When to use certain colors of lures.

[chris kowaleski]

So i have a variety of different lures, and i know some colors are better suited for certain water conditions, but i don't know which.  I was wondering if you guys could help me get a better understanding of what to use in different colors of waters or any other factors to be considered.

[dick tabbert]

This is such an interesting subject I find myself keep coming back for more. Although my color selection may not be as extensive as most people my waters that I fish are basically clear water environments that I do fish.  As I said my go to colors are White, Chartreuse, reds and light blues. I my opinion two colors are better than one. I'll try to explain and keep it short and to the point. There have been studies done on colors under the water and the deeper we fish the colors do change. Example take a blue twister tail in the sunlight it truly blue. Take that tail and walk into a room with low lighting the blue changes it coloring, it now not as vivid of a blue. As the lighting gets darker so does our blue till all we came see the shape but can't make out the color. 

Light under the water changes the colors as we see them on the surface and the deeper we go the more the color changes because of the light penetration it changes the colors constantly. We can have full morning sun and because it's not directly hitting the water it's coming in at an angle it bends as it enters the water changing colors. As the sun get overhead (high noon) the color changes again and as the day goes on into the setting sun I changes again. So that one color you've fished with all day has change in the water numerous times. Now throw in the clouds into the equation, that lure has changed in color instantaneously and as the cloud move over the sun changing again. We have so many factors it's mind boggling. We have water clarity, we have depth, we have sun , we have the angle of the sun , we have cloud movement we have even the wave action which again bend the light and changes color. 

This is truly an interesting subject and mother nature can throw in so many variables you will never keep up with them. I'm not the best at trying to explain this subject but threw my experiences I can say color doe's matter. Now you know why I use two colors in doing so I think I have increased my chances of catching that fish double. There is much good subject mater out there on the subject and make good reading. What it really boils down to is it doesn't hurt to change things up a little.  

[chris kowaleski]

Wow! Man that's a lot of info to take in haha. thanks everyone for the responses, especially you david. it made it quite a bit easier to understand it all!