Bait colour is a fishing riddle I’ll never solve.
We’ve all heard the old adage that it’s best to use dark baits for bright days and bright baits for dark days.
The dark baits cast a better silhouette in clear and bright conditions, while the inverse is true for bright baits in dark conditions.
Look, I see the logic in the theory, but after registering just as many fish on dark baits in dark conditions and vice versa with bright, I’m not totally convinced.
However, what we’ve found has a bigger impact on our catch rate is ‘colour confidence’. By that, we mean the confidence you have with your bait’s colour, irrespective of the conditions.
The better your catch rate, no matter what the species, with a particular colour the higher your level of bait confidence, across the board. You have an innate, hardwired confidence, as you just know the colour works!
As a result, you always fish the bait better. You have a level of fishing swagger that sees you fish patiently, really concentrate on every retrieve and maximise your baits chances in the drink. No ripping your bait back to the boat when it’s journey is only half done because you think ‘I can’t get whacked on this thing here.’
We all know the feeling on the water if we don’t think we have the right colour tied on. You’re constantly second-guessing your colour choice and, almost subconsciously, fish much faster and less productive than you should – especially surface and swimbaits.
Early in a session, or any time for that matter, it’s always good to play to your colour strengths and not give cod any more unnecessary advantages.
New Bait, Same Debate
‘Colour confidence’ also helps when you are testing a new bait type and you’re still working out the best way to fish the bait.
By taking colour out of the equation you are able to concentrate more closely on the other, more important, factors that make the bait tick.
While colour may matter, it’s value pales in comparison to choosing the right bait type, working it patiently and getting it noticed by a mottled greenback.
We all know the scenario when a mate imitates your exact colour after you land a few fish. But, we reckon, it’s not the paintwork that’s catching the fish it’s the anglers ‘colour confidence’ that’s a bigger factor.
We’re no different and have our favourites, too. Norbs opts to start most sessions with bright white as his ‘go to’ colour, while Hilly kick starts his sessions with the mat purple with chartreuse fins ‘Goodang’ coloured Jackall.
So, while the bright and dark theory might have more science behind it than our method, I’d much rather opt for real-life experience than a textbook theory, as we know fishing is anything but an exact science.
