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Ahhhh, the old argurment does color matter? 2024


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 

Well here you go. If it matters, there's sure to be a color in these things the fish want. If it doesn't then these should work as well as anything.

Got my Barlow's catalog this week, and these were in it. Couldn't find them in the online catalog to post, so searched and found it, and wouldn't you know, it's from Barlows.

http://www.barlowstackle.com/spike-a-delic.html


fishing user avatarPaul Roberts reply : 

It sure matters to fisherman LOL.

It does matter to fish. But where that line is drawn is a slippery slope. I'm a curmugeonly skeptic here -except when the bait monkey is whispering in my ear it seems.


fishing user avatarBlue Streak reply : 

Now I can go fish a junebug, green pumpkin, watermelon red, camo worm and I won't need 4 outfits.


fishing user avatarPaul Roberts reply : 
  Quote
Now I can go fish a junebug, green pumpkin, watermelon red, camo worm and I won't need 4 outfits.

;D ;D


fishing user avatarb.Lee reply : 

Those are some crazy colors I must say


fishing user avatarbassin is addicting reply : 

wow!!  psychedelic....

Jimi Hendrix where are you??   :)


fishing user avatartholmes reply : 

102181tn.jpg

Heh...these remind me of the multi-colored guitar picks I see from time to time. Always called 'em "clown barf" :)

Tom


fishing user avatarBlue Streak reply : 

Someone will catch a big un on one and we will all be buying them.  :)


fishing user avatarK_Mac reply : 
  Quote
Now I can go fish a junebug, green pumpkin, watermelon red, camo worm and I won't need 4 outfits.

I like the way you think. :) I could save carrying about 15# of plastics using this idea.


fishing user avatarSimp reply : 
  Quote
102181tn.jpg

Heh...these remind me of the multi-colored guitar picks I see from time to time. Always called 'em "clown barf" :)

Tom

Actually that color would imitate a bluegill really well for me.


fishing user avatarbassfisherjk reply : 

Wow!


fishing user avatarRaul reply : 

Color matters only when it matters, been fsihing for bass for almost 3 decades, sometimes if you don 't have that particular color they want .....  :), fortunately in my experience those times have been so few that I don 't worry much, add that to the fact that I carry gazillion colors then I have to worry a lot less.  :o


fishing user avatarBig-O reply : 

Does color matter......IMO, absolutely YES, especially when tuning the bite.

Very often when you are catching fish on a given color, there is a good possibility that you can tune the color to catch even more. And same goes with lure action, types, retrieval speeds etc.

This is being proven more often today than ever before. As tournaments become more and more popular and fishing with partners more often than not, all who are experienced in this environment know that we as partners feed off of the others success and visa-versa. The tweaking of successful lure presentations (which includes colors) is ongoing until the weigh-in.

Big O

www.ragetail.com


fishing user avatarBlue Streak reply : 

Very well said Big O I agree with all of that. Some days it may not be as important as others but it should always be considered.


fishing user avatarjaymc reply : 

In physics there is truth.

Color matters, mostly on or near the surface.  As depth increases all colors fade to a sort of dull gray. 

The variable is, do the bass want something bright or dull.  Bright will be noticed from further off but can cause refusals when bass are not in an agressuive mood. 

Reds and oranges are brightest early and late when the sun is low.  Red also excites almost all predators.  Green and yellow are brightest midday. Chartreuse is your brightest midday color.  Green is exceptionally bright along a bank reflecting the green from the foliage.  Black and white offer the greatest contrast.   

Metal reflects its own color which is unnatural but very noticable to fish.  Less agressive fish are turned off by metallic flash although the deeper you go the less alarmed the fish seem to be.

So my approach when fish shallow is to use a bright lure for the time of day first.  Then I go to a contrasty lure, black and/or white and finally dull. 


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
  Quote
Does color matter......IMO, absolutely YES, especially when tuning the bite.

Very often when you are catching fish on a given color, there is a good possibility that you can tune the color to catch even more. And same goes with lure action, types, retrieval speeds etc.

This is being proven more often today than ever before. As tournaments become more and more popular and fishing with partners more often than not, all who are experienced in this environment know that we as partners feed off of the others success and visa-versa. The tweaking of successful lure presentations (which includes colors) is ongoing until the weigh-in.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

My, notice I said my, not necessarily the fishes' favorite colors are, in no particular order, watermelon with red black flake, chartreuse, coppertreuse, watermelon pepper/ chartreuse laminate.

I have not done well with june bug except for the space monkey.  I recall that well.  The lily pads were sparse and only a handful had reached the surface.  Water depth five feet.

In one small patch of pads, I pulled a half dozen nice size, all over three pounds, on about a dozen casts using the space monkey, june bug color, on an owner keel weighted hook.

Cast it into the pads, count to ten, and start the retrieve.  Half the bass were on when I took up the slack.

When the fish lost interest in the space monkey a few days later, I went to the Rage Tail craw.  Using the same technique, and hook, I caught them on several different colors, including watermelon red, and a couple of the craw, maybe bama and Texas craws, but not with the june bug color they had aggressively hit only days before.

Years ago, fifty or so, black worms were hot numbers.  Haven't done much with black the past couple of years, save for black and blue jigs.  Then again, I haven't fished them much.  That might be part of it.


fishing user avatarRoLo reply : 
  Quote
Color matters only when it matters, been fsihing for bass for almost 3 decades, sometimes if you don 't have that particular color they want ..... :), fortunately in my experience those times have been so few that I don 't worry much, add that to the fact that I carry gazillion colors then I have to worry a lot less. :o

I'll drink to that.

Even on those rare occasions when color SEEMS to matter, I've never had proof

that some other color may have been even more successful during that same bite.

In order for a bass to strike a lure, the lure must be visible within the bass's window of response.

In view of that fact alone, color certainly does matter,

but only inasmuch as it may enhance or hinder lure visibility.

Roger


fishing user avatarD4u2s0t reply : 

from my experience, color selection matters only to a fisherman.  I have proven that time, and time again.  Until I personally see proof otherwise, that's my statement and i'm sticking to it.  If color mattered, how is it that 5 people can fish completely different colors, and all come out with fish?  And 5 people can all have the same color, same bait, and 1 can regularly outfish the others??

IMO, and from my experience, bait selection and technique far outweighs the importance of color.  I am a big fan of testing the limits, breaking the rules, and deciding for myself.  I say it all the time, but i've caught some of my best fish with baits that "shouldn't" work, using colors that "are not right" in places that "don't hold fish".  Why?  Maybe because everyone else follows the "rules", and the fish are happy to see something different that they're not used to seeing.  Food for thought.


fishing user avatarkikstand454 reply : 

i think we can all agree that color matters more and more the clearer the water. in dark stained water...its more about profile than it is mimicry.


fishing user avatarTriton21 reply : 

Any color is fine as long as it is GREEN.

Kelley


fishing user avatarjaymc reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
Color matters only when it matters, been fsihing for bass for almost 3 decades, sometimes if you don 't have that particular color they want ..... :), fortunately in my experience those times have been so few that I don 't worry much, add that to the fact that I carry gazillion colors then I have to worry a lot less. :o

I'll drink to that.

Even on those rare occasions when color SEEMS to matter, I've never had proof

that some other color may have been even more successful during that same bite.

In order for a bass to strike a lure, the lure must be visible within the bass's window of response.

In view of that fact alone, color certainly does matter,

but only inasmuch as it may enhance or hinder lure visibility.

Roger

There is unquestionably more than color when it comes to getting a bass to strike.  But I've seen color matter too many times to dismiss it.  I also think certain colors at certain times can turn a fish off.  Of coouse below a certain depth it doesn''t matter. 

But if I'm not getting bit at all I'd be more concerned about my location or presentation than color.


fishing user avatarBassShephard reply : 

I think it matters, at very least Bright and dark colors do.  I'd say my favourite colors for bait is Green/brown, shad, black/sliver, red/white.


fishing user avatarA-Rob reply : 

Maybe I am just throwing junebug soft plastics where the fish are, but that color "works"!


fishing user avatarSirSnookalot reply : 

Conventional wisdom has always said light lures for light bottom or daytime fishing and dark lures for dark bottom or night fishing.  I have had a bit more success using very light (pearl) 24 hours a day. both fresh and saltwater, all the other colors in between IMO is just to get you to spend more $$.

Many times when bass fishing I change lures after each fish, when they are on they hit anything, including my mothers old garter belt.


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
  Quote
Conventional wisdom has always said light lures for light bottom or daytime fishing and dark lures for dark bottom or night fishing. I have had a bit more success using very light (pearl) 24 hours a day. both fresh and saltwater, all the other colors in between IMO is just to get you to spend more $$.

Many times when bass fishing I change lures after each fish, when they are on they hit anything, including my mothers old garter belt.

Got any extra garter belts?  I'd like to try 'em. 

Do you rig 'em on a worm hook, jig head, shaky head, etc.?

I suspect a circle hook might work best since the stretch of a garter belt would not allow for an eye crossing hook set.


fishing user avatarHammer 4 reply : 

I have Never, ever caught a fish on anything colored Junbug..?????


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

I've found over the years there are times when colors absolutely mattered and there are times it absolutely does not matter. I have experienced times when one color would catch but another color would catch 4-5 times as many fish.

One example is the Zoom Trick Worm in the color Merthiolate I've seen it out produce any other Trick worm color in both off colored (stained) and clear water.

My most productive color in plastics under any seasonal pattern, weather condition, water color, day or night is Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage). I believe it's because the color is visible under as multitude of conditions.

I've also seen where certain colors mattered on certain bodies of water or at certain times of the year


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 

I have seen times when color was critical, but they have been on salt water.

There used to be a popular squid type of bait called a Hoochie Troll when we lived on Cape Cod.

I had red and orange versions in the two sizes that were available.

They were also available in hot red, orange and pink fluorescent colors.

There were times you couldn't buy a hit on the regular colors, but took the fluorescent versions as soon as they hit the water.

I suffered through a couple of hours one Saturday morning when the fleet was killing them on Billingsgate Shoals in Cape Cod Bay off the Eastham and Orleans shores.

I wasted a couple of hours dragging the plain versions around before hightailing it to Wellfleet Harbor and bought a couple of the fluorescent models.

Went back out and promptly caught one after another.  I quit fishing a couple of hours later when my arms turned into pasta noodles.


fishing user avatarBassShephard reply : 
  Quote
I've found over the years there are times when colors absolutely mattered and there are times it absolutely does not matter. I have experienced times when one color would catch but another color would catch 4-5 times as many fish.

Had that happen too me once, I used my brothers tackle one day, he had a purple crank bait which I kind of thought was a weird unnatural color for bait. I tried it to see if I'd catch any thing, sure enough I was catching them on every 3 or 4 cast went tru diff color baits (same type and size) and wasn't catching as many as often as the purple. I popped the purple back on and bam I was catching them left & right, didn't happen any more after that day, I'd still catch a few with it but no were near what I caught that day.


fishing user avatarPrimus reply : 

The most obvious component to catching fish is location, if they ain't there you're not going to get bit. Depth, retrieve speed, technique and then lure selection are the next factors to consider. Last is color, sometimes in my expierience it's critical especially in clear water and there are other times when the fish are aggressive enough that you can throw almost anything at them and get bit.

That said the refining any of these components can turn a bad day into a fair day and a good day into a great day.


fishing user avatarSirSnookalot reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
Conventional wisdom has always said light lures for light bottom or daytime fishing and dark lures for dark bottom or night fishing. I have had a bit more success using very light (pearl) 24 hours a day. both fresh and saltwater, all the other colors in between IMO is just to get you to spend more $$.

Many times when bass fishing I change lures after each fish, when they are on they hit anything, including my mothers old garter belt.

Got any extra garter belts? I'd like to try 'em.

Do you rig 'em on a worm hook, jig head, shaky head, etc.?

I suspect a circle hook might work best since the stretch of a garter belt would not allow for an eye crossing hook set.

Naw....... I use a limerick hook, as an old salty I'm sure you know what that is.


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
  Quote
Conventional wisdom has always said light lures for light bottom or daytime fishing and dark lures for dark bottom or night fishing. I have had a bit more success using very light (pearl) 24 hours a day. both fresh and saltwater, all the other colors in between IMO is just to get you to spend more $$.

Many times when bass fishing I change lures after each fish, when they are on they hit anything, including my mothers old garter belt.

Got any extra garter belts? I'd like to try 'em.

Do you rig 'em on a worm hook, jig head, shaky head, etc.?

I suspect a circle hook might work best since the stretch of a garter belt would not allow for an eye crossing hook set.

Naw....... I use a limerick hook, as an old salty I'm sure you know what that is.

Here's a salty limerick.

There once was a man from Nantucket.

Who kept all his cash in a bucket.

His daughter named Nan

Ran away with a man.

And as for the bucket, Nan tuck it.


fishing user avatarSirSnookalot reply : 

This is a Limerick hook, notice the bend for twisting action, we use them to make cuda tubes.  I can't remember what the original use was.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.terminaltackleco.com/images/uploads/3612_208_large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.terminaltackleco.com/prod_detail_list/69&usg=__PLLBhinmIw9noHRP0ECXWxnRfAY=&h=276&w=162&sz=11&hl=en&start=13&sig2=WVDvrpD6G7ftmiesCGnhMQ&um=1&tbnid=NtaNFZiNPBIeXM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=67&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlimerick%2Bhook%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=CHdPS83aA4-Wtge1vYGTCQ


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
  Quote
This is a Limerick hook, notice the bend for twisting action, we use them to make cuda tubes. I can't remember what the original use was.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.terminaltackleco.com/images/uploads/3612_208_large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.terminaltackleco.com/prod_detail_list/69&usg=__PLLBhinmIw9noHRP0ECXWxnRfAY=&h=276&w=162&sz=11&hl=en&start=13&sig2=WVDvrpD6G7ftmiesCGnhMQ&um=1&tbnid=NtaNFZiNPBIeXM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=67&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlimerick%2Bhook%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=CHdPS83aA4-Wtge1vYGTCQ

I believe thats the same hook we used for making umbrella rigs.

Buy the frames, swivels, hooks, and a roll of 1/4" or 3/8" rubber tubing.  We'd color the tubing with black and red magic markers.   Cut them to the appropriate length on a fairly sharp angle.  Slide the tubing so the short end of the cut was against the bend, leaving a pointed tail aft, beyond the hook.  Link up the swivels to the frame, then slip the open eye through the swivel, then close it with a pair of pliers.

When trolled, the double bend limerick hooks would make the tube worms spin.  Wire line on a large, narrow spool reel, on a rod with roller guides, and you were good to go.


fishing user avatarbigfruits reply : 

does color matter? absolutely. but usually not.

there are days when they will bite any color and others when changing something as subtle as the color of the flake will trigger more strikes.

need proof? when the bite is slow and you finally find a bait theyre hitting, ask your buddy to tie on the same bait in a different color.

that being said, i usually only buy green pumpkin, watermelon and black for soft plastics.

white or smoke for bait fish imitating soft plastics.


fishing user avatarhookset on 3 reply : 

Hey Capt'n, How have you been?

The whole color theory is challenging, but exciting at the same time.

Like other BR members said; it is part of the puzzle, esspecially in water  that's like it came out of a faucet.

By the way, Fishing Rhino beats me with this Strike King color called coppertruese, every time we're fishin'.


fishing user avatarangler1 reply : 
  Quote
In physics there is truth.

Color matters, mostly on or near the surface. As depth increases all colors fade to a sort of dull gray.

The variable is, do the bass want something bright or dull. Bright will be noticed from further off but can cause refusals when bass are not in an agressuive mood.

Reds and oranges are brightest early and late when the sun is low. Red also excites almost all predators. Green and yellow are brightest midday. Chartreuse is your brightest midday color. Green is exceptionally bright along a bank reflecting the green from the foliage. Black and white offer the greatest contrast.

Metal reflects its own color which is unnatural but very noticable to fish. Less agressive fish are turned off by metallic flash although the deeper you go the less alarmed the fish seem to be.

So my approach when fish shallow is to use a bright lure for the time of day first. Then I go to a contrasty lure, black and/or white and finally dull.

I agree.


fishing user avatarBassChaser57 reply : 

I had a day where we were catching a small buck bass on about every 4th cast on a watermelon red flake lizard, I ran out, switched to a watermelon pepper lizard, same brand, same size, and did NOT get a strike. My partner started melting some of the torn up watermelon red flake lizards back together, used them and started catching again.

Color of the flake sure made all the difference on that day.


fishing user avatarBlue Streak reply : 

When it matters it really matters and I don't think any science or logic can explain it, but those who have fished long enough have expierenced it. It is what it is.


fishing user avatarSouth FLA reply : 

Sometimes color makes a HUGE difference and others times it doesn't.  That being said I try tp use natural colors and transparent earth tone hues in ultra clear water and vivid or darker tones in dark water, but its never a rule!




7075

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