We cannot overemphasize the ability to attract a fish. It is an essential skill that every angler should possess. It can determine whether you have a successful outing or go home empty-handed. An excellent way to attract fish is by understanding how their predatory senses work and using it to your advantage when fishing. Using their predatory instincts to your advantage involves drawing out a fish by making it believe there is a prey to devour on. We will discuss taking advantage of fish senses to attract them and improve your fishing success.
Sight
The round lenses of a fish allow them to see perfectly underwater and move to different areas around the water to regulate the amount of light entering their eyes. Also, they can see both sides of a corner simultaneously due to the position of their eyes. However, the placement of their eyes creates a blind spot in their front and behind them.
Most fish species have color vision comparable to that of humans, and they can differentiate between colors depending on their environment. Therefore, the color of your lure or fishing bait should complement the water type and look identical to the color of the fish’s prey.
Hearing
Fishes do not have visible ears, but they can hear sounds and feel vibrations with an internal auditory organ called otoliths, found in their head. The otolith vibrates when a sound wave passes, allowing the fish to hear. Sound travels faster underwater than on land, so fishes can quickly identify the direction of the sound.
Older fishes have a more sensitive otolith making them hear better than younger fish.
Their hearing ability can be used to our advantage as there are different fishing baits and lures that can make noise, thereby attracting the fish. For instance, crankbaits contain rattles that can draw the fish’s attention. This tactic is mainly advantageous when the fish relies on hearing due to poor visibility.
Smell/Taste
Fish have a stronger sense of smell than humans. They can perceive from yards away as they use their nares to smell and detect predators and prey. They also have sensors that pick up scents underwater, and they react accordingly. For instance, salmon’s fantastic sense of smell allows them to trace the river they were born in, while carbs can smell fishing baits and identify it to feed.
You can use their sense of smell to achieve fishing success by baiting up their environment to attract them. When carp fishing, you can use pellets or bread, and the carps are sure to scent it and move towards your location or the location of the baits. You can attract Tunas with cut-up fish. The current takes it across the water and creates a trail picked up by the tuna, which tracks the smell back to its source.
Fish have different taste buds besides the one on their lips. They have taste buds on their barbels, heads, gill arches, body sides, and the strongest is the one in and around their mouth area. Tasty lures and fishing baits trigger their sense of taste when they put it through their mouth, making it an easy way to entice them.
Lateral lines
Fishes have lateral lines along their body sides to detect vibrations and current changes in water. These lateral lines help fish maintain their position and source food for themselves. Some prey can create particular movements or vibrations that predators can detect. The lateral lines put them in the correct position to attack.
There are fishing baits that can cause vibrations in the water to attract the fish. Poppers and crankbaits are perfect for disrupting the water and pushing shock waves when bass fishing. The sound of your boat and engines is an ideal way to attract marlins as the propellors and movement of the ship cause sound waves and vibrations that move through the water.
These senses are essential for a fish’s survival. However, they can also be used to your advantage when fishing as they attract the fish to your fishing baits.