Tightlines makes use
of “Ultimate Vision” enhancers in their soft plastics
Date: |
7/25/09 |
Location: |
Orlando,
Florida |
Admission: |
Buyers &
Press only |
Manufacturer: |
Tightlines |
Reviewer: |
Team
TackleTour |
Introduction:
We caught up
with Tightlines, the creator of lures with what the company calls “Ultimate
Vision” through Nano-Infused Polymerization (NIP) Technology. This design is
based on the premise that bass see things differently due to the lack of UV
filters like those found in a human eye.
Tightlines lures may look like
normal baits to anglers but they are designed to appeal to what bass, not
anglers, can see
There is a
lot of science behind the Tightlines series of lures. We met with Shawn Collins
at the Tightlines booth at ICAST who explained that bass don’t have the UV
filters like that of the human eye, which is one of the reasons why they prefer
darkness to bright sunlight. “Ultimate Vision” is an ultraviolet (UV) vision
enhancer that that Tightlines uses in their lures and is focused on the
wavelength of light that bass use the most to search out their prey, but is
transparent to fishermen’s eyes.
At the show it was difficult to
replicate natural light so Tightlines used a black light to demonstrate the
difference in their lures. On the left the lures are not under black lighting
while on the right they are. Notice how the stickbait towards the back has no
change, this is because it does not feature the company's "Ultimate Vision"
technology
So just how do Tightline’s
“Ultimate Vision” Contrast-Baits work? Research suggests that a fish eye, as
well as that of other select animals and birds, is significantly different in
composition to that of the human eye. Humans only see “visible light” whereas
other creatures see well into the UV light spectrum that is “invisible” to all
humans.
Fishermen see colors above 400 nm
while bass see below 400 nm, which is "UV" light
Tightlines goes on to
explain that one can readily distinguish those creatures that see into the UV
spectrum by observing their natural tendencies on a sunny day. It is a
well-known and documented fact that largemouth bass prefer darkness to bright
sunlight. The scientific reasoning is that their eyes do not have UV filters
like that of the human eye. Therefore, the only way they can protect their eyes
from UV degradation is by retreating to shady areas (stumps, submerged logs and
vegetation, floating lily-pads, etc).
The lures are sold two per pack
for $5.99
Tightlines’ new
Nano-Infused Polymerization (NIP) Technology strategically manipulates the
covalent bond angle typically found in all plastisol-based soft baits on the
market today. Thus Tightlines went out to create a product that would increase
fish response, the bottom line...to draw more strikes.
The lure on the left has "Ultimate
Vision" while the others do not
The homogenous infusion of
nanoparticulate causes the Tightline’s “Ultimate Vision” Contrast-Bait to
exhibit a distinctive spectral phase shift when subjected to the simultaneous
combination of water and light. This patent-pending spectral shift is induced as
UV rays propagate through the water and reflect off the outer surface of the
bait. With competitive baits absorbing 100% of the visual and UV light as it
hits them, Tightlines’ has the only soft baits that reflect UV light as it hits
the surface of the lure.
Comparing two flukes, it is pretty
obvious which one makes use of the company's process
The resultant UV light
reflection increases the “contrast-ratio” between the bait and other submerged
vegetation and structure, therefore enabling the infamous predator and ambush
response associated with all small and largemouth bass. This “contrast-ratio” is
nothing new and is the same metric that humans use when viewing a picture,
computer screen or TV. The higher the contrast-ratio, the higher the likelihood
for increased visual detail and object clarity. Tightline’s “Ultimate Vision”
Contrast-Baits are designed to work because fish are many times more likely to
see them.
Tightlines has a wide range of
lures coming including swimbaits
The Tightlines lures
imitate the natural prey that fish feed on, and the UV light reflection
intensity imitates what crawfish, worms, shad, minnows produce. In addition,
Tightlines’ NIP Technology works on sunny and cloudy days, still or windy days,
clear and stained water. As long as there is light the lures are designed to
work.
Shawn Collins shows us the unique
Tightlines "Ultimate Vision" lures
Conclusion: At the
show Tightline’s introduced “UV” Colors for fresh and saltwater fishing
including UV Green, UV Blue, UV Craw, and UV Purple. The company offers a number
of baits making use of the technology including stickbaits, a lizard, a variety
of worms, and flukes. These lures really stood out under the blacklights which
were used as a simulation. The lures come in a variety of sizes and retail for
$5.99 with two lures per pack, making them one of the more expensive plastics
out there. Does improved response triggered by how bass perceive the Tightlines
lures justify the cost? The bass will really have to be the judge of that, but
there is no doubt that there is plenty of science behind the unique design of
the Tightlines “Ultimate Vision” offering.