Are Black Lures effective?

[DLM]

Ths winter I have spent a great deal of time studying everything I could find on lure colors, color changes at depths, color visibility depending on water color, fish reaction to colors etc. If it had to do with how fish see, how they react to colors, lure design by the big companies, I ate it up.

I found many references to the high visibility of black in all colors of water and at all depths, even at night. (red of course is black at depth) But in searching the various forums, I find little reference to black lures for kokanee, with the exception of our friend SilverBullets who I know has a black apex or two in his box.

Finding black koke lures is pracically impossible, which in and of itself does not mean to me that the color does not work. Black is a very successful color on salmon.

So my question is, do any of you have experience using black for kokanee and what is your opinion?

 

[SuperD]

I'm slowly testing your question by introducing more black into my lure presentations. The closest thing to an all black koke lure I have is a hoochie with silver glitter on a black body.

 

[nofish]

I have had good luck with the RMT UV black squids.

I think that the black color makes a silhouette that is easer to see.

Just my two cents.

 

[RalphL]

When cloud cover gets heavy and dark my instant "go to" lure is a black Panther Martin.

 

[SilverBullets]

I think part of the reason you don't see alot of black koke lures at the store is they don't look as appealing on the shelf next to all the bright kokanee candy colors... the manufacturers probably figure why bother when the sales won't be there. As far as the color red becoming black at depth i wonder if it's more of a shade of black than true black. I've never had much luck with red at any depth where i fish for kokes. In my experience black with fluorescent colors against it works from the surface all the way down to the 100' level. I don't know if it's the contrast that gets their attention but whatever it is it works.

 

[Kokonuts]

Black Lures

I moved to the Dark Side a couple of years ago! laugh hyst

First it was the dark blue, then purple and then black. The darker dodgers work well also. I used them later in the season at the deeper end but now I'll be trying them all of the time.

Kokonuts

 

[mrmike]

Good rule of thumb/dark lures dark water(turbid water) Michael Jacksons a pattern found in wiggle wart which is black with silver glider are extremely popular also that color is in Corkies, Spin glows etc, on the Deschutes River for summer Steelhead which is crystal clear green cold water is a killer. A lot of folks catch Salmon using wobblers in red which are fished in deeper water because as you stated red after 16 ft turns black. Fishing in Crystal clear lakes were visibility isn't a problem unless your targeting Mack way deep 100 ft or so. Your Purples/blue work extremely good in them moderate ranges 30/40 ft. The top surface areas red/pinks are extremely hard to beat

 

[remembering]

The combo on the left I have had a lot of luck with. Yes black dodger. As you can see there is not a lot of the legs left on that one. If the black does not work I go way the other direction with white and pink.

 

[Kokonuts]

Those leaders look real long to me, is there a special reason or do you like long leaders?
Kokonuts

 

[remembering]

Those leaders look real long to me, is there a special reason or do you like long leaders?
Kokonuts

Good eye. There is a drop off of hits around 10am. I think it is due the the water warming causing a drop off of O2. This will cause the fish to me more lethargic. At the drop off of hits I will drop the DR lower and extend the distance from dodger to reduce the action some. I have had some luck by doing this. The ones in the pic are about 12" from the afternoon on the day that I fished them.

 

[Fishin-RN]

I've had success with a black pline hoochie that has a touch of purple in it. Also with a black tube that has blue tails. I plan on expanding on black in the future.

 

[Fallriverguy]

Black does not work, especially black glow.

 

[DLM]

Black does not work, especially black glow.

I think I feel something pulling on my leg......101notworthy2101101smily101

 

[SuperD]

Black does not work, especially black glow.

Black glow, sounds like an oxymoron like dark light. In honor of the thread I bought some black & purple crappie tubes today at SW to try.

 

[gonefishing]

Likely it is the purple that the fish would be responding to. It is not to far from lavendar which is visible to depths of 70 feet, depending on water clairity and color. The sparkles would have some effect.

Red turns dark gray at 20 ft and eventually almost black as water gets deeper. Therefore, not a prefered color below 25-30 ft. The red and orange hoochies I use that are very effective down to 50 ft have a glow bead on them. So, for me, black would not be prefered color, but to each their own.

The species of fish has a determining factor also as their are variations in the eyes with different precentages of rod versu cones for color identification.
Oh what the heck, through everything at them, thats why its called fishing, and not always getting.

More to discuss. laugh hyst

 

[SilverBullets]

It's not the color they're attracted to when useing black...it's the contrast of it. Alot of fishing articals mention contrast can be even more important than the actual colors. Black produces the best silhouette against both the bottom and sky above. When matched up with starkly different colors (white, fluorescent, etc) it can be very productive on kokanee. Netcraft order going in as we speak...stay tuned for the "Dark Side" collection!! 101chromefish101

 

[SuperD]

Got my parts and pieces plus I had to stay home today to wait for a painter to show up. End result is I got to make some tackle. Here is my version of Black Death.

 

[SilverBullets]

^ Looks deadly Dave...reminds me of the Apex "Kavorkian" or as i like to call it...Doctor Death! 101jason101

 

[mrmike]

I going to say my fishing partner is the best designer and expert in color technology in the pacific North West. Even better than these larger Companys. (That a fact) and just think in layers the fish see the color of the water and the sky in contrast when he looks ups you adjust your colors accordingly. One mayor problem is crystal clear waters in are lake be careful to bright a set up will have the opposite affect like flourest colors and UV on really bright days. Example I was fish for land locked Chinnook at Detroit lake and we hadn't put a fish in the boat yet and my buddy in another boat had 4 he yelled over get rid of that flasher,as soon as I did FISH ON.

 

[SilverBullets]

I going to say my fishing partner is the best designer and expert in color technology in the pacific North West. Even better than these larger Companys. (That a fact) and just think in layers the fish see the color of the water and the sky in contrast when he looks ups you adjust your colors accordingly. One mayor problem is crystal clear waters in are lake be careful to bright a set up will have the opposite affect like flourest colors and UV on really bright days. Example I was fish for land locked Chinnook at Detroit lake and we hadn't put a fish in the boat yet and my buddy in another boat had 4 he yelled over get rid of that flasher,as soon as I did FISH ON.

I think alot of it also depends on the particular lake your fishing. Where i fish the water is fairly clear (lose track of the ball trolls at about the 35' depth) and the sun is bright most days. The flash of ball trolls is a bit much after around noon but bright florescent colors against black work extremly well throughout the day...last couple years it's been my #1 go-to lure color combination. I've found the shade of florescence makes a big difference. I tried to make a copy a lure last year with a different manufacturers version of a florescent color and they wouldn't touch it...wasn't bright enough. The lure with the brightest florescence against black got hammered so much the red hook was gold by season's end.