Northwest Fishing Magazine July 2025 Volume 4 Issue 9 - Flipbook - Page 25
eye. We have rods and
cones. There are no rods or
cones that can detect UV
light. There is a study that
attributes UV detection to
the Japanese Dace and
some goldfish. It has never
been shown that salmonids
can detect UV light.
DUDE: But the fishing tackle
makers would never lie to
us, would they?
KOKANEE: Decide that
for yourself. I can tell you
this: their terminology is
incorrect, and the reasons
they give for their product's
effectiveness are incorrect.
However, the products are
effective.
DUDE: Now you are really
confusing me.
KOKANEE: I specialize in
confusing fishermen.
DUDE: Well then, what is
the correct terminology for
"UV?"
KOKANEE: The correct
terminology is the term
"fluorescent."
DUDE: Then why don't
the tackle makers call it
"fluorescent?"
KOKANEE: I suppose
because it is a lot harder to
spell than "UV." And "UV" is
a lot easier to text.
DUDE: Is that black light
charging the material, you
know, to make it glow?
KOKANEE: No. Glow is
phosphorescence. It gives
off light energy (glow)
regardless of whether there
is light present, provided
that it has been "charged.
Fluorescent materials do
not need to be charged. All
that is required is for some
available light to act on it.
Fluorescent materials retain
their color all the way down
the water column. There is
no color fade.
DUDE: Color fade?
KOKANEE: Ordinary colors
can fade as you go down
the water column. Ordinary
red will turn black in just
a few feet of water. But a
fluorescent red will remain
red all the way down the
water column, provided
there is some light to act
on it. Even if there is only
one percent light way down
deep.
Fluorescent red will remain
red in the absence of the
red wavelength in the
water column. And you will
recall that red is the first
wavelength to be eaten by
the water as you descend
the water column. Because
I have cones in my eyes, I
can see a fluorescent red
at 50 feet - if there is some
light - even just blue/purple
light at that depth.
DUDE: So no fading. Does
this work the same for all
fluorescent colors?
KOKANEE: Yes. In fact, some
fluorescent colors are so
effective, they get brighter
in the water as you go
down the water column. In
any event, no fade.
DUDE: You said that the
stuff marketed as "UV" is
mislabeled.
KOKANEE: All of the stuff
marketed as "UV" is really
fluorescent. So all of the
stuff you bought as UV is
still good stuff, but call it
UV as much as you like,
it is not a dragonfly - it is
fluorescent. Remember,
since that stuff is in fact
fluorescent, there is no
color fade as you descend
the water
