Kayaks come in all kinds of vibrant colors and designs. At some point, I’m sure we have all asked ourselves, “Do these strange, vibrant colors scare the fish away? Can they even see my kayak color or do they even care? Will this color keep me from catching more fish?”
Fish do not pay attention to the color of your kayak so it will not affect how many you catch. Kayaks come in vibrant colors and patterns to increase visibility and safety. Since kayaks have a very low profile, larger vessels would have a much more difficult time spotting a kayak if they weren’t highly visible colors.
Do bright colored kayaks scare fish?
The big question that we are all concerned about, after all we all want to catch as many fish as possible, right? If there is a kayak color that is proven to catch less fish than others, we want to avoid that color if possible.
My first kayak was red, my second was grey, the third was brown camouflage, and now I have a green one. My father has a “road cone orange” kayak. In our years of kayak fishing, we have never noticed a difference in the amount of fish that we catch based on the color of the kayak.
Unfortunately, an accurate test of this would be extremely hard to produce since there are so many variables involved with catching fish like bait, presentation, weather, and even just the mood of the fish that day.
After searching around many forums, I have come to the conclusion that the fish do not even pay attention to the color of your kayak. Think about this, on a sunny day your kayak will produce a significant shadow in the water compared to the size of the fish you are after. If that shadow doesn’t scare them, then the color won’t either.
The main reason why kayaks come in crazy vibrant colors is for safety.
What if I paint the bottom of my kayak?
Some kayakers paint the bottom of their vessel a blue color in order to blend in with the water. I don’t think that this makes a difference.
When the fish looks up towards the surface of the water all it sees is the sunlight traveling through the water and the shadow cast by your kayak.
Are camouflage kayaks better?
Camo kayaks have surged in popularity. If you look at the big name brand and their line of fishing kayaks, they all come in various camo patterns. Camo has long been used for concealment and the idea that it helps you stay better hidden on the water is true. Camo is also easier on the eyes in terms of sun reflection and it simply looks cooler.
If you are a hunter, a sit on top kayak that is camo can be used for hunting duck too.
What color kayak is safest?
If you’re fishing in busy waterways or large lakes, you probably want a brighter color of kayak to make sure that you are as visible as possible. While your responsibility is ultimately up to you, every little thing helps. I have personally seen boaters and jet skiers flying up and down small waterways with no regard for the kayaker anglers around them. The last thing you want to do is be run over by a drunk guy on a pontoon because they couldn’t see you.
To make sure that your kayak can be easily spotted by boaters, purchase one that is a solid color.
Kayak colors with high visibility
- Yellow
- Orange
- Lime Green
- Red
Fishing is a sport that tends to take long periods of time. If you’re out on the water for a large span of time, these high-vis kayaks can get extremely hard on your eyes.
Many kayak anglers choose a more tame color of kayak like a deep blue or camo because they like it and it’s easier on their eyes. These anglers use other ways to stay safe on the water and remain highly visible.
What to do to make yourself more visible to boaters
Many kayak anglers choose a more tame color of kayak like a deep blue or camouflage because they like it and it’s easier on their eyes. These anglers use other ways to stay safe on the water and remain highly visible
High-Vis Life Jacket
When a biker is purchasing a new bike, he doesn’t buy a neon green bike because it’s safer, he buys a neon green leather jacket. The jacket allows him to be spotted more easily by other drivers than a black leather jacket. The same can be said for kayakers, the color of the kayak doesn’t mean nearly as much as the color of the life jacket that you wear.
I recommend a high visibility life jacket (PFD). NRS life-jackets are made of the highest quality and designed with fishermen in mind. I own an NRS Chinook OS PFD (Amazon).
- NRS is a name that you can trust
- Designed with a short back so that it isn’t comfortable to sit in the seat of your kayak
- Several pockets that provide tons of storage and easy access to gear
- The breathable mesh lower back keeps your backside cool on hot days
- Made to US Coast Guard standards
- Perfect for inshore and offshore fishing
- Highly reviewed
The come in a variety of colors, including blaze orange like the one I linked. It’s worth looking into and investing in a high quality and comfortable PFD. You wear it all day long so make sure you’re happy with the one you choose before purchasing it.
Place reflective tape on your kayak
This can look really cool or really bad, depending on how well you execute this. Some kayakers put one long reflective strip down the entire side of the kayak. Some kayak manufacturers are even doing this for recreational kayaks during production but this hasn’t trickled down to fishing kayaks because of the fear that it may scare off fish.
I haven’t personally done this but I know someone who has. He doesn’t seem to catch any less fish. You can pick up a roll of waterproof reflective tape for about 10 bucks at your local hardware store.
High-Vis Paddles
All kayakers carry a paddle and when you paddle, the finds of the paddle swing through the air. If you’re buying a decent kayak, chances are that it will not come with a paddle. This gives you the opportunity to purchase a brighter one.
Paddles are commonly found in vibrant colors and are a great way to remain visible on the water. Some anglers have put reflective markers on their paddles. The constant movement of the paddles help the sun to bounce and reflect.
This constant reflection may sound like a good idea but there are stories of this method being distracting to boaters and actually mimicking an emergency beacon.
As far as the paddle goes, keep it simple by selecting a bright paddle and leaving the reflective tape off of it.
Other methods of remaining visible
- Wear a reflective headband around your hat
- Wear neon-colored shirts – long sleeve fishing shirts are perfect
