Here are some ideas to consider.
When fish see red, does it think blood and a wounded animal? When it sees pink is it thinking gay prey?
When a bass strikes something out-of-this-world, do you wonder, what was it thinking? Just maybe it struck the lure because it didn't think or better yet CAN'T THINK. One angler I know made a good argument for not going nuts over what hue to use because unless working a lure in clear water, how does one know what hue a bass is seeing? A prime example is low light cloudy days and muddy water and colors that disappear fast below a certain depth. Crawfish change colors depending on the season. How does one know which color to match?
In my mind the emphasis for using lures is based on lure characteristics-in-combination regardless the season.
Simply put, we like a certain lure because it catches fish. BUT WHY? Here are a few things I take into consideration:
1. lure contrast
a. This includes color brightness such as fluorescent colors that stand out like a neon sign.
b. Laminate color contrast such as a darker color on one surface/ bright color on the other; bright tail color/dark body
c. Flash to include flakes in the plastic or on it's surface; spinning flashing blades (IE in-line)
In my mind, I want the color to contrast against where a fish is looking - the bottom, the surface or to the side. If the lure is black, I expect the lure's action will be primary (IE a skirted jig and action trailer). Color can be a trigger, but not for any reason except color emphasizes lure shape and action which bring me to:.
2. shape and size in combination that match the potential of a fish striking striking it
a. Sometimes less is better, smaller/finesse; at other times increased body bulk and maybe also length challenges a fish's territory regardless the size fish.
b. IMO certain lure profiles are programmed into a fish's DNA - depending on the fish in a specific water, keeping in mind that there are no guarantees of a universal shape appeal.
c. a fish's current aggressiveness that falls into a range from 1-5 determines what shapes and size fish will attack -IE pre-spawn fish in the shallows and school fish are very aggressive - activity range 5.
3. lure action/ vibration / lateral line stimulation/ lure speed
a. there are many that do better retrieved slowly with pauses; other do fine trolled at a medium speed but that have a bill-induced wobble (crankbaits, chatterbait).
b. a particular vibration-type picked up by sonic detection merits a close inspection of what a lure looks and acts like on various retrieves - which matters more than we know.
c. horizontal action vs vertical action are key considerations for choosing lure design and presentation. This coupled with lure speed in either direction determine a lure's success.
I'll bet every one of you who has caught bass or any other species over the years, inadvertently or intentionally has taken the above into consideration. Granted, you may use a color you think a fish thinks is a shad, but as was stated above, fish bite lures for different reason, the least of which is to chow down on only one prey species at a time.
When it comes to colors, I have a limited range of say 5-10 colors I use depending on the lure and they are a secondary consideration when it comes to lure shape, size and action - IN COMBINATION. Please consider watching how a favorite lure acts as compared to similar lures. There's got to be something that sets it apart. Example: not all soft sticks like the Senko do well. Why? Lure action speaks the LOUDEST !!!
Finally, LURES IN GENERAL CONTRAST WITH ANYTHING THAT SWIMS, CRAWLS OR SCURRIES WHERE FISH LIVE. A buzzbait going a steady 1'/second is like nothing a fish has ever seen or heard. A spinnerbait with a huge willow leaf blade emitting super-bright strobe-like flashes is like nothing bass have ever seen yet they strike. Nothing swims like a skirted jig with Rage Tail trailer, yet bass attack it either swimming the lure or working it on the bottom. Examples of unnatural lure contrasts that catch fish of any species are unlimited !
I've come to believe that based on the hypersensitivity of fish senses such as vibration and odor detection as well as amazing underwater vision, what I want to match when choosing lures are those characteristics that 1. get and hold a fish's attention long enough to 2. start the biological strike sequence. Label it match-the-hatch, feeding, curiosity or anything else, but lure action-by-design is key.
Note: Angler input is a big part of the combination. Used incorrectly, no lure will work on average no matter how great its design.
One last point about color. I'm superstitious when it comes to color choices in that if I find a few that work for certain lures, that's all I use - anytime; there being a different set for another lure type. There's no reason to go nuts with colors as long as I have confidence in colors that allow lure contrast components that define lure shape and size and visually enhance lure action.
