Dr. David A. Ross
Dr. David Ross is a scientist emeritus at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the author of The Fisherman’s Ocean (Stackpole Books). He is also a regular columnist for Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Author Articles
Fish Eyesight: Does Color Matter?
IS COLOR IMPORTANT? This is a serious question for fly tiers and fly fishermen to ask. Some anglers maintain that the choice of color is critical, while others say it is not important. Scientifically speaking, there is evidence to suggest that both points of view may be correct. There is good evidence that picking the appropriate color or colors will, under...
The Thermal Optimum
READ ANY fishing article about a given species, and you will almost always find some commentary about the best water temperature to find or catch the fish. Anglers, especially fly fishermen — as well as marine biologists and oceanographers — generally concur that water temperature is one of the most important components in determining where fish will be...
A Current Event
TIDAL INLETS are one of my favorite areas for fly fishing. By definition, inlets generally connect small estuaries or bays with larger areas of the ocean. They can range in width from a few tens of feet to miles, and they are almost always bounded on either side by jetties. Because of their relatively narrow opening, inlets generally have strong tidal...
The Pressure Myth
FISHERMEN SOMETIMES have ideas or opinions about the marine environment that do not stand up to scientific scrutiny. For example, many anglers believe that changes in barometric pressure strongly influence fish behavior—most notably their willingness to cooperate with anglers. Some have even written that fish can detect a change in barometric pressure...
