This Is The Best Artificial Lure Color For Clear Water
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
What does a fish see when they look up at your lure above them during the day?
Does color play a role or is it more profile?
This can be a huge factor when choosing your lure color based on the conditions.
See the answers below!!
Best Artificial Lure Color For Clear Water [VIDEO]
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These lures were tested in clear water during sunny conditions to see which one stands out the most:
The Slam Shady is somewhat noticeable under super clear conditions.
It doesn’t stand out too much looking up at the clear sky in the background.
It’s more of a subtle presentation in clear water to finicky fish.
F. R. E. D (Fooling Redfish Every Day)
It’s a little more noticeable than the Slam Shady.
Would work better in dirty or cloudy water conditions.
The darkest colored paddletail.
It contrasts really well against the clear water and blue skies.
Because it stands out so much, it could potentially spook fish if you are using darker colors in clear water.
If the fish are being aggressive, this could be an easy way to grab their attention and get them to strike!
Conclusion
If you are fishing in a school of baitfish or want to get the attention of aggressive fish, the gold digger will contrast against the clear and bright colors.
But, if the fish are finicky and skittish it might scare them away because of how noticeable it is.
In that case, grab the Slam Shady as it will not stand out as much and as a natural baitfish color.
And if the water is a little cloudy, grab the F.R.E.D. pink paddletail!
Lure color is important but if you have a light color, a dark color, and a color in the middle, you can set yourself up for more success!
Grab all 3 of these lures here:
And if you know someone who wants to know more about their lure color choice, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Awesome vid, thanks Tony!. How far away (horizontally) do you think fish can see each color? Would love to see some data around that too for clear and murky water at different depths.
Thanks Andrew!
Many factors can come into play there, specifically water clarity and amount of light.
I live in Texas and the water isn’t clear. I have found that lighter colored lures work better. Could you do a comparison in murky water?
Hey James!
It’s in the works! Just trying to get good footage in murky water can be a little tough. Cameras don’t like to operate like eyeballs in low light conditions haha
In cloudy water of the Biloxi bay or other murky water areas, if I am fishing a paddle tail soft bait should I go very slow and bounce it off the bottom or should I do a faster retrieve and keep it off the bottom.
Hey Hank! Low and slow is the way to go in murky water. Also make sure your casts are very accurate and close to structure. Fish will hold much tighter to structure and be less likely to travel far to chase down a lure in murky water.
I’m not so sure that color matters, except in poker chips
Not as much as bass pro shops makes us think! I keep it simple and stick to a dark and light color.
When is the Bomber getting the Gold Digger and FRED treatment?
Hey Mike! We have some new stuff in the works coming soon!
Great video, Tony. Where do the middle colors come in? Or the half n half’s (top darker, bottom light)?
When to try Houdini? Shad? Thanks
Thanks John! I consider the FRED color to be in the middle spectrum, so I would interchange that color with some of those “in between” colors if anything. Stained water conditions are also ideal for those.
Great video Tony!!
Thanks Tony!
Nice video Tony!
Good point on the Golddigger possibly being too contrasting and spooking skittish fish. The few times where I believe color makes a difference
Thanks Pat!
Great demonstration Tony. Thanks for the tip on using a dark bait in schooling bait fish.
You’re welcome Jack! Thank you for the great feedback!
Great presentation and really tells the story. Could you do the same presentation for murky water? Curious to know how that would look and the affects it will have on the fish.
Thanks Tommy! It’s in the works! It’s just tough to get good video with a camera in those conditions but definitely working on it!