Beyond the Bite: Using Sonar to Measure Fish Curiousity vs Committment
CWSF · 2026 Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
Overview
My project investigated whether specific colors of jigs influence the predatory behavior of lake trout during winter ice fishing in the Yukon. By utilizing LiveScope sonar technology to observe real-time fish reactions, the experiment compared five tube jig colors: white (the control), glow/green, white/red head, blue, and glow/orange head. Over 18 total hours of field testing at four different northern lakes, every fish interaction was recorded based on points for curiosity, chasing, and successful biting. Data showed that while the white/red head jig attracted the most fish, the blue jig achieved the highest bite conversion rate. Surprisingly, both glow-in-the-dark jigs received zero bites, proving my initial hypothesis incorrect. Ultimately, the study concludes that natural, high-contrast colors like blue and white/red are more effective for successfully catching Yukon lake trout.
Awards (1)
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
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