FS Digest

Can some one explain when to use what color lures? I think silver is for clear water gold in darker water or night. But when do you use white yellow blue ect any tips on when to use the colors

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by sumoracer

FS Digest

Do you want an honest answer? There isnt one, and anyone who says this is for that and that is for this is incorrect. Personally i think presentation/action on the lure is more important in elliciting a strike, but there are definitely times when color can play a role. Every fisherman is going to tell you something different. Heres my take on color. I always always try to stay natural. The idea of lurea is to mimick things fish eat naturally. Fish eat and find food in clear water, in murky water, at night and at day. Theyre good at it. Its how they live. Only if natural colors arent working will i start changing up my approach. Some things however do not have natural colors. My spoons for example are typically shiny gold and silver. I use silver for clear water because if a fish turns it looks silver, gold for murkier water because with the added dirt if a fish turns his flash will be more yellow. Finally in super murky water everyone always says go bright colors. I go black. There is limited light. Black forms an awesome defineable shadow through the murkyness that transmits the same as a baitfish or food lurking just beyond visibility.

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by ShiftyUsmc

FS Digest

Will fishing from shore or a boat change things as well?

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by sumoracer

FS Digest

Buy many different color lure and try each one. Every lure works different conditions and different fish.

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by 123yener

FS Digest

Generally if you are fishing with soft plastics (senkos, craws, etc) then darker colors like green pumpkin it blue and black work better in muddy water and lighter colors like silver work best in clear water. There is no right answer, but I hope this helped

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by IBfishing

GlennMc928 Loc: Tualatin OR

I use a white with yellow bladed spinner bait in the spring and summer day and the yellow is a must in muddy dirty water. The lite colors like white are use more for clear water conditions but I do know of a whole lot of people that use silver blades in the muddy water but you still will need a bit of yellow in it. Gold and copper bladed lures are more for the overcast days and stormy weather. The basic rule for just lures is light colors for clear water and lite sky's to yellow and reds in dark water and on those dirty weather and dirty ski days. When I lived in Calif I fished the Delta where the water in Muddy most of the year and I used a black and yellow headed hollow body frog at least 80% of the time when fishing top water. The same can be said for Rubber worms dark black with yellow or green tails on the darker waters and the clear colors in the clear rivers and lakes. In the spring a Red spinner bait red blades can work very well but I still prefer Yellow blades over Red blades.

MuddyWater = No can see under water

Murky = Lite dark some see through

Stained water = Visability 2 to 3 feet down

Clear water = Hum I don'd no what to say

Shad colors cranks are good in clear water

Red Craw cranks work in almost any condition

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Targeted species ? Above seems to be bass-oriented thoughts. Could suggest, but would need to know what you are fishing for and in what kind of water...still (lake) or moving streams and rivers. Even then, I troll with different than what I cast from shore, both in color and type.
Then there's saltwater......mmmnn.....no......no definitive, correct answer, at all !
Just keep trying, keep buying, ......and rationale be damned.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

Fresh or saltwater?

flybynight Loc: Brookline, MA

Some days color is a big deal, some days not, EXcept Blue, blue stinks, blue line is worse, Dont even paint your boat bottom Blue.

Hooksetter2 Loc: League City, TX

I've caught fish on nothing but a lead head and hook. I was wade fishing catching speckled trout with plastic touts. Had 4 extra in my cap as the specks teeth will tear up the plastic after about 2 catches, then need new tout. I ran out of extra touts after the 5'th catch and my buddies were still catching in the area, so I just cast the lead head out where the trout were feeding and caught 2 more. The other guys were shouting to me "what color. what color?" I replied, "no color, just hook!"

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

It is hard to respond to most questions because not enough information is provided asvwhat, when or where.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

It is hard to respond to most questions because not enough information is provided as to what, when or where and conditions.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

And what is a "tout" ? Is that a colloquial term for plastic grubs or swimbait ? I have "touted" my prowess in a variety of skills, but have never used the term as a physical item description of tackle, since it is a word that is an action(verb), rather than a thing (noun). Please clarify, thanks.

N.fl bassman Loc: St. Augustine Florida

It does make a difference! Simple rule is dark water dark colors black blue red. In clear water natural colors white green pumpkin grey match the hatch! It makes a BOG difference I’ve been fishing for bass my hole life and it is a must if you want to catch more fish!!! YouTube this question lots of videos on it