LURE SALES STATISTICS:
We don’t know exactly what colors and lures the fish prefer, but here are (1) the leading individual Phase II Lures purchased by fishermen and tackle dealers, (2) the lure colors purchased. Keeping in mind that (a) the highest selling individual lures have been on the market the longest, (b) not all colors are available on all lures, these data are still a pretty good guide, to which you must add your own local knowledge on lure type -darting swimmer, floating popper, jointed needlefish swimmer, topwater needlefish - color preferences in your area, and lure size (from 3" body, 1/2 oz. to 13" body, 3 oz.).. Current 1/30/12.
INDIVIDUAL TOP SELLING LURES
1. Blue/white/red SCOOTER.
2. White/red SCOOTER.
3. Clear JUNIOR.
4. Yellow/red POPPY.
5. Yellow/red SCOOTER.
6. White/red POPPY.\
6. Yello/red JUNIOR
7. White/red JUNIOR.
8. Yellow/red MONGO.
9. . Black/red SCOOTER
LURE SALES STATISTICS
All Lures:
Black/Combos - 14.2%; Blue/Combos - 9.0%; Brown/Combos - 2.4%;
Chartreuse/Combos - 5.6%; Clear - 7.8%; Green/White - Trace; Orange/Combos - 2,3%;
Pink/Combos - 6.6%; Silver/Black - 4.6%; White/Combos - 22.4%;
Yellow-Combos - 25.3%
BigT:
Black/Red – 33%; Chartreuse/Red – 33%; Pink – 11%; White/Red – 23%.
Bucky:
Black/Red – 22%; Brown/Red – 26%; Chartreuse/Red – 17%; White/Red – 17%;
Yellow/Red – 18%.
CedarEel:
Black/Red – 13%; Blue/Red – 13%; Brown/Red – 36%; Orange/Red – 12%;
Pink – 25%; Yellow/Red – 0%.
Dancer:
Black/Red – 15%; Blue/White – 11%; Chartreuse/Red - 27%; Pink – 7%;
Silver-Black – 9%; White/Red – 9%; Yellow/Red – 22%.
Dipper:
Black/Red -0%; Blue/Red – 27%; Chartreuse/Red – 28%; Silver/Black – 0%;
White/Red – 9%; Yellow/Red – 36%.
Junior:
Black, Black/Red – 13%; Brown, Brown/Red – 3%; Chartreuse – 6%;
Clear – 19%; Orange, Orange/Red – 4%; Pink, Pink/Red – 9%;
Silver – 3%; White, White/Red – 22%; Yellow, Yellow/Red – 21%.
Mongo:
Yellow/White/Red – 78%; Blue/White – 17%’ Silver/Black – 4%.
Poppy:
Black, Black/Red - 12%; Brown, Brown/Red - 4%; Chartreuse - 6%; Clear - 9%; Orange/Orange/Red - 4%; Pink, Pink/Red - 9%; Silver/Black - 3%; White/White/Red - 28%; Yellow, Yellow/Red - 25%.
Scooter:
Black/Red, Black/Chartreuse – 20%; Blue/White/Red – 27%; Silver/Black – 5%;
White/Red – 26%; Yellow/Red – 22%.
Skeeter:
Black/Red – 22%; Chartreuse/Red – 26%; Silver/Black -22%.; White/Red – 23%;
Yellow/Red – 21%.
Skipper:
Black/Red – 22%; Blue/White – 11%; Chartreuse/Red – 10%; Silver/Black – 8%;
White/Red – 23%; Yellow/Red – 21%.
Stubby:
Black/Red – 23%; Blue/Green – 23%; Blue/White – 23%; Chartreuse/Red - 0%;
Pink – 8%; Silver/Black - 9%; White/Red - 8%; Yellow/Red - 8%.
Surf Dawg:
Black/Red – 16%; Blue/White – 13%; Pink -14%; Silver/Black 9%;
White/Red – 22%; Yellow/Red – 26%.
Wiggler:
Brown/Red – 33%; White/Red – 17%; Yellow/Red – 50%.
Black/Red, Chartreuse/Red, Pink, 0%.
I don't have a particular favorite lure or color - it's what the fish hit on a given day or at a given time, so I change colors and lures till I catch the bite. As a general rule, the light/bright colors work exceptionally well in clear water or over a sandy bottom, especially on a clear day. The darker colors are usually good in low light or in stirred up water. There are always exceptions - I have caught fish on dark plugs in clear water with sunny skies, and with bright lures in murky water and overcast days Clear lures seem to work equally well in bright or overcast conditions. Matching up to the movement, color or size of the natural bait is always part of the equation. Pick your colors, work the lures, experiment, and good fishing!