How To Match The RIGHT Lure Color To A Fishing Scenario
- By: Richard Thomas
- on
How do you know what lure color to use?
What factors should you take into account when selecting the color of your lure presentation?
Learn the answers in the video right here!!
Match The RIGHT Lure Color To A Fishing Scenario [VIDEO]
Click here to check out Slam Shady 2.0 Paddletails
Check out Gold Digger Paddletails HERE
Click here to check out F.R.E.D. Paddletails
Time Of The Day
The time of the day has a major influence on your lure color presentation.
What you choose to throw can change from dawn, to midday, mid-afternoon, and into dusk.
Also, take into account any overcast conditions or if you are fishing on a bright, sunny day.
A really great rule of thumb is, generally the darker it is outside, the darker your lure presentation should be.
That can be during dawn, dusk, or on heavy overcast days.
For these scenarios, the go-to lure color is our Gold Digger Paddletail lure.
The black base color and gold flakes sprinkled in the lure create a perfect blend of color to trigger strikes in low-light fishing situations.
Believe it or not, a darker color lure will help your presentation stand out in low-light conditions.
Water Clarity
Water clarity varies on a few different factors associated with the tides and wind patterns.
Typically, on the lower ends of the tide, the water is a bit muddier and churned up.
Similarly, grass and debris get picked up and moved out with outgoing tides.
In these scenarios, having a darker lure like the Gold Digger will help your presentation stand out.
Once the water does turn over and cleaner water moves into the area, that is when you want to turn to lighter colored lures.
The F.R.E.D. (Fooling Redfish Every Day) Paddletail is a light pink lure with a slight flash from silver flecks.
F.R.E.D. looks extremely natural in clear water and is a perfect choice for in-between tide stages when the water is turning over.
Depth/Color Of The Bottom
As you go deeper into the water, less light is able to reach the bottom.
Going back to the concept mentioned above, deeper water calls for darker lure presentations.
If the water is a bit shallow and sandy on the bottom, there is simply nothing better than the Slam Shady 2.0
The Slam Shady 2.0 looks extremely natural on the shallow flats and is a perfect lure choice for most any fishing scenario but especially in shallow water on sandy flats.
Click here to check out Slam Shady 2.0 Paddletails
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Good explanation and video. So where does chartreuse fit in and why? Sorry it’s one of my “Old Reliable” colors.
Great question, Tim! I agree…all things being equal (meaning, I have no idea what to do)…always start with a chartreuse tail. I assume it’s nothing more than the simplest explanation — a tiny oddity in the water that grabs attention, but as someone who has wasted thousands of dollars on “oddities to grab attention”, it’s always chartreuse that does it. Hope someone has some science on this!
Thanks Tim! Chartreuse is actually one of the best colors on the spectrum besides white and black- the yellows hold their color better as you get deeper in depth/change light conditions as well. In shallow water it still shows up very yellow!
Great tips Richard, I will keep all in mind while out fishing.
Great video Richard. Simple tips, but critical for a successful days fishing. Our water in the Marco Island area, especially in the bays and tidal creeks, are typically tea colored with muddy bottoms. The closer one gets to the inlets at the Gulf the water becomes clearer with sandy bottoms. As a kayak fisher, the majority of my fishing occurs on the bays, flats and tidal creeks… looks like I will be using the Gold Digger heavily and the FRED on incoming tides.
Salt Strong! Thomas
That’s a great option Thomas! That’s pretty much the game plan I use as well!
Great info Richard. Will keep this info in mind for future reference. Thanks for your tips , I always seem to get something from them. Keep them coming
Appreciate it Terry! I definitely will!
In low light, fish don’t see color, but do see contrast. At night, in muddy water, or down deep where light penetration is limited, any lure passing overhead contrasts with the sky above, so color won’t matter. In shallow water, however, the lure will be seen from the side. That’s where color should matter most. Fussy fish favor lures that look like they are trying to blend in, with a little flash to give them away.
So true Philip, depth and bottom color really make a difference as well!
First and foremost, great info! While I seem to naturally select lures based on water clarity, I dont calculate or consider the other 2 factors.
Constructive criticism:
Watch your transitional phases during your presentation. As a retired training manager and curriculum development specialist, I can tell you that repeatedly using the same transitions kills your presentation.
Overall, great job! A 4 out of 5. Clear and consistent presentation, Keep them coming!
Absolutely, you have to think of the entire picture and those other factors really do make a difference.
Great feedback! I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any tips that would help my presentation style! They would be appreciated.
I’ve tried to ask this question a lot of times over the years. Not sure if I’m asking the question wrong or misunderstanding the answer. The nutshell of the question is, “Why?”
For years, I’ve followed the rule of using dark color in dark water. I follow it religiously now, because years ago, it seemed so counter-intuitive that I tried to prove it wrong…but, of course, proved it dead on correct with every species.
But I’ve never heard anyone explain why, I’ve never seen any video that demonstrates the concept and I can’t see it with my own “non-fish” eyes.
Why is it easier to see something dark, when the conditions are dark? Why is it easier to see something light against a light background?
…and then on the “background” issue, why isn’t this the determinant? It seems way more intuitive to think that the color matters a lot more depending on whether I’m anticipating a strike from below or above? (Light with a jig head I’m bouncing on the bottom to contrast with the bottom — dark with a swim bait contrasting with light from above.)
Again – not looking for anyone to defend this position. I’ve already seen the truth and believe it. I just don’t understand why!
It sounded a bit wild
To me as well when I first heard it! There are quite a few factors- the point I hit on water depth really makes a difference, at certain depths, some colors actually change and others stay more consistent. That’s why our “Slam Shady color” was made, it is one of the most consistent colors even when used at depth. There is a bit of science behind it,
but I am also like you, I just know it works!
Good tips Richard! Would you agree that the amount of light really only impacts the decision in clearer waters? Bright light conditions in murky water would seem to still warrant the Gold Digger. If a little some light penetrates it will catch the gold specs.
Absolutely Bill! I fish in very murky waters half of the time and I use the Gold Digger color all throughout the day. That’s why the bottom color can be a very big factor as well, and really make a difference!