I'm beginning to think that lure color doesn't matter.

[Tennessee Boy]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

How do we know it was color & not the rythm he was using?

 

The retrieval rate, dragging or hopping; everything would exact to say it's color only.

There is a way to tell with some degree of certainty.  Statistical analysis gives us the tools to do exactly that.  How many anglers do you know that make an attempt fish two colors equally and analyze the results to determine if the results were statically significant?  I don't know any either.  

 

The reality is this.  If you and your buddy go fishing this weekend and you fish in a way that makes you equally effective at catching fish, there is a 25% chance that one of you will catch the first three fish simply by luck.  If that happens,  there is a 100% change that the other angler will try to figure out what he's doing wrong.  If he concludes that it's the color of the lure, he will switch to that color.  If he starts catching fish,  that will further convince him that color was the key.  In reality you need far more information than three caught fish to draw any meaningful conclusion but that has never stopped any of us from reaching conclusions.  I thinks that's one of the main reasons you see so many different opinions on this forum.  We've all been trained differently by the randomness of fishing.

[coachfozz]

14 hours ago, Smells like fish said:

Chk out that flared gilled beauty!!

 

@ATA have you a way of taking the marker back off easily?

I have a few of these as well.  They are so cool looking!!!

[Jaderose]

Color absolutely does not matter..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....until it does

[flyfisher]

whenever In-Fisherman would do its deal on what to look for when fishing, color was always the last thing on their hierarchy.  

I have always said color only matters when it really matters lol 

 

[ATA]

5 hours ago, DanielG said:

he's also caught fish on a block of wood with hook added to it

Yes I believe it happened in some situation, ive had that exprience in Thailand and Philippines,if you throe anything with that hook you'll catch fish. but ive personally see the color diffrence, one day I was casting seiko 297 to spot of lake I knew there is big bass there, I didn't have any chance, I change that to another seiko same size but gray color, and immediately  I got bites, few short strikes then I add treble trailer and I land her. I mean it is really about the situation.

[RoLo]

 

"Color’ is something that's blatantly visible to the fisherman (little skill required).

Meanwhile, the most critical variables are invisible, nebulous or sensual. 

That makes it way to easy to blame success or failure on color, instead of nailing down

the responsible variable (Boat location, lure placement, lure type, depth, speed ~)  

 

To put it differently, unless the horde of presentation variables can be guaranteed constant,

comparing different colors in isolation might be an exercise in futility.

 

 

 

Roger

[RoLo]

43 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

Color absolutely does not matter..........until it does

 

That's for sure  ?   

But it does beg the question, who decided that color made a difference, me or the bass?

 

Roger

[Mobasser]

10 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

"Color’ is something that's blatantly visible to the fisherman (little skill required).

Meanwhile, the most critical variables are nebulous, invisible or sensual. 

That makes it way to easy to blame success or failure on color, instead of nailing down

the responsible variable (Boat location, lure placement, lure type, depth, speed ~)  

 

To put it differently, unless the horde of presentation variables can be guaranteed constant,

comparing different colors in isolation might be an exercise in futility.

 

 

 

Roger

Rolo, it is an exercise in futility. I've tried my own experments with various colors, and still have no real conclusion. We may never know the answer to the color question, at least in our lifetime. I plan on fishing later this afternoon, and I plan on throwing a grape or purple worm. Why? Because that's what's worked for me so many times before. I still think any color can work at any time, but the ones you have the most confidence in will usually be the ones that catch the most bass.

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

In trying to get my first jig fish, I've been throwing black and blue, Nada. Changed to green pumpkin and I d**n near got one(trailer came back without a claw). I know that there are a lot of variables but I can only go by what is "working".

 

In this case Green pumpkin worked where black and blue failed for over a month, I know what I'm buying in the future.

 

The pattern I'm seeing is that matching the color of the forge in the water I fish is the ticket, that and matching the colors of the bottom, rocks, plant materials. It all looks like green pumpkin to me. There is nothing in this water that I have seen that is Black and blue, Chartreuse or red and I have yet to catch a fish on either of those colors. Apparently contrasting colors just don't work where I am.

 

I thought it odd that green pumpkin would work so well when I can barely identify my bait when in the water, the fish don't seem to have this problem though.

 

I had thought that I had my jerkbait colors figured out, perch and sexy shad have produced for me. Grabbed a Strike King KVD Jerkbait in Pro-Gold thinking it would mimic a juvenile Carp and they hit it also. Once again something I see in the water that I fish.

[Glaucus]

Lure color for me is for me and not the fish. I'm confident in certain colors. It probably usually doesn't matter. Blacks, blues, purples, and browns and greens, white and chartreuse...not enough difference. I wouldn't fish a rainbow Senko or something with much confidence.

[roadwarrior]

22 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Lure color for me is for me and not the fish.

Your favorite color, the one you use most, will be your most productive.

 

[Angry John]

I believe color matters least among the factors.  #1 are you where the fish are, #2 are you fishing the correct depth, #3 are you fishing the correct presentation, #4 are you fishing the right speed, #5 is the bait the correct meal size. #6 is the action correct (this is a huge factor with crainkbaits) #7 sound rattles or no.  #8 color  #9 scent #10 luck.....

[BassNJake]

I throw an alabama rig with 2 teaser baits and 3 baits with hooks (TN law)

I always have one of the baits a different color

It's probably about 95% of the time the different color bait will get bit, doesn't matter which bait it is.

I was catching some using chartreuse as the off color with 4 shad colored baits.

After a few fish I switched and had 4 chartreuse and the shad color is the one that got bit.

The cast after the shad colored bait got bit a black and blue colored bait got bit

So in that situation color matters,it had to be different than the rest

 

I'm throwing white or something with alot of silver flash when the shad spawn is on

So color may matter a little more in that specific situation

 

You'll always have exceptions where you'll catch one on white in muddy water or catch one on black and blue in clear water. But as fisherman we are trying to find what works 9 out of 10 times not that one time.

[fin]

I can stop the rain by putting on my rain gear, and I can make the sun come out by leaving my sunglasses at home.

 

All mathematically proven by the same method I use to decide the best color.

[fishwizzard]

I am going to run a little test about color and topwater lures.  Specifically, I love topwaters in funky JDM colorways, but wonder if I am missing fish by picking colors this way.  So over the winter I had a guy paint me up six knockoff PopMax bodies in three colors, all black w/ white stripe on top, all white w/ red stripe, and yellow w/ green stripe.  The stripes are to add contrast so I can see the lure more easily.  The plan is to start with one and change out after every fish or every few dozen casts if they are not biting.  I don't plan on keeping super detailed records, but I am interested to see what happens.  

[king fisher]

27 minutes ago, Angry John said:

I believe color matters least among the factors.  #1 are you where the fish are, #2 are you fishing the correct depth, #3 are you fishing the correct presentation, #4 are you fishing the right speed, #5 is the bait the correct meal size. #6 is the action correct (this is a huge factor with crainkbaits) #7 sound rattles or no.  #8 color  #9 scent #10 luck.....

     I agree with your order in general, but have seen exceptions.  Of course location and depth, are  are always the most important.  You can't catch fish if they are not there.  The grey area comes with speed, size, presentation, sound, and luck.  I have seen times, when a bass will hit a red rattle trap fished slow, fast, and anywhere in-between, but wouldn't hit a chartreuse one at any speed.  I have had times, when a black spinnerbait is working with a slow, steady retrieve, as well as fast  with pauses, while at the same time I couldn't buy a bite on a white one.  Many times, I have been able to catch bass on small or large jerk baits, but they had to have some silver or gold flash to get bit.  These are the exceptions. and agree with your order in most cases.  As far as luck goes, I would rather be lucky than good any day.  

[schplurg]

1 hour ago, fin said:

I can stop the rain by putting on my rain gear, and I can make the sun come out by leaving my sunglasses at home.

 

All mathematically proven by the same method I use to decide the best color.

And this seems to be about as much evidence as we'll ever have for so many bass fishing questions.

 

The human brain looks for patterns in things. Like seeing faces in clouds. One person may look at the clouds and see a race car. Someone who has never seen a race car might see an animal in the same clouds. The brain looks for the closest match based on its own experience.

 

Like a psychic who gets almost everything wrong, but the believer will latch onto the single thing they got right and hold it as evidence of the psychics powers, especially if it's what we want to hear.. It's how we are wired. Some more than others maybe.

 

Critical thought is something we have to learn for the most part. I am skeptical of a lot of things in the fishing industry, mainly because so many things have not been proven, and many probably can't be.

 

Saw a video posted a few days ago of an old angler (I don't know who it is but it doesn't matter) talking about a product - livewell additive. I won't mention the brand. He says (paraphrased) "I was given a case of this product years ago and it's kept many fish from dying in my livewell"

 

How do you know? I read some old threads recently and a whole lot of people feel the same way about livewell additives as me, but they are still used in tourneys by the fish/tournament handlers, and by some anglers with no evidence and no knowledge of what the additive even contains.

 

Is it safe if someone catches and eats the same fish the next day after it's sat in a tank with this stuff in it? Is it safe for the fishery? Shouldn't we know this? Lotta claims - some really wild - with little to no evidence.

 

I think additives are mostly a scam, unless you are using tap water in your livewell maybe. I've contacted a few manufacturers and was given baloney answers. Same kinda reasoning you'll find in homeopathic "medicine" ads. I did my research and concluded that most livewell claims are completely bogus.

 

I'd love to get into more detail but I may be pushing the forum rules. I just hate seeing misinformation go unquestioned.

 

Last word --- question everything, ever.

[Pkfish49]

6 hours ago, Catt said:

 

How do we know it was color & not the rythm he was using?

 

The retrieval rate, dragging or hopping; everything would exact to say it's color only.

 

With the being said I've seen times in my opinion when color didn't matter, I've seen times when definitely mattered, & I've seen times where I had to constantly change colors to get bit.

 

So what do i made of these observations...throw what I have confidence in!

 

 

I was trolling at the fastest speed that my 30 LBS thrust trolling motor goes, which is around 5 MPH, give or take a drop of help or resistance from the current and wind.  I had the pole angled so the lure was constantly underwater, diving, rising, and darting sideways to give the wounded action.
 

Appreciate all of the replies and advice.  I hadn’t been freshwater fishing since childhood, and just started getting back in 2017.  I’m getting better every trip, but still have a lot to learn.  One thing that I’m figuring out, is that a lure that works one day in a spot, may not work at all on a different day.  I learned this the expensive way!  One year, every species in my favorite lake was hitting the Cotton Cordell wally diver, so I spent a lot of money on 3-packs– I had been losing a lot due to bad snags.  The next year, I hardly caught any fish with the lure!  Not sure of it is related at all, but one of the locals told me that the lake didn’t turn over that spring. 

I returned from my last trip and will not be back for a while, but will surely try the colorful diving minnow lure on the next trip.

[Smells like fish]

One more Matzuo lure for you guys that love lure pics like I do. This is called the Doragon (dragon) Minnow. I bought it for its beautiful life likeness. 

[Pkfish49]

1 hour ago, Smells like fish said:

One more Matzuo lure for you guys that love lure pics like I do. This is called the Doragon (dragon) Minnow. I bought it for its beautiful life likeness. 

My boat is crowded with two large, full tackle boxes and additional bags of stuff.  I'm going to now have to buy more lures and make the boat more crowded.   All worth it though.

[Cdn Angler]

If you think colour doesn't matter go out and chuck pink baits all day and see how you feel. It isn't the most critical factor, but it it certainly part of the equation.

 

I've fished a river for SMB dinks and the odd walleye/catfish for years now. My white crankbait gets crushed. Same exact crank in craw, yellow, perch = way less bites. My buddy fishes next to me on yellow and catches half what I do in the same spot.  Year over year.  I finally broke down and bought his cheap ass a white one. Why white? I have no idea.  

 

[Fishingintheweeds]

On 5/27/2020 at 3:28 PM, fishwizzard said:

I am going to run a little test about color and topwater lures.  Specifically, I love topwaters in funky JDM colorways, but wonder if I am missing fish by picking colors this way.  So over the winter I had a guy paint me up six knockoff PopMax bodies in three colors, all black w/ white stripe on top, all white w/ red stripe, and yellow w/ green stripe.  The stripes are to add contrast so I can see the lure more easily.  The plan is to start with one and change out after every fish or every few dozen casts if they are not biting.  I don't plan on keeping super detailed records, but I am interested to see what happens.  

How did your test go?

On 5/27/2020 at 3:28 PM, fishwizzard said:

I am going to run a little test about color and topwater lures.  Specifically, I love topwaters in funky JDM colorways, but wonder if I am missing fish by picking colors this way.  So over the winter I had a guy paint me up six knockoff PopMax bodies in three colors, all black w/ white stripe on top, all white w/ red stripe, and yellow w/ green stripe.  The stripes are to add contrast so I can see the lure more easily.  The plan is to start with one and change out after every fish or every few dozen casts if they are not biting.  I don't plan on keeping super detailed records, but I am interested to see what happens.  

How did your test go?

[Bankc]

Everything I own is either one of two colors.  Stained water or clear water.  It's either black and blue or white and charteuse for stained water.  And it doesn't seem to matter much between the two.  Or I'll go natural, realistic colors for clear water.  Again it doesn't seem to matter which you choose.  You can fish a trout looking lure in a lake that's never seen a trout and it seems to work as well as a bream or shad pattern.  

 

So I won't say color doesn't matter.  But I don't believe they're as important as many people assume.  

[fishwizzard]

20 minutes ago, Fishingintheweeds said:

How did your test go?

How did your test go?

The bottom color of a popper/walker does not seem to matter much, or rather, if it matters much I have no way of knowing.  I could catch a bass, switch colors and catch another right away.  I could be getting no love, switch colors a dozen times and still nothing.  I never managed to get on a really hot bit where I could catch consistently enough, fast enough to really give it a a test, but from a year where I spent maybe double my usual time with non-frog topwaters, I would say that the specifics of the action/retrieve seem to matter vastly more then the lure color.  

 

Oddly, I still have all six PopClones.  I fished them hard in some gnarly spots, snagged them all a few times, but always was able to get them back.  I will also say that the clones are not as good as the real thing in the sense that the real ones are easier to get a broader range of action out of and are more consistent lure to lure.  I am much more confident now in casting them close to cover then I was when I started.  

[Fishingintheweeds]

For wacky rigged works, jigs and sometimes bed rigs, in places that are mostly clear water, but even in a couple that are a little dirty or stained...I DON'T think that it matters...but it sure SEEMS like it does...by the lop-sided numbers of fish that I catch.  

 

I get bored and curious sometimes and decide to run the experiments again and again. There's not way to control all of the variables but that doesn't stop me from trying again. I give my best efforts to fish everything the same ways, in the same spots, weather, times of year, and do it over a longer period of time...but it sure feels like the fish eat that green pumpkin Senko or Ned Rig a lot better when it's got the purple flakes and the jigs a whole lot better when I stick to green pumpkin with a little brown and exactly 3 3/4 stands of orange ?