How To Choose Lure Color Based On Tides

By: Tony Acevedo
on May 24, 2023

Found In: Artifical Lure Tips, Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Soft Plastic Lures, Weekly Newsletter: 5-28-23

Comments (60)

Are there any methods to choose lure color based on tides?

What conditions and other factors should you base your choice on?

Find out more in the video below!!

How To Choose Lure Color Based On Tides [VIDEO]

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Recommended Lures:

Incoming Tide:

Outgoing Tide:

Most anglers don’t think of choosing lure colors this way.

Traditional thinking suggests going by the water clarity.

But you will notice that when the tides change or conditions shift, the water clarity is going to change as well.

The color lure you’re throwing at the time of a tide shift should also change.

I like to split the colors I use into incoming tide lure colors and outgoing tide lure colors.

Incoming Tide

You’re going to want to fish with natural, subtle colors on an incoming tide.

Lures like our Natural Power Prawn USA, Slam Shady Mulligan, and F.R.E.D. Paddletail are top choices.

The Slam Shady color is absolutely ideal when fishing in clear water situations.

It will also work well in other water conditions because it is a white color that matches most baitfish.

The F.R.E.D. lure color is pink but looks more like the Slam Shady when fished in clean water.

These lure colors excel when that clean water is brought in by the tide from the ocean during an incoming tide.

Outgoing Tide

During outgoing tide, all the water is flushed out of bays, rivers, and creeks that often stirs up the muddy bottom and carries that out with the tide.

Darker lure colors are the way to go during an outgoing tide.

That is not to say every outgoing tide will always carry out muddy water, be sure to keep an eye on the water clarity.

If the tide changes and the water stays clean, then stick with the lighter lure colors.

If you notice a change in water clarity, then that is when you should switch over to darker lure colors.

The Gold Digger 2.0 Paddletail, Gold Digger BOMBER, and Alabama Leprechaun Mulligan are ideal choices.

Our Gold Digger lure is one of my favorite colors to fish with during the day because gold requires less light to flash in the water.

I prefer to use the Alabama Leprechaun lure color when the water is sort of in between murky and clear.

This lure color also excels in grassy areas.

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform