Is lure Colour and scent important

[fitzy90]

Hi Guys,

Really interesting article popped up on bookface today discussing the age old question Is lure Colour and scent important.

https://activeanglingnz.com/2016/08/01/ ... important/


They conducted various testing on different colour lures, fishing areas, leader thickness and scent, the results were summed up as the following:

- lure colour may not make much difference to effectiveness, but a spot of luminescence on the trace could help induce bites.
- In murky waters a lure with plenty of vibration may improve results.
- Lures can be effective even when tied to pretty hefty nylon lines but in very clear water it could be worth refining the tackle a bit.
- Scenting lures may, in some cases, put fish off.
- Bass run up-tide in quite narrow lanes, so try to fish across the flow until you locate them and then fish at the same distance where you had your bite.
- Catch rates reduce when seals are in the vicinity.

Not a bad read if anyone is interested.

[Marty.A]

It was an interesting read thanks ,ive found an Aussie guy on YouTube who explains colour washout on lures at different depths I found it worthwhile checking out also.Ive put the links on a previous post as he has 4 vids so here is the first one if you want to check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQTh_tnJ6c

[4liters]

I've tried s factor on a few plastics and haven't noticed much improvement.

[DougieK]

- lure colour may not make much difference to effectiveness, but a spot of luminescence on the trace could help induce bites.

Except on squid i'd guess i'd agree. Squid i've watched one approach 7 different jigs then shy away before finally taking the rainbow fluro glowy purple foiled one. Despite claims about colors in different activity and water conditions it seems to be fairly random. Red foils and glows absolutely are more effective in low light conditions.

Hi Guys,
- Scenting lures may, in some cases, put fish off.

Personal anecdotes, gulp work really really well when i'm not getting bites on non scented lures.

- Catch rates reduce when seals are in the vicinity.

F that seal.

[mazman]

This is just a whole bunch of anecdotal evidence but some may find it interesting:
I have found colour makes a huge difference some days , the profile/type of lure is generally more important than the colour, I have seen notable increases in my catch rate when using scent some days and not make a difference other days (never had it decrease catch rate) and lures in general work better with a lighter leader (the smaller the lure the more noticeable this is).

[Lightningx]

Interesting read. Cheers :thumbsup:

[eddyt]

Also with bream. The docklands bream only seem to like the black micro vibes. It's a bit of match the hatch and the clearer and shallower you fish the more difference it seems to make. This is just my experience though

[bilby]

The colour of the lure makes a big difference when you are catching fish on that particular colour.

[meppstas]

If you feel like a read, then this may be of some help on lure colours... Mind you this is from the USA.. but it still will give you some idea of colours under different conditions..

cheers
Adrian

'' Choosing the Right Colors ''


One of the more colorful things that sometimes gets overlooked by many of us city folk, who only see nature and bodies of water when there is a popular video on YouTube of someone crashing their personal watercraft, are the carefully crafted colors of fishing lures. Special care is taken in the color selection by lure makers, as it is a very important part in catching the right fish in the right conditions.

Most fish, except for some of those in the deepest of darkest of oceans, where there is no light at all, can see colors, some even have four to five different cones making their ability to see color even greater than our own. While there is some, but not much, evidence that fish have a particular tendency towards red, there is more to selecting the right color of lure than just picking the one with the palette you like best. So, if you ever get a chance leave you computer behind and head out to the lake, we've put together a guide to help you make the right color choice when selecting a lure.In order to select the best lure color palette there are a few things that need to be considered, such as: Water depth and clarity, season, and the time of day.

*Water Depth
The consensus is that on sunny days brighter colors are the best option, and on cloudy days, darker more natural colors should be used. This is because the various light wavelengths are absorbed at different rates in water, longer wavelengths, like reds, are absorbed easily where as shorter ones, like violet, are absorbed much more slowly and can penetrate into deeper water. So, the farther down your lure goes the fewer and fewer colors will be seen by the fish.

*Water Clarity
Algae, silt and pollution present in the water will cause light to scatter changing the depth wave lengths will travel. In the ocean water tends to be clearer, where as inland lakes and streams tend to be filled with eroded materials, pollution and garbage.

*Seasonal Changes
Due to the grow periods of algae, the season in which you are fishing should also be considered when selecting colors. According to Greg Vinall, the autumn is the greatest period of growth for the algae, and will greatly affect shorter wave lengths like, red, yellow and orange.

*Time of Day/Year
The angle of the sun will also affect how the lure's color is seen by fish. Water imitates the sky, and just like we see bright blue skies in the afternoon and colorful ranges in the morning and evening, the same happens in the water.

*Lure Color Selection Tips

*Recommended Tips
Use dark colors at night. This may seem strange to the novice, but from experience it definitely works. When you think about it, all colors appear to us at night to be black or shades of dark grey. Usually when we see something at night it's a shadow, and dark colors give the best shadow. Also, fish usually attack lures from below at night and during low light conditions. This is because it maximizes the benefit of any limited light available. Under these conditions a dark lure throws the best silhouette and is therefore the most visible. Black, dark blue and purple are good choices at this time of day.

During winter or periods when there is lots of particulate material in the water (such as silt or algae), reds and oranges are the first colors to be filtered out. Under these conditions, lures with plenty of yellow, green or blue appear the most colorful below the surface. Fluorescent yellow and greens are also worth a shot.

Red, orange, yellow, silver and metallic colors are most intense during bright summer days in clear, shallow water. Having said that, metallic finishes have some benefits at depth because they have a tendency to create flash, even under relatively low light conditions. Mind you, all colors are visible under these bright conditions and if the fish are actively feeding on bait fish that are blue in color, then that's the color to use. Color choice is a moot point if you are deep trolling using a down rigger or paravane, particularly under low light conditions or if the water is colored or dirty. The most important factors under these conditions are lure size, shape and action.

When fishing top water lures, color is far less important than size, shape and action. A fish coming up below a surface or shallow running lure has the light behind it, making the lure appear grey or black. Try it for yourself - hold a fluorescent lure up to the sun and view it from below. Black and dark colors remain the best for surface lures because they throw a great silhouette. Red and orange lures come into their own in tannin stained waters, as do fluorescent hues.