cast upstream, to unsuspecting fish. (If I do spook fish on the way down, they usually have plenty of time to relax before I make my way back up.) I would only do this knowing no one else would fish the water before me, but most places I fish don't have too many anglers. Also, I am fishing small water summer or winter therefore I feel approach is that much more important. Subtle colors are key too. One thing to remember is most animals, including humans, have no color perception with their periphery vision. I'm not sure if this is true for steelhead, but it wouldn't surprise me. Obviously, I'm not suggesting that color doesn't matter, I'm just suggesting that if you do your best to move slow, low and to the side of the area the fish is focused on, camo shouldn't matter. But fast jerky movements would matter.

*Andrew- Yup, those hooks stick, and keep holding! Haven't lost one yet either on the sickle hook design from Rvfshr's line-up. I just built up some custom spinners with some of Joe's sickle hooks and am itching to give'em a try. However, I'll probably end up dithching my "in-line test creations" and go back to the stock Riverwhirlers.