Color matters? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FishNinjaY · 03-02-2013, 11:53 PM

So excited!

Looks like I'm about to jump into this kayak game. Going to try to take advantage of some pre-Fred Hall Show savings..

Super thanks to Andy at OEX SSB

for spending so much time getting a noob like me situated and demo'ing stuff on the water. He's also working on a great package for me, and I'm pretty much decided (finally) on the Hobie Oasis tandem. My 10yr old boy doesn't know it yet, but I'm actually getting a second kayak to give him, a Malibu Mini-X... the color might not entirely be in my control, but I asked my son what colors he liked, and he picked out the LIME GREEN! Yikes.. a bit loud, no? (especially since I hope to use it for solo fishing when I have a few hours free).. but.. I guess if that's what the boy wants!

Got me thinking...

What are peoples preferences on color of kayak? Any issues that factored in, like visibility on the water?, safety? dirt/cleaning? how it wears over time with beach rash? etc... Personally, I think I favor the lighter, more subdued colors, like stone for the Malibu, or ivory dune for the Hobie.. but the mango yellow is ok also? I guess I'm not picky.

Ok.. just wondering what you guys thought. Thanks!!

Can't wait..

See y'all out there!
-Jay

FlyFishinYakr · 03-03-2013, 12:39 AM

I also wondered if there was a fishing difference in color when deciding on my Outback. Since I was confirming my place on the 2.5 day in June I asked CJ his opinion. He informed me, I his opinion color never seemed to be an issue. As with boats it's more about the noise from "boat slap" that might make more of a difference. When I talked to "Andy" @ SSB, he confirmed the same thing. After reviewing many picks on this forum I noticed

&

have been caught on yaks of all different colors

!
From the safety stand point I thought about a mango color but finally settled on a neutral color "Dune".
FFY
Just my $.02

kiyo21 · 03-03-2013, 12:51 AM

I have a lime green trident 13 and color to me is preference doesn't stop the fish just helps the boats to see you. + brighter is better

03-03-2013, 02:39 AM

Custom paint job on mine.

taggermike · 03-03-2013, 12:55 PM

I've never given yak color too much thought. A light colored bottom may blend in with the light coming down similar to the counter shading found in most fish. I bright kayak will make you more visible topower boaters; never a bad idea. Darker kayaks show scratches more. Mike

Gigafish · 03-03-2013, 01:21 PM

Brighter colors are better, you would notice a high visibility difference on the water. Kayaks are considered a low visibility craft.

GregAndrew · 03-03-2013, 05:04 PM

A vast majority of the fish you catch will not be close enough to your yak that they could tell what color it is. For a 10yo I would recommend a high vis color too. The only differences I have noticed is that the darker colors absorb a little more sunlight (get warmer). And the bright colors can cause a little blurring in videos on sunny days.

CKallday71 · 03-03-2013, 05:55 PM

Not completely related to this topic but in a round about way it is.

With all the issues of seals/seal lions I wonder if anyone has ever tried painting Eye Spots on their Yaks. LIke they do on airplanes to avoid bird strikes. In the animal world, big eyes looking at you can be intimidating to some species. Not sure if it would have any effect on the Seals/Sea Lions but you never know.

I just purchased a blue Cobra Fish N Dive and was contemplating an old Flying Tigers mouth on the front just for giggles. Wonder if one of our local Great Whites will try and mate with it. Kidding of course.

FishNinjaY · 03-03-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

A vast majority of the fish you catch will not be close enough to your yak that they could tell what color it is. For a 10yo I would recommend a high vis color too. The only differences I have noticed is that the darker colors absorb a little more sunlight (get warmer). And the bright colors can cause a little blurring in videos on sunny days.

Thanks for all the great replies.. keep them coming!

I agree.. I'll at least psychologically feel better if my son is kayaking solo on the Mini-X in some high-vis color.. so if he likes the neon LIME.. why the heck not.

I like the eye ball idea.. why not just paint it like a giant great white, including foaming jaws and giant teeth!!

Cbad Mike · 03-03-2013, 10:43 PM

I ride a bright green Malibu which I bought used. Im not a real big fan of the color but as a plus there are no reports that the tax man has tried to collect on a lime green kayak.

Old Man in the Sea · 03-04-2013, 11:12 AM

yum yum yellow and red are the 2 best GWS colors...avoid those...

bigdez93 · 03-04-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Man in the Sea

yum yum yellow and red are the 2 best GWS colors...avoid those...

is this scientific fact or from experience?

janines.fishtales@cox.net · 03-04-2013, 12:58 PM

Yipes! I have yum yum yellow....!!

Janine

FishNinjaY · 03-04-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Man in the Sea

yum yum yellow and red are the 2 best GWS colors...avoid those...

sorry... what's "GWS" ? lol

janines.fishtales@cox.net · 03-04-2013, 01:17 PM

I don't know but I think he meant Great White Shark!

I'm gonna paint my yak!

Janine

Jimmyz123 · 03-04-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janines.fishtales@cox.net

I don't know but I think he meant Great White Shark!

I'm gonna paint my yak!

Janine

Just paint the bottom.

03-02-2013, 11:53 PM	#1
FishNinjaY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 428	Color matters? So excited! Looks like I'm about to jump into this kayak game. Going to try to take advantage of some pre-Fred Hall Show savings.. Super thanks to Andy at OEX SSB for spending so much time getting a noob like me situated and demo'ing stuff on the water. He's also working on a great package for me, and I'm pretty much decided (finally) on the Hobie Oasis tandem. My 10yr old boy doesn't know it yet, but I'm actually getting a second kayak to give him, a Malibu Mini-X... the color might not entirely be in my control, but I asked my son what colors he liked, and he picked out the LIME GREEN! Yikes.. a bit loud, no? (especially since I hope to use it for solo fishing when I have a few hours free).. but.. I guess if that's what the boy wants! Got me thinking... What are peoples preferences on color of kayak? Any issues that factored in, like visibility on the water?, safety? dirt/cleaning? how it wears over time with beach rash? etc... Personally, I think I favor the lighter, more subdued colors, like stone for the Malibu, or ivory dune for the Hobie.. but the mango yellow is ok also? I guess I'm not picky. Ok.. just wondering what you guys thought. Thanks!! Can't wait.. See y'all out there! -Jay

03-04-2013, 12:58 PM	#13
janines.fishtales@cox.net Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 555	Yipes! I have yum yum yellow....!! Janine __________________ Fishtales

03-04-2013, 01:17 PM	#15
janines.fishtales@cox.net Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 555	I don't know but I think he meant Great White Shark! I'm gonna paint my yak! Janine __________________ Fishtales

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03-03-2013, 12:39 AM	#2
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	I also wondered if there was a fishing difference in color when deciding on my Outback. Since I was confirming my place on the 2.5 day in June I asked CJ his opinion. He informed me, I his opinion color never seemed to be an issue. As with boats it's more about the noise from "boat slap" that might make more of a difference. When I talked to "Andy" @ SSB, he confirmed the same thing. After reviewing many picks on this forum I noticed & have been caught on yaks of all different colors ! From the safety stand point I thought about a mango color but finally settled on a neutral color "Dune". FFY Just my $.02

03-03-2013, 12:51 AM	#3
kiyo21 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Chino CA Posts: 202	I have a lime green trident 13 and color to me is preference doesn't stop the fish just helps the boats to see you. + brighter is better

03-03-2013, 02:39 AM	#4
madncrzydm Guest Posts: n/a	Custom paint job on mine.

03-03-2013, 12:55 PM	#5
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I've never given yak color too much thought. A light colored bottom may blend in with the light coming down similar to the counter shading found in most fish. I bright kayak will make you more visible topower boaters; never a bad idea. Darker kayaks show scratches more. Mike

03-03-2013, 01:21 PM	#6
Gigafish Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 309	Brighter colors are better, you would notice a high visibility difference on the water. Kayaks are considered a low visibility craft.

03-03-2013, 05:04 PM	#7
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	A vast majority of the fish you catch will not be close enough to your yak that they could tell what color it is. For a 10yo I would recommend a high vis color too. The only differences I have noticed is that the darker colors absorb a little more sunlight (get warmer). And the bright colors can cause a little blurring in videos on sunny days.

03-03-2013, 05:55 PM	#8
CKallday71 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: The 951 Posts: 430	Not completely related to this topic but in a round about way it is. With all the issues of seals/seal lions I wonder if anyone has ever tried painting Eye Spots on their Yaks. LIke they do on airplanes to avoid bird strikes. In the animal world, big eyes looking at you can be intimidating to some species. Not sure if it would have any effect on the Seals/Sea Lions but you never know. I just purchased a blue Cobra Fish N Dive and was contemplating an old Flying Tigers mouth on the front just for giggles. Wonder if one of our local Great Whites will try and mate with it. Kidding of course.

03-03-2013, 10:43 PM	#10
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	I ride a bright green Malibu which I bought used. Im not a real big fan of the color but as a plus there are no reports that the tax man has tried to collect on a lime green kayak.

03-04-2013, 11:12 AM	#11
Old Man in the Sea Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Park Posts: 569	yum yum yellow and red are the 2 best GWS colors...avoid those...