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Dr.
Milan Jeckle, president of Vision Outdoors, Inc., obtained a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry in 1959 and pursued
advance studies in Physical Chemistry. He earned his Doctor of
Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
graduating with high honors.
In
addition to working at a busy medical practice in Spokane,
Wash., Dr. Jeckle has always actively studied chemistry,
physics, crystal structures, mathematics, astronomy and the
biological sciences. |
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An
avid fisherman, Dr. Jeckle was intrigued when scientists
recently discovered that while humans see in the so-called
"visible spectrum" - red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
indigo, and violet - fish with skeletons and birds see an
additional color in the ultraviolet (UVA) range. Invisible
to the human eye, this high-energy radiation causes skin to tan
and, as researchers at the Johnsen Lab at Duke University found,
it enables fish to more easily spot prey such as plankton.
And
because UVA light travels up to 1/2-mile in water, while visible
light travels up to just 40 feet, this reflective quality is
effective over long distances.
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Dr.
Jeckle set out to understand how this knowledge could be
applied to catching fish. He identified certain microscopic crystals that are highly reflective of UVA
light and learned how to use a polymer film to cause
them to adhere to a lure or bait.
Treated
with these flashing, iridescent crystals, baits and
lures attract fish from great distances whenever the sun
is above the horizon — even on dark and stormy days,
as clouds are easily penetrated by UVA light.
Fool-a-Fish
is based on titanium dioxide, which is considered by
dermatologists to be one of the most effective sunscreen
ingredients. |
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"UV
has a short wavelength that humans don't see," Dr. Jeckle
says. "We just get sunburns from it. Titanium dioxide
reflects it. In simple terms, the wavelength of light humans can
see is absorbed quickly by water, but UV light penetrates into
water a half a mile. "The ingredient comes as a white
powder. Professor Cleary developed a plastic carrier to make it
stick to the bait, lure or fly. Eventually you have to spray on
another application because the titanium dioxide is like
miniscule grains of sand and it comes off little by little in
the water. I imagine it looks like a shooting star to a
fish."
Traditional
uses of fluorescent colors to attract fish might still have some
credence in shallower water, but Fool-a-Fish seems to shine in
deeper water.
"Light
visible to the human eye penetrates clear ocean water to a depth
of about 30 feet," Jeckle said. "At 40 feet deep in a
lake it's black as the inside of a cow, but UV light travels up
to half a mile. Fish see your lures
and baits like they are coated with 1000's of tiny mirrors
Fool-a-Fish
is:
- Odorless,
not greasy, does not stain, easily removed with soap and
water
- Non-toxic,
environmentally safe
- Fool-a-Fish
formula dries to form a water- repellent, slightly white
coating which is highly reflective of UVA light
- Available
in long-lasting two-ounce or eight- ounce fingertip spray
bottles
- Fool-a-Fish
clings to wet surfaces, so it can be used on live bait, cut
bait, shrimp or worms.
- Fool-a-Fish
can be used on most lures without waiting for the formula to
dry if the formula is reapplied at frequent intervals.
- Does
not harm the hackle, shroud or finish of artificial flies or
lures.
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