Hey, wasn't sure if this is where I post a question like this, if its in the wrong section sorry, please move for me. Anyway after understanding the general rule of color for freshwater bassin I tryed to bring the same logic over to saltwater as since the summer is arriving I'll do mainly striper/fluking until about September. I have been posting on a striper forum to try and gain some tips and tactics before I head to the beach and I am beginning to see based on people opinions, there is very little similarities between freshwater bassing and striper bassing regarding color rules, ways to fish a bait etc.

What I mainly want to ask is, if it is true that bass cannot see a lighter colored lure well during the night, then why is it when I post a question asking which color to use on a topwater plug for striper at night 80% of the responses come back with either yellow/white or yellow/white as a 2nd option. Is the sight different for fish which are in the ocean? Do striper have better vision then largemouth? Anyone know anything about this?

why is it when I post a question asking which color to use on a topwater plug for striper at night 80% of the responses come back with either yellow/white or yellow/white as a 2nd option. Is the sight different for fish which are in the ocean? Do striper have better vision then largemouth? Anyone know anything about this?

Not to badmouth anybody, but saltwater fishermen sometimes are not as, I guess you could say "scientific" about their fishing. I think they go by tried and true old methods. If they are telling you to use bright colored lures at night, it's probably working for them, but the fact is that using a dark or specifically black lure at night is the best.

I fish inshore on the east coast of Florida quite a bit in summer. Inshore fishermen around here have caught on to the dark lure at night rule, but a lot still believe the opposite.

LMB and stripers both appear to be capable hunters at night and lure color is probably not all that important.

The eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Bass can see color but not at night, color it's self is meaningless at night. Bass cannot see details at night, so don't waste time with meticulously painted or patterned lures. Contrast is more important by far than color at night. If you fish water where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try white spinners with a white grub. The usual night time favorite black is the second choice in shad populated lakes. Black or dark hued lures give maximum contrast at night when run on or near the surface. Under water vision for the bass is reduced at night, so use lures that are a little larger. Slow retrieves work better because it lets the bass locate the lure easier and zero in on it.

i read something about fishing at night. says fish in lighter areas and use dark baits. this is because the fish will the a dark bait that it contrasted against the lighted area. kinda makes a silhouette and makes a small bait appear larger

The eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Bass can see color but not at night, color it's self is meaningless at night. Bass cannot see details at night, so don't waste time with meticulously painted or patterned lures. Contrast is more important by far than color at night. If you fish water where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try white spinners with a white grub. The usual night time favorite black is the second choice in shad populated lakes. Black or dark hued lures give maximum contrast at night when run on or near the surface. Under water vision for the bass is reduced at night, so use lures that are a little larger. Slow retrieves work better because it lets the bass locate the lure easier and zero in on it.

By "bass" do you mean all bass species?, or just freshwater bass such as smallmouth/largemouth? Do striped bass have different vision then largemouth/smallmouth?

Actually it applies to all fish; how well they see varies with each species

One of my favorite night colors is a worm color called Starry Night; it is dark smoke on top, clear smoke on the bottom with lots of silver glitter in the clear. This goes against every thing you hear about night fishing, everyone says to use dark colors. I night fish 7 to 8 months of the year and I fish the same baits, same locations, and same techniques I would during the day. While the bass's eye are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray does not mean they can not see other colors at night; they just appear different than in day light.

Contrast is more important by far than color at night, contrast with the back ground, contrast with the surface, and contrast with in the lure it's self. The reason for the success of the color above Starry Night is the contrast not the color it's self. Think about that color dark smoke on top, clear smoke on the bottom with lots of silver glitter in the clear? Its shad colored! While many people prefer to use black spinner/buzz baits at night I'll opt for red which offers a different contrast than black.

All fish are predators and while they will hunt by sound or smell it is sight that triggers the aggressive reaction strike.