Lure selection

[311Hemi]

I am curious what factors you guys use to select lures (cranks/spinner rigs/jigs/etc). I know some of the standards that bass fisherman use (Sunny/cloudy days, clear/murky water), but I would think this changes for Eye's?

[Eric Wettschreck]

For the most part I just say,"This one looks good." and I give it a shot.

However, if I'm working real dirty water I like to use a ratteling crank or spinner or something to get thier attention.

[Team Otter]

Matching the bait or food type in the lake is very important. This includes lure profile and color.

[PerchJerker]

Experiment a lot, especially with cranks since there are so many styles and actions and colors available.

With jigs I try to stay as small as possible, and although I experiment with color I tend to look at them as 'dark' or 'bright'.

With rigs it's pretty much the same, do I want subtle or flashy, dark or bright. And do I want noisy or stealthy.

The key is to be versatile and willing to change until you find something that works. Pick a starting point based on water clarity, bait in that body of water, reports of recent fish activity levels, etc. and go from there.

[311Hemi]

Perch, I guess I was more looking into what affect water quality and sky cover may have on your selection, if any.

Examples (again, I don't know if these thoughts are correct)

Like, murky water on an overcast day you may use more bright colors (firetiger), murky water on a sunny day you may use hammered copper/gold spinners to attract the glare of the sun. Maybe in clearer water on a cloudy day you may use darker black colors or if it's sunny maybe more neutral (greens/watermellon) color to match the forage.

As you mentioned I am versitle and will chenge until I find something that works, but this is more to find out what you may start with with just the basics known (sky cover, water clarity, forage, bait). I know on the bass forum they get fairly specific on these things.....and I am sure some eye guys do to, just I have not heard much on it. I am an eye guy but trying to further my knowledge!!

[palisade1kid]

With lure selection you need to concider the speed as well.

If those eyes are lathargic a slip bobber or a slow drift with a lindy rig is deadly.

If they are aggresive then shad raps or jigs with swimbaits will be deadly.

Color is an important factor ,but so is the size of your bait&the speed at which you are moving that bait.

quoteExamples (again, I don't know if these thoughts are correct)

Like, murky water on an overcast day you may use more bright colors (firetiger), murky water on a sunny day you may use hammered copper/gold spinners to attract the glare of the sun. Maybe in clearer water on a cloudy day you may use darker black colors or if it's sunny maybe more neutral (greens/watermellon) color to match the forage.

Great examples to start with for colors!

Then go to size & speed when trying to pattern the fish.

Last ,but not the least would be depth at which they are holding.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

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Like, murky water on an overcast day you may use more bright colors (firetiger), murky water on a sunny day you may use hammered copper/gold spinners to attract the glare of the sun. Maybe in clearer water on a cloudy day you may use darker black colors or if it's sunny maybe more neutral (greens/watermellon) color to match the forage.

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You are trying to nail down hard and fast rules, or at least hard and fast starting points. Some guys probably follow them a lot, I don't follow them as much. If the boat has 2 or more lines in the water I'll make sure they're set up differently to see which works better, then go from there.

In general, I tend to follow what you suggested -- darker water, darker sky, brighter colors, more vibration. Clearer water, darker or more natural baits, or chrome baits. But that's for the daytime, the opposite at night with cranks --- dark baits when the moon is bright, brighter and flashier baits when the sky is dark. I guess I probably think about it without realizing it, combined with having my favorite or confidence colors that I tend to go with.

Sometimes my first change will be a subtle variation of the general rule, sometimes it will be to the opposite of that.

One good thing about all the info out there these days is you can usually get a good starting point before you actually hit the water. On some waters I fish I have my favorites that I use most of the time, on others waters I look on-line or in the bait shops for a starting point before I hit the water.

Hope this helps (but I don't know if it did)