Thread: STOP Overthinking Lure Color

those that think color does not matter, are sending out information that will cost you a bite in some cases .
most of those preaching it don't matter, are either beginners at ketchn crappie or just not paying attention to what matters .
I sat beside many of person over the years and watched them hammer fish with the EXACT same lure and exact same presentation as mine and the ONLY difference was color . Then I changed to the color they are using and first drop I used the color they were using AND KABOOM !
the things I have seen done over the years with colors and changes of them, to get fish to bite are endless ....
some spots it never seems to matter and others it is quite common for it matter ....
watch whatever you want on youtube and follow whoever as well , but to be very sure of this part ....
if they are preaching it don't matter , they are for sure not well rounded in the fine art of ketchn crappie ...just saying

Lure color matters to me. Sometimes, they bite on anything. Sometimes they are picky.

I’ve fished a Gulp Swimming Mullet on the back of an underspin jig for saltwater fish. Speckled trout, Redfish, etc…. They love the stuff. They would be tearing up the white one and suddenly the bite stopped. I’d leave the same jig on, but change the Gulp Mullet to pink, or orange, or chartreuse, etc… and the bite would start up again. When it stopped, I’d change color again. Did color not matter, because it was technically the same lure - just with a different color trailer? Or did the subtle change in color on the same lure get the fish biting again? I think it’s color. They were already interested in the lure, but the color change enticed the bite to start up again. Without the color change - they stopped biting.

But for freshwater fish, I think color comes more into play depending on water clarity. As long as the fish can see it, but it isn’t too much of a contrast, it’s enticing. If they fish can’t see it, they have to rely on the lures vibrations. If they can see it and it’s too much, I think it’s the equivalent of humans smelling hamburgers, and seeing a hamburger truck, but when we get to the truck and the burgers are glowing fluorescent green… we lose interest (and appetite).

All the best,
Glenn

Originally Posted by Cajuntec

Lure color matters to me. Sometimes, they bite on anything. Sometimes they are picky.

I’ve fished a Gulp Swimming Mullet on the back of an underspin jig for saltwater fish. Speckled trout, Redfish, etc…. They love the stuff. They would be tearing up the white one and suddenly the bite stopped. I’d leave the same jig on, but change the Gulp Mullet to pink, or orange, or chartreuse, etc… and the bite would start up again. When it stopped, I’d change color again. Did color not matter, because it was technically the same lure - just with a different color trailer? Or did the subtle change in color on the same lure get the fish biting again? I think it’s color. They were already interested in the lure, but the color change enticed the bite to start up again. Without the color change - they stopped biting.

But for freshwater fish, I think color comes more into play depending on water clarity. As long as the fish can see it, but it isn’t too much of a contrast, it’s enticing. If they fish can’t see it, they have to rely on the lures vibrations. If they can see it and it’s too much, I think it’s the equivalent of humans smelling hamburgers, and seeing a hamburger truck, but when we get to the truck and the burgers are glowing fluorescent green… we lose interest (and appetite).

All the best,
Glenn

I really believe you are onto something there with thoughts on contrast, too little or too much.
Where I mostly fish had been getting darker green over the last few years, and I think that’s why I’m having better luck with two tone baits lately.
I used to catch a lot on white or shad colored lures, and still throw one into the spread at the start of the day. But it’s been a long time since that was a hot color for me.


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contrast is sometimes very important to the degree that split color baits that are dark above and light on the belly when turned upside down will get hammered, while right side up gets totally ignored ,,,,,been there and seen that personally ....Texas avocado and it HAD to be upside down to get bit .....the food source was freezing to death and they were falling to the crappie upside down .....this is NOT a joke ....

Originally Posted by abarkley

Profile and speed. I'm convinced color does not matter. That being said, I pretty much fish natural baitfish colors always.

Color does not seem important, even more with livescope putting a jig on their nose.

Maybe in some lakes etc. color doesn't matter but i absolutely believe it matters way more than most give credit. I use a few different colors but other than monkey milk & chartreuse the rest are two colors & some days they way out fish the solid colors atleast 10 to 1 with the same identical setup. There are also days like with heavy stained water & bright sun the same colors with the exception of one having glitter & one not get way different results with the one with glitter catching them way more i think because of the flash.