How to Choose Lure Colors When Your Favorite Gets No Bites
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- Fishing lure
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Watching someone nearby catch fish while your line stays quiet can make you second-guess every lure in your tackle box. Learning how to choose lure colors gives you a more reliable place to start.
The guide below compares spoon finishes and soft-plastic colors based on water clarity, available light, and fish activity. Use those conditions to narrow your choices before the next cast instead of changing colors at random.
| Topic | Lure Type | Colors | Guidance or Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light and water clarity | Spoons | Gold | Low light, murky water. |
| Light and water clarity | Spoons | Silver | Bright light, clear water. |
| Colorful lure designs | Spoons | Various colors | They say the colorful ones are just for show. What do you think? |
| Aggressive fish | Soft plastics | Orange, green, bright red | Use bold colors. Make the lure easier for fish to see. |
| Slow bite | Soft plastics | Dark green, dark brown | Use dark colors. Match the lure more closely to baitfish or insect colors. |
| Low light | Soft plastics | Green, white, gold | Use bright colors. |
| Bright light | Soft plastics | Reddish brown, brown | Use dark colors. |
| Colors experienced anglers prefer | Spoons | Silver | |
| Colors experienced anglers prefer | Soft plastics | Dark brown, dark green | |
| Colors experienced anglers prefer | Vibrating lures | Red head/white body, chartreuse | |
| Colors experienced anglers prefer | Metal jigs | Red head/white body | |
| Colors experienced anglers prefer | Pencil baits | Baitfish pattern, fluorescent yellow | |
| Confidence bait | Fishing lures | Every experienced angler has a confidence bait. What’s yours? |
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