When Do You Change Out Lures Vs. Just Changing Color?

[tcbass]

A recent thread on fluke colors got me thinking. One poster stated he only uses two colors, watermelon and smoking shad. I was wondering if he is using watermelon and it's not working if he switches to smoking shad or if he changes entire lures and goes to say a jig.

 

 

 

 

So, when do you change out lures vs. just changing the color of the lure that you are currently using?

[Catch and Grease]

When it isn't working...

[flyfisher]

when i am looking for a different type of presentation. 

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I don't really change lures.  I fish whatever lure I am feeling.  Colors to me depends on time of day, water clarity and forage.  I also try and see what colors are being reflected off the water.  If I see more red coming off the water, I will tie on a bait that has red somewhere on it.  If I see more green, I will tie on something with green somewhere on it.

[5fishlimit]

Color is usually the last thing I am concerned about. I will change a lure based upon the type of cover/structure/water depth I am fishing.

My color choice is determined within the first few moments I arrive at the location of water I am fishing. After that I typically don't worry about it.

[Brian6428]

Honestly there is no real way to know. For me it normally depends on confidence.

 

Let's take a fluke, for example. Say I have some reason to believe that a fluke should be working- a reliable fishing report, seeing bass chasing shad, etc. Given this, I tie up a watermelon fluke first. No strikes in 30 minutes, but man, that fluke ought to be working. That is when I will change colors. Why? Because I have significant reason to believe a fluke will work, I just need to find the color.

 

Next scenario: I have been fishing for three hours without a bite, and I don't have a dang clue what to throw. I open my soft plastics box and see a bag of flukes laying on top. I rig one up and fish it for 30 minutes, still with no luck. In this scenario I would cut off and tie on a different lure rather than changing color. Why? Because I really had no reason to believe a fluke would work beyond just a guess. Rather than try another color, which isn't that big of a change, I would rather try another lure altogether, that I feel has a better chance of working by being significantly different.

 

That is when I change lures vs changing colors. I had never really thought about it, though. I guess I just did it intuitively. Good question, I will be interested to read the other replies.

[tcbass]

Honestly there is no real way to know. For me it normally depends on confidence.

 

Let's take a fluke, for example. Say I have some reason to believe that a fluke should be working- a reliable fishing report, seeing bass chasing shad, etc. Given this, I tie up a watermelon fluke first. No strikes in 30 minutes, but man, that fluke ought to be working. That is when I will change colors. Why? Because I have significant reason to believe a fluke will work, I just need to find the color.

 

Next scenario: I have been fishing for three hours without a bite, and I don't have a dang clue what to throw. I open my soft plastics box and see a bag of flukes laying on top. I rig one up and fish it for 30 minutes, still with no luck. In this scenario I would cut off and tie on a different lure rather than changing color. Why? Because I really had no reason to believe a fluke would work beyond just a guess. Rather than try another color, which isn't that big of a change, I would rather try another lure altogether, that I feel has a better chance of working by being significantly different.

 

That is when I change lures vs changing colors. I had never really thought about it, though. I guess I just did it intuitively. Good question, I will be interested to read the other replies.

 

 

 

 

Interesting. Good post.

[smalljaw67]

One thing I found is if you have the right bait you'll quickly know if the fish are keying on color. I no longer fish alone, so if conditions are right for a fluke, me and my buddy will go with different colors and see if there is a preference. If you are by yourself and you're catching fish but also missing a few and getting follows, that is prime indicator to change colors or size, I start with color and it only takes a few cast to know. The same deal with hard baits, if I'm throwing a jerkbait and the fish are following or they are just getting the rear treble, then I know something isn't right and before I change size I'll change color, if the color works the fish will be hooked better and you'll get hits instead of follows. If the color doesn't work it is size but that if another discussion.

[tcbass]

One thing I found is if you have the right bait you'll quickly know if the fish are keying on color. I no longer fish alone, so if conditions are right for a fluke, me and my buddy will go with different colors and see if there is a preference. If you are by yourself and you're catching fish but also missing a few and getting follows, that is prime indicator to change colors or size, I start with color and it only takes a few cast to know. The same deal with hard baits, if I'm throwing a jerkbait and the fish are following or they are just getting the rear treble, then I know something isn't right and before I change size I'll change color, if the color works the fish will be hooked better and you'll get hits instead of follows. If the color doesn't work it is size but that if another discussion.

Great post.

Does missing and third treble hooking apply to topwaters too?

[Huntrava]

A recent thread on fluke colors got me thinking. One poster stated he only uses two colors, watermelon and smoking shad. I was wondering if he is using watermelon and it's not working if he switches to smoking shad or if he changes entire lures and goes to say a jig.

 

 

 

 

So, when do you change out lures vs. just changing the color of the lure that you are currently using?

 

Yesterday I was fishing a black spinnerbait in a muddy lake.  No luck.  

 

So, knowing that bass are responding well to spinnerbaits lately, I threw a chartreuse and black spinnerbait on the line and got bites immediately.  

 

Personally, I think color is as important as the type of lure itself.  I'll change color before I change type.  

[WRB]

The topic of how long to stay with a lure, color, area, etc., etc., comes up several times. There isn't a definitive answer and that is why we call this fishing.

We all have pet lures and colors and get into a routine of using lures and colors that have worked in the past.

If you always rely on history or fish memories you may never discover what work better under the conditions you are fishing. Bass tournaments are a great venue to discover new lures and colors because someone may win the event on something you never knew about.

If you are happy and enjoy your time on the water fishing watermelon green Senko, green pumpkin flukes, black and blue jigs, red craw crankbaits, etc., no reason to change. I avoid all the lures that everyone else is using and usually start my day using my sonar unit before deciding what lure, color, area to fish. The exceptions are if I know the bass are eating trout I use a trout color swimbait and change sizes. Learn what the prey is the bass are eating and let that knowledge determine your lure choices.

Tom

[FlipSide]

No bites=change lure

Fish not committing=change color

[tcbass]

No bites=change lure

Fish not committing=change color

 

 

That's a good way to look at it.

[ClackerBuzz]

4 locations. on average I have 5-6 rods with me. if i hit 4 stratigic locations and no bites i'm making color adjustments. if i hit 4-8 new locations and still no bites I'm changing lures and making dramatic changes to my presentation (rate of speed, fall, weight, top or bottom of water column, pause, erratic jerks etc).

[.ghoti.]

No bites=change lure

Fish not committing=change color

 

In a nutshell, that's it.

[Mike L]

No bites=change lure

Fish not committing=change color

There ya go...

'Nuff said

Mike