Deep Dive: Soft Plastic Selection Pt. 1
In this two-part series we hope to analyze everything that goes into choosing the optimal soft plastic lure. There are many guides out there, each usually having insight into a part of the selection process, but in their generality often skip over the importance of understanding the ‘why’. And to understand the ‘why’ the best place to start is the ‘where’ through an exploration of the environmental factors that shape the decision making process.
Part I: The Angler’s Environment – Reading the Conditions
The art of angling begins not with the tackle box, but with observation. An expert
angler understands that the environment, the water, the light, the season and sets the
rules of engagement. Before a single cast is made, a series of questions must be
answered by reading the conditions. This initial assessment dictates every subsequent
choice, transforming lure selection from a game of chance into a systematic process.
The water itself is the primary variable, its clarity and color determining which senses
a fish will use to locate its next meal. The physics of light and depth further alter the
equation, changing how a lure appears in the fish’s world. Finally, the rhythm of the
seasons governs the fish’s metabolism, location, and mood. Mastering this
environmental assessment is the first and most critical step toward consistent
success.
Section 1: The Spectrum of Water Clarity & Color
The medium in which an angler operates is a dynamic and complex filter. Water clarity, the measure of light penetration and visibility, is the single most influential factor in choosing a soft plastic’s color and, to a large extent, its shape and action. It dictates whether a fish will hunt primarily by sight, relying on realism and detail, or by its other senses, keying in on vibration and contrast.
Defining the Clarity Spectrum
To make informed decisions, it is essential to establish a functional vocabulary for
water conditions. The spectrum can be broken down into three primary categories,
each demanding a distinct strategic approach.
- High Clarity (Clear Water)
- Defined as having more than 5 feet of visibility. In these conditions, fish are predominantly sight feeders. They have the luxury of time and distance to inspect a potential meal, making them more discerning and often more wary of anything that appears unnatural. Lure selection in clear water
is a game of realism and subtlety.
- Defined as having more than 5 feet of visibility. In these conditions, fish are predominantly sight feeders. They have the luxury of time and distance to inspect a potential meal, making them more discerning and often more wary of anything that appears unnatural. Lure selection in clear water
- Medium Clarity (Stained Water)
- Visibility ranges from 1 to 5 feet. This is a transitional state where fish still rely heavily on sight, but the water’s tint or suspended particulates require a lure to have more presence to be noticed. This category includes the “tea-colored” or tannic-stained waters common in many river systems and southern lakes.
- Low Clarity (Murky/Muddy Water)
- Visibility is less than 1 foot. In this environment, a fish’s vision is severely hampered. It must rely more on its lateral line, a sensory system that detects pressure changes and vibrations in the water and its ability to perceive strong contrast. Here, a lure’s ability to create a disturbance or a stark silhouette becomes more important than its fine details.
Pro Tip
Clarity can be quickly determined with any high visibility lure, but white grubs work the best. Tie one on and let line out until the bait is barely visible, the distance from the surface to the lure is an approximate gauge of your visibility.
Color Selection by Clarity: The Foundational Rules
- In Clear Water, Realism Reigns.
- Because fish can scrutinize the bait, the primary goal is to “match the hatch”—that is, to imitate the local forage as precisely as possible in color, size, and shape.
- Natural and translucent colors are the undisputed champions here. Colors like Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, and various shades of Smoke and Brown excel because they mimic the most common food sources for predator fish like bass: bluegill, perch, gobies, and crawfish.
- When the primary forage is baitfish like shad or alewives, patterns in White, Silver, or other translucent “ghost” patterns are highly effective. It is crucial to avoid overly bright or unnatural colors in these conditions, as they can appear too vivid and alarm, rather than attract, wary fish.
- Because fish can scrutinize the bait, the primary goal is to “match the hatch”—that is, to imitate the local forage as precisely as possible in color, size, and shape.
- In Stained Water, Visibility is Key.
- As visibility decreases, a lure needs to stand out from the background haze. While natural colors like Green Pumpkin and Watermelon Red remain effective, this is where brighter, more saturated colors begin to shine. Colors like Chartreuse, Orange, and bright Reds have enough “pop” to be seen from a distance without being overly shocking. At the same time, darker colors that create a more defined profile also become highly effective. Hues like Junebug (a dark purple with green flake), Black/Blue, and even solid Black provide a strong silhouette that fish can track in the stained water.
- In Muddy Water, It’s All About Contrast and Vibration.
- With sight playing a secondary role, the angler must choose a lure that can be detected through other means. This leads to a choice between two opposite extremes: very dark or very
bright.- Dark Colors for Silhouette:
- Lures in solid Black, Black/Blue Flake, or dark Purple create the strongest possible silhouette against the lighter, sky-lit surface of the water when viewed from below. This stark contrast makes the lure easy for a fish to locate and target, even in near-zero visibility. This strategy is particularly effective in low-light periods or at night.
- Bright Colors for High-Visibility:
- The alternative strategy is to use extremely bright, fluorescent colors like Chartreuse, hot Pink, or bright Orange. These colors reflect the maximum amount of available ambient light, essentially cutting through the gloom and announcing their presence. White also works well as a high-visibility option in muddy water.
- Dark Colors for Silhouette:
- With sight playing a secondary role, the angler must choose a lure that can be detected through other means. This leads to a choice between two opposite extremes: very dark or very
Special Conditions: Tannic Water and Algae Blooms
- Tannic Water:
- This “sweet tea” or “root-beer” colored water is stained by tannins leached from decaying vegetation. It is often mistaken for muddy water, but it can be very clear, just darkly tinted. This tint acts as a filter, fundamentally changing how colors are perceived. In these conditions, dark, solid colors that provide a strong silhouette are exceptionally productive. Junebug is a legendary color in tannic waters, particularly in Florida, because to a fish, it appears very natural in that specific light spectrum much like Green Pumpkin does in clear water. Other top choices include Black/Blue, Plum, and solid Black. The flash from glitter flakes can also be highly effective, making the most of the limited light to attract attention.
- Algae Blooms:
- When a lake experiences an algae bloom, the water takes on a distinct green hue. This creates a unique visual environment where the primary goal is to contrast against the green background. Anglers should avoid green-based lures like Green Pumpkin or Watermelon, which would become effectively camouflaged. Instead, research and extensive angler experience point to two effective approaches. The first is to use dark colors that create a strong silhouette against the green haze; Black, Purple, and Black/Blue combinations are top performers. The second approach, particularly if the water is also murky, is to use bright, flashy colors like Orange and Chartreuse that can cut through the bloom and demand attention.
Section 2: The Physics of Light and Depth
An angler’s perception of a lure’s color in the open air is often a deception. The water
column is not a perfectly clear window; it is a powerful filter that absorbs and scatters
light, fundamentally altering what the fish sees. Understanding these basic principles
of aquatic optics is essential for making effective lure choices, especially when
targeting fish in deeper water.
The Disappearing Color Spectrum
Water absorbs different wavelengths of light at different rates. Colors with longer
wavelengths are filtered out much more quickly than those with shorter wavelengths.
- Reds and Oranges:
- These colors have the longest wavelengths and are the first to disappear. A vibrant red lure can begin to lose its color in as little as 5 feet of water and may appear as a dull gray or even black by the time it reaches a depth of 15-25 feet.
- Yellows and Greens:
- These colors have intermediate wavelengths and penetrate deeper into the water column before their intensity fades.
- Blues and Purples:
- Possessing the shortest wavelengths, these colors penetrate the deepest. They retain their hue much farther down, remaining visible at depths of 60-70 feet or more, making them excellent choices for deep-water presentations.
- White and Silver:
- These colors reflect all available light, making them visible at significant depths. They do not rely on a specific wavelength and thus maintain their contrast well.
- Black:
- This color absorbs all light and relies on creating a silhouette. Its effectiveness is not diminished by depth; it remains a dark, contrasting shape at any depth.
- Ultraviolet (UV) Light:
- Many fish species possess vision that extends into the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye. UV light penetrates water effectively. Some lure paints and plastics are formulated with UV-reflective properties, giving them a “glow” or high visibility to fish at depths where other colors have faded to gray. This hidden visibility can be a significant advantage.
This knowledge requires an angler to practice depth-compensated color selection. Choosing a lure based on its surface appearance without considering the target depth is a common and critical error. For instance, selecting a bright red crawfish-imitating lure to fish a rock pile in 30 feet of water is a flawed strategy if the goal is to present a red image. At that depth, the fish will not perceive red; it will see a dark, muted shape. A more effective choice to present a specific color would be a blue or purple lure, which would retain its hue. Alternatively, understanding this principle allows the angler to use that red lure intentionally as a dark, silhouette-style bait.
Table: Color Visibility at Depth
Assumed Medium Clarity water add 10ft for Clear and subtract 5ft for Muddy
|
Lure Color |
Appearance at 0-10ft |
Appearance at 10-25ft |
Appearance at 25+ ft |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Red | |||
|
Orange | |||
|
Yellow | |||
|
Chartreuse | |||
|
Green Pumpkin | |||
|
Blue | |||
|
Purple | |||
|
White/Silver | |||
|
Black |
Impact of Ambient Light
The amount and angle of sunlight dramatically influence light penetration and how
lures appear underwater.
- High Sun/Bright Days:
- When the sun is high overhead, light penetration is at its maximum. This is an ideal time for natural colors in clear water and for lures with metallic or reflective finishes (e.g., silver or gold flake) that can catch and scatter the abundant light, mimicking the flash of a baitfish. However, in very clear water, intense sun can make some bright colors appear too vivid and unnatural, potentially spooking fish.
- Overcast/Cloudy Days:
- Cloud cover diffuses sunlight, reducing overall light penetration and creating a darker underwater environment. In these conditions, solid, opaque colors or those with strong contrast (like Black/Blue) tend to outperform subtle, translucent patterns because they create a more defined silhouette. Darker colors like deep purple can be surprisingly effective on overcast days.
- Low Light (Dawn/Dusk/Night):
- These are prime feeding times for many predator species, as the low light gives them an advantage over their prey. With minimal light available, contrast is the single most important factor. Dark lures like Black, Black/Blue, Junebug, and Dark Purple create the strongest possible silhouette against the fading light of the sky and are the undisputed top choices for these conditions.
Section 3: The Rhythm of the Seasons
The calendar is the ultimate arbiter of fish behavior. Seasonal changes in daylight and, most importantly, water temperature are the primary drivers of a fish’s metabolism, which in turn dictates its location, activity level, and feeding habits. An angler who understands this rhythm can predict not only where fish will be but also how they will want their meal presented.
The Temperature-Metabolism Link
Fish are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, meaning their internal body temperature is regulated by their external environment. This makes water temperature the master variable controlling their biological functions.
- Cold Water (below 50°F):
- A fish’s metabolism slows dramatically. They become lethargic, conserve energy, and feed infrequently. In these conditions, they are far less willing to chase a fast-moving lure. Presentations must be slow, subtle, and placed directly in front of the fish. Smaller baits, representing an easy, low-energy meal, are often more effective.
- Cool Water (50-65°F):
- As the water warms, a fish’s metabolism increases. They become more active, begin migrating toward shallower areas, and feed more aggressively to build energy reserves for the upcoming spawn. This is the prime pre-spawn and spawning period for many species.
- Warm Water (65-80°F):
- Metabolism is at or near its peak. Fish are highly active, aggressive, and willing to chase down prey. This is the window for faster retrieves, larger lure profiles, and more aggressive actions.
- Hot Water (above 80°F):
- Extremely high temperatures can begin to stress fish. The solubility of dissolved oxygen in water decreases as temperature rises, which can make the water less hospitable. In these conditions, fish may become less active during the heat of the day, seeking refuge in deeper, cooler, more oxygenated water or in the shade of thick cover.
Season Shift in Action, Size, and Speed
This direct causal chain is the most critical concept for determining the appropriate lure action, size, and retrieve speed. In winter’s cold, a fish’s slow metabolism dictates a slow, subtle presentation; a fast-moving lure is a waste of its limited energy. Conversely, in the warmth of summer, a fish’s high metabolism means it is capable of and willing to chase down a fast-moving meal. The season doesn’t just tell an angler where to fish; it dictates the fundamental character of the presentation.