When it comes to fishing, choosing the right lure color for the water conditions can make all the difference in your success rate. The color of the water affects how visible your lure is to fish, so you need to select lures that create the right contrast. Here are some tips on how to match your lure color to the water for better fishing.
Clear Water
In very clear water conditions, where you can see down to 12 feet or more, natural baitfish colors tend to work best. Fish are used to seeing subtle, translucent shades of baitfish like shad, bluegill, trout, etc. Using lures that mimic these natural colors and shades will look familiar to fish and draw them in.
Good lure colors for clear water:
- White
- Silver
- Light gray
- Translucent
- Pearlescent
Metallic finishes that flash and reflect light as the lure moves can also be very effective in clear water. Stay away from bold, solid colors that will look unnatural and could spook fish.
Stained Water
When the water has some color or algae to it and you can see down 4-8 feet, you will want lures with a bit more contrast. As the water gets more stained, fish depend more on lure silhouettes and vibration and less on color. Choose darker lure colors that will stand out.
Good lure colors for stained water:
- Blue
- Green
- Red
- Orange
- Purple
- Black
- Dark finishes like black nickel
You can also go with translucent or neon shades like pink, chartreuse, and yellow so light refracts through the lure. Metallic and loud vibrating lures are also excellent choices in stained water.
Murky Water
In muddy water where visibility is less than 2 feet, bold dark colors and strong vibration are key. Fish will zero in on lures based on vibration, noise, and very dark silhouettes rather than color preference. Using lures in black, dark purple, dark red, or other very dark colors will create a defined shape for fish to target.
Good lure colors for muddy water:
- Black
- Dark purple
- Dark red
- Dark brown
- Orange
- Chartreuse
You can also add trailers in bright neon colors to create flashing or vibration. Spinnerbaits and other noisy retrieves will help fish locate your lures by sound. Just make sure the main lure body is a very dark color.
Night Fishing
Fishing after dark requires a different approach to lure color selection. Since fish won’t be able to see colors clearly, you need to rely on dark silhouettes, bioluminescence, vibration, and noise.
Good lure colors for night fishing:
- Black
- Dark purple
- Dark red
- Dark green
- Bright neon colors like chartreuse, orange, pink on trailers
Black is the best color for night fishing since it forms the darkest silhouette. Adding fluorescent or neon colored tails and trailers creates bioluminescence so fish can spot your lure. Noisy, vibrating lures also call fish in.
Clear Water in Weedy Areas
When fishing clear water with lots of vegetation like milfoil, hydrilla, or coontail, natural translucent colors work best. Stay away from bold colors that will look out of place and spook fish in weeds.
Good lure colors for clear water weeds:
- White
- Translucent
- Pearlescent
- Silver
- Gray
Soft plastic stick baits and Senkos rigged weedless with light wire hooks also work well for piercing through vegetation. Use natural colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, browns, and blacks to mimic crawfish and bluegill.
Stained Water in Weedy Areas
As aquatic vegetation gets thicker, you will want some darker colors with more contrast mixed in. Scale up in shade intensity to add visibility.
Good lure colors for stained water weeds:
- Dark green
- Dark brown
- Black
- Blue
- Dark purple
Rattle baits and spinnerbaits in gold and black nickels paired with bright colored skirts are excellent choices when targeting fish hiding in vegetation.
Conclusion
Picking the right lure color for water clarity is crucial for fishing success. Make sure to have a selection of natural, bright, and dark colored lures to cover any water conditions you encounter:
- Clear water – natural translucent colors
- Stained water – bolder contrasting colors
- Muddy water – dark colors and vibration
- Night fishing – dark colors and bioluminescence
- Clear weeds – natural translucent colors
- Stained weeds – darker natural colors
Keep an open mind and experiment to see what’s working best on a given day and location. Having versatility in your tackle box is the key to adapting as the water color changes throughout the day.
Follow these tips on matching your lure colors properly and you’ll be reeling in more fish on your next fishing trip!
| Water Clarity | Recommended Lure Colors |
|---|---|
| Clear | White, silver, light gray, translucent, pearlescent |
| Stained | Blue, green, red, orange, purple, black |
| Muddy | Black, dark purple, dark red, dark brown, orange, chartreuse |
| Night | Black, dark purple, dark red, dark green, bright neon |
| Clear Weeds | White, translucent, pearlescent, silver, gray |
| Stained Weeds | Dark green, dark brown, black, blue, dark purple |
