How You Can Choose Lure Color Based On The Tide Cycle
- By: Richard Thomas
- on
Believe it or not, you can choose your lure color based on the tide!!
We are constantly asked about lure colors and when you should use what color, however, there are endless answers to these questions.
In the video below, we’ll go over my thought process and I’ll simplify lure color selection for you using the tide cycle.
Check it out!!
Lure Color Based On The Tide [VIDEO]
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Tackle Mentioned:
- Slam Shady 2.0 Paddletail
- Gold Digger Paddletail
- Hoss Helix Hooks
- Z-Man Trout Eye Jighead
- Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Series Rod 7’2 Medium
- TFO Professional Series 7’6 Medium
- Daiwa BG MQ
- 10lb PowerPro Braid
I like to break it down into the incoming tide and outgoing tide.
During incoming tide, the new, clean ocean water comes in creating better water clarity.
And then on the outgoing tide, all of that water is pushed up onto mud and marshes to then get sucked out along with contaminants and debris.
Which makes for darker-colored water.
On the incoming tide with cleaner water, I like to throw something more natural like the Slam Shady 2.0 paddletail.
This lure excels on incoming tides.
Then once the tide changes over and the water becomes murkier, that is when I’ll switch over to the Gold Digger Paddletail.
Gold Digger is a flat-out phenomenal color in dirty, murky water.
It is a black lure with some gold flake to form a silhouette of a baitfish.
This is one way you can simplify changing lure colors.
Another thing to note is that I will almost always drastically change the colors of the lures I’m throwing.
Slam Shady versus Gold Digger are two completely different color lures.
A lot of times that drastic change will help reveal things about the fish’s behavior that day so then you can fine-tune which color is working to stick with that for the rest of the trip.
Rigs & Outfits
- Slam Shady 2.0 Setup
I prefer to rig up the Slam Shady 2.0 paddletail on the 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook 1/8 oz.
This has a super wide hook gap compared to other weighted weedless hooks and I’ve been having great luck with it lately.
As far as the rod I was using, I went with the Fitzgerald 7’2 Medium Aqua Dream Series.
This rod is exceptional for fishing with artificial lures, especially lightweight lures.
I like to pair that with the Daiwa BG MQ spooled with 10lb PowerPro Braid.
- Gold Digger Setup
I rig up the Gold Digger paddletail on a 1/4 oz. Z-Man Trout Eye Jighead.
The reason I bumped up to a 1/4 oz. jighead is because as the tide changed to move out, the current speed picked up with it.
So I ended up using a heavier jighead with the TFO Professional 7’6 Medium Spinning Rod.
However, the medium TFO rod is slightly heavier than what you would normally classify as a medium rod.
This is what makes this rod a perfect match to the added weight of the Trout Eye Jighead.
Again, I have the Daiwa BG MQ on this outfit with 10lb PowerPro Braid as well.
Conclusion
Don’t overcomplicate things if you don’t have to.
Your lure color can be decided by something as simple as the tides and which direction the current is flowing.
Be sure to take account of the tide cycle and water clarity to determine your lure color choice!
Do you have any more questions about choosing lure color based on the tide?
Let me know if you use a tactic like this on your fishing trips right now!!
If you know someone who wants to learn more about choosing lure color based on the tide, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Great advice with limited real-estate on a kayak! Question….I purchased a pack of 4 OT
hooks 1/8 oz weighted hooks. Will they work in place of the 3OT? Thanks
Great video. I almost always start out with the slam shady, then I’ll throw Fred, and finally the gold digger. All 3 have been very effective in my area of Georgia (Darien, Brunswick, Jekyll Island)
Absolutely Neal! They’re all great, I tend to throw the Fred a lot more in the fall and winter as well.
Great info on the reasoning behind color selection! Also, doing a good job on promoting your products! 😊
Glad you liked it Rick! Definitely, when you have the best products out there it’s always fun to share your success with the tackle we use!
Thanks Richard; used to be a strictly mono man. This leader thing has been an adjustment. Used to keep empty spools to reverse the line when things got sketchy.
No problem Tim! We’ve come a long way with braid- the original power pro is great and I seldom get wind knots.
So follow up on the leader question. Blood Knot connection, how long and snap swivel or naked? Too long a leader for me is a royal pain.
I use a FG Knot, no swivel that way if it goes in the guides nothing is damaged. I typically have a 3 foot leader or so
Great video Richard keep up the good work 👍
Thank you Greg!
What’s your opinion on lure color for night fishing under lights? And would that change if there were no lights?
Daniel, I actually use both the Slm Shady and the Gold Digger with a lot of success under dock lights.
I don’t think it would matter much if there were no lights, I think vibrations are more effective, but I typically would use a darker color at night to start with.
Are you and if so; what are you using for leader and how long?
Hey Tim, yea I almost always use leader except for a few exceptions. For 90 percent of my inshore fishing I use 20lb Ande Monofilament
Huh never thought of that but it does make perfect sence thanks for the great tip and all you do😉
Lots of experimenting led to this one!
Great video as always, Richard!
What kind of net is that?
Appreciate it Joel!
I actually forgot the name of the net, but it’s one that will float and more importantly it has the rubber lines mesh so it doesn’t harm the fish like normal mono or cloth nets do by taking off the protective layer of slime.
I bought it a couple years ago at Academy.