Vertical pike-perch fishing: adapt lure color to light conditions

© Likid Fishing

When fishing for pike-perch, it's not always easy to know which lure color to use. There's no absolute truth, but there are certain trends that can help us make the right choice for the conditions.

Brightness

Several criteria affect luminosity, and in the course of a day's fishing, you shouldn't hesitate to change color often, even for a few moments, to explore a shady spot or during cloudy spells. The position of the sun and the weather, cloudy or sunny, are factors that will have a direct influence on the color of the lure and its underwater appearance, i.e. the light it emits. You must therefore be careful to use a lure color that corresponds to the area fished and the time of day, and not rely solely on the color of the water.

Sélection de leurres pour le sandres, par faible luminosité.
Lure selection for pike-perch in low light conditions.

As a general rule, fluorescent or dark lures are intended for tinted waters and natural, light colors for clear waters. This first elimination is very correct, but for example, when fishing in translucent water, along a dock in the shade or in the early morning, I'd rather use a fluorescent or chartreuse lure, something that will reflect the weak intensity of the sun. In this example, it's the luminosity that I take into account, before the color of the water.

Sélection de leurres pour le sandres, par forte luminosité.
Lure selection for zander in bright light.

Which colors to choose?

Here's a suggestion on the colors of lures to use depending on the conditions:

  • Tinted water + low light = chartreuse, black, khaki, brown
  • Tinted water + high brightness = chartreuse, white, orange, black, khaki, brown
  • Clear water + low light = chartreuse, white, natural
  • Clear water + high brightness = white, natural, transparent

Don't take risks

For pike-perch, white and yellow chartreuse remain the safe bet, regardless of water color or time of day, so you can fish with confidence with these colors. These are regular colors that always catch fish, even if other colors may prove superior at certain times.

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