Fishing 101: Lure Color Chart

Ever wonder why some lures work like magic in your favorite hideaway river bank while other anglers swear by bob in the water without a bite? Not all lures work in just any body of water! While your lure may be perfect, have you ever thought about its color? Keep reading to learn why lure colors matter, how water affects them, and how to choose the best color for your next trip.

Water clarity refers to how clear or murky a body of water is, which impacts underwater visibility. Underwater visibility is the measure of the distance at which objects can be clearly seen beneath the surface of the water. Both of these factors affect a fish’s ability to see your lure.

Knowing how different water clarity and underwater visibility levels affect lure visibility can make all the difference. To guide you, we've created a water clarity lure color chart that breaks down the best color choices for various water conditions.

To determine underwater visibility, slowly lower a white fishing lure into the water. Stop when you can no longer see it. The length of fishing line used can be measured to determine whether you’re dealing with high, medium, or low visibility.

Underwater visibility determines how well fish see your lure and, ultimately, how many bites you get. Water clarity, depth, bottom color, and light conditions affect the level of underwater visibility. Because of this, visibility can change throughout the day, requiring anglers to use multiple lure colors.

Water clarity refers to the clearness of water, which is largely determined by the amount of suspended particles and dissolved substances within it. This includes things like algae, sediment stirred up by currents, and runoff. Higher concentrations of these factors lead to dark, murky water, while lower concentrations lead to clear water.

Water depth refers to the distance from the surface of a body of water down to its bottommost point. As the water gets deeper, the way light wavelengths are absorbed changes.

In shallow waters, most colors on the spectrum are visible and maintain their vibrancy. However, as depth increases, water filters out certain colors; reds and oranges are the first to disappear, followed by yellows and greens.

The color of a body of water’s bed, also known as the floor, affects how much light is absorbed or reflected back through the water.

• Light-colored bottoms, such as sandy or coral substrates, reflect more sunlight, enhancing underwater clarity and making the water appear lighter and clearer. This reflection can increase the effectiveness of certain colors of fishing lures.

• Darker bottoms, composed of materials like volcanic rock or silt, absorb more light, which can reduce visibility and give the water a murkier appearance. This dims the environment and alters the perception of color and depth, which can impact fish behavior.

The amount and angle of sunlight entering a body of water directly influences how clearly objects can be seen beneath the surface.

• On bright, sunny days, more light reaches into the water. This improves visibility and illuminates the underwater environment. However, the sun's position can also create glare or reflections that might hinder visibility.

• On overcast days, less light enters the water, which can reduce visibility and give the water a darker, murkier appearance.

• Time of day also affects underwater visibility; morning and late afternoon, when the sun is at a lower angle, can result in softer light and less glare underwater.

While humans have three types of color receptors, many fish have four or more! These additional receptors allow them to detect colors underwater. Because water absorbs and scatters light, colors are perceived differently underwater.

For example, red light waves are absorbed quickly in water, causing red colors to appear gray or black at depth, while blue and green wavelengths go deeper and remain visible. This means you may have better luck catching fish near the bottom of a body of water using a blue lure than a red lure.

Understanding the basics of how fish see different colors can help you pick a fishing lure color that triggers feeding behaviors. Learning how to do so increases your chances of a successful outing.

The way fish perceive lure colors in different water clarity levels changes how they will respond to your lure. Some colors were repeated in the above chart because they are effective at all visibility levels. These are great to keep on you every time you go fishing.

However, water conditions can change quickly, so it’s important to know which fishing lure colors work best in different situations:

• Fishing Lure Colors for High Clarity: Chartreuse, light brown, grey, silver, black, white, gold

• Fishing Lure Colors for Medium Clarity: Chartreuse, dark green, dark brown, silver, black, white, gold, purple, red, orange

• Fishing Lure Colors for Low Clarity: Chartreuse, silver, black, white, gold, blue

• Fishing Lure Colors for All Clarity Levels: White, black, chartreuse, silver, gold

Water clarity and underwater visibility aren’t the only reasons you may need to change your fishing lure color. You should also take season and preferred forage as well as if you’re topwater fishing or fishing at night into consideration.

As seasons shift, so do water conditions and the types of prey that are available to fish.

• In spring and summer, when water temperatures are higher and visibility increases, fish prey on insects, smaller fish, and crustaceans. During these times, lures that mimic the bright colors or shiny appearances of these foods are more effective.

• In the fall and winter, as water temperatures drop and light decreases, fish switch to a diet that includes darker forage, like worms and bottom dwellers. During these months, darker lures or those mimicking the earthy tones of decaying plant material and mud are more effective.

Topwater fishing, where lures are designed to float or skim across the water's surface, influences lure color choice because of the unique visibility conditions and fish behavior associated with this technique.

In topwater fishing, fish look upwards against the backdrop of the sky. This means colors that contrast sharply against the sky (like black or dark blue) can create a more defined silhouette — making it easier for fish to spot and attack the lure. On overcast days, however, lighter colors may provide better visibility.

Night fishing presents unique challenges for lure color choice because of the absence of natural light. During night fishing, the most effective lure colors are those that create a distinct silhouette or emit light:

• Black and other very dark colors are often preferred because they provide a sharp contrast against the lighter water surface when viewed from below.

• Luminous, glow-in-the-dark, or fluorescent lures can also be effective as they can attract fish through their own light emission.

The presence of ambient light sources can also influence color choice. For example, under the glow of street lamps or dock lights, using lighter or more reflective lures can take advantage of the artificial light, making them more visible to fish.

Whether you're casting in clear waters or navigating murkier conditions, the right fishing lure color can make all the difference. Use our water clarity lure color chart as your guide, and enjoy your time on the water.

Ready to reel in more fish? Explore the wide selection of fishing baits and lures available at Academy Sports + Outdoors!