Lure Color Choice

[gonfishn]

As you can see I am having one of those hmmmmm days<br /><br />What if I told ya that fins are color blind and that their color spectrum is not like ours? That the flash,dance and scent is what really gets them going. Not saying its so but hmmmmm what if.<br /><br />If this is true that means I only need a couple of lures in my box instead of the 350 plus i have now..Hmmmm..

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Lure Color Choice

There is some truth to that...Gfsn....<br />I don't need to tell YOU this, but for the sake of someone else looking in, fish see in shades of grey, like a dog or deer, but different colors have greater contrast under different conditions, so color choice does at times play a role in one's success..<br />Besides, any color is good as long as it's chartruse..

 

[John_S]

Re: Lure Color Choice

Besides, any color is good as long as it's chartruse.. <br />

Probably, 9 times out of 10, the lure I use has some form of chartruse in it. Easier to find, when you drop it in the boat!

 

[NathanY]

Re: Lure Color Choice

I know fish can see color, because the where avoiding my lures today

 

[neumanns]

Re: Lure Color Choice

I agree that lure color is a consideration after many other more important factors. Color is mostly to hook fisherman.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Lure Color Choice

They see shades of gray, but still distinguish one shade of gray from another. But colors down there don't look the same as they do up here. I used to wonder why so many chartreuse lures, I never saw anything that color in the water. Then one day while crappie fishing I noticed a couple small sunfish swimming close to the surface; at certain angles when the sun hit 'em just right it looked like their fins were trimmed in chartreuse. Even though I knew it never looked like that out of the water.<br /><br />Some days any color will catch 'em, some days they have to be white, some days white/chartreuse.<br /><br />I find that at least 80% of the time I'm using a lure with white, chartreuse and usually a little bit of red on it too.

 

[LazyJ]

Re: Lure Color Choice

I often fish a water supply lake where the bass love pink, never caught a thing anywhere else with the color. I've wondered for years what thats all about.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lure Color Choice

Black head & chartreuse tail are my favorite colors when fishing for bait (panfish). <br />Like texas says, I've never seen anything that color in the lake....maybe the fish haven't either & that's what attracts them?<br />Until fish learn to talk we won't really know what they're thinking , so until then I'll use what works.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Lure Color Choice

Now wait a minute, if fish can't see color then why would some fish be so brightly colored? I would think to attract a mate... I ain't buying it!...<br />......<br /> UPDATE... I did a search and I sounds like most fish ARE colorblind.

 

[20/20]

Re: Lure Color Choice

One More Cast;<br /> <br /> I'm wondering the same thing why do fish have so many colors? In the animal world color is used to attract the mate. I doubt these brighter colors would help with camo, so if it isn't to impress the other fish what is it for? Is it possible the folks that do the studies might not have all the correct answers {uh oh now I've done it}? I've also read somewhere that the common gold fish can see the little light in the remote control. So maybe fish see even more then what we can image?

 

[johnson-liner]

Re: Lure Color Choice

I'll let you know once I read the new article in the In Fisherman about what Mr. Marble Eyes sees

 

[jtexas]

Re: Lure Color Choice

20/20, I saw an interesting article on that in Smithsonian magazine several years ago--it seems that bright colors actually are very good camoflage. I remember photos of parrots & peacocks in the jungle - you could hardly make 'em out against a background of sun & shadow & different shades & shapes of foliage.<br /><br />Most of your predatory animals are colorblind anyway, makes for better night vision (something about the %'age of rods vs. cones; I believe that's why they say fish are colorblind, either that, or else it's the results of an internet survey), so it's the pattern that blends in with the background; a solid color of any size would be easy enough to pick out.<br /><br />OMC, there's different degrees of colorblindness, plus which, one shade of gray is different from the next shade. <br /><br />My guess is that red & green must look the same to a bass, how else can you explain the effectiveness of a shallow-running crawfish-colored crankbait?

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Lure Color Choice

Check out In-Fisherman this month as j-l said. Some interesting theorys on walleye ability to see color. And what about coloration of saltwater fish. It would seam all those fantastic colors would be wasted if they can't see color?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Lure Color Choice

I have favorite colors, but I have done a few test to see if it really makes a difference.<br /><br />At night, white and a flashy blade if fishing deep. Black with a black blade if fishing shallow when fish are deep, (better contrast). Color dosent matter if fishing shallow. Now that was for night fishing with a spinnerbait. Daytime spinnerbait I use white or chartuese or a combination if fishing shallow, blue, purple, red or black if fishing deep.<br /><br />I like shades of purple, blue and black with most worms and jigs, see through colors if the water is clear, more opaque colors if water is stained or cloudy. Mostly I believe its mostly in the action. Ive found that if I use chartruese that the sunfish drive me crazy, So if Im actually fishing for perch or crappy I use some chartruese.<br /><br />Crank baits I use a bait that resembles the bait Im trying to imitate.<br /><br />Just my take.

 

[20/20]

Re: Lure Color Choice

Thanks Jtexas, I quess it makes some sense, I wonder if the day will come when we have a 100% understanding of other creatures. of course if that day ever comes it would probably take half the fun out of the hunt/fish.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Lure Color Choice

not too much to add here on the scientific side of things..<br /><br />just as long as its not colored in the form of a J-Plug I'll tie it on..<br /><br />350 jeff ?? ... that covers the top water stuff