Match the hatch

[baileyjs]

Hey all, I hear so much about how important it is to match the hatch, but everything I read is from down south.  I'm looking to venture into swimbaits/crankbaits this year but what kind of colors do you look for?  Any suggestions?

[CraigP83]

I think it's incredibly important. Around here the primary forage is Crawfish or sunfish. I've experienced scenarios were I switched colors closer to something the fish were feeding on and it was immediately lights out. So yes, always try to match the hatch if possible.

Edit: as for colors I'm a HUGE fan of browns and blacks.

But here is an example. I was throwing a brown jig on Vermillion and fishing was pretty slow, Swithed to a green pumpkin jig with a touch of baby blue (similar to the rusty crayfish that time of year) and I started catching them much more consistently.

Example

[coldfront]

I think it's incredibly important. Around here the primary forage is Crawfish or sunfish. I've experienced scenarios were I switched colors closer to something the fish were feeding on and it was immediately lights out. So yes, always try to match the hatch if possible.

Edit: as for colors I'm a HUGE fan of browns and blacks.

But here is an example. I was throwing a brown jig on Vermillion and fishing was pretty slow, Swithed to a green pumpkin jig with a touch of baby blue (similar to the rusty crayfish that time of year) and I started catching them much more consistently.

Example

[baileyjs]

thanks Craig! Love the picture examples too!  Those are the colors I typically stick with for jigs and plastics as well.  Is it the same for swim/crankbaits?

Again, thanks for the newbie education!

[CraigP83]

I don't throw a swimbait nearly as much as I should but for smaller ones like a Skinny Dipper I don't think it matters that much since for the most part you're bringing it back at a pretty steady clip. Maybe earldogg can chime in on color selection for those types.

For the bigger swimbaits I would try to find something similar to a main forage source so 90% of the time that's going to be a perch or bluegill pattern. Hopefully RumRiverRat jumps in, he throws them often.

Crankbaits, like smaller swimbaits I don't think it matters much unless the water is really clear. Generally I'm going for a reaction bite when throwing a crankbait. I throw a perch pattern ALOT. on the River I'll go chartruese (because they can see it) or white (looks like a shad or white bass)

[earldogg]

As far as soft plastic swimbaits, Reaction innovations skinny dippers are the bomb.

[bigjim5589]

Baileyjs, I've been a fly fisher for almost 50 years, and matching the hatch is often talked about with flies matching the various insects that fish feed on, particularly for targeting trout. Yet, at times flies that have no resemblance to anything the fish eat will get eaten. Bass can sometimes be just as picky about what they're eating, but fortunately not as often and they too will eat some very strange lures.

Now, I'm not a big trout angler, but the same approach can apply to bass & most any other fish we chase as far as matching what they eat. I don't totally agree with CraigP83 about color being really important, at least not all the time as far as matching the local forage. Color can certainly be one factor to consider. Matching the general profile, size & action can be just as important, and often more so than color. I've found that sometimes too as he's stated that a slight color change can make a difference between getting bit or not, so won't discount color either as long as other factors fit the "hatch".

The pics he's posted are a great example, of matching not only color, but size & general profile too.

Here's a hair jig I recently tied with the idea it would imitate crayfish. Notice the similarities to the colors of the crayfish & the jig Craig posted? (Notice the baby blue?)


Both jigs will have different actions to them because of the materials used in their construction, but both may be productive as they'll exhibit movement that may match that of the Crayfish. Both have some similar colors in them. On any give day, both may be a good choice to try, or one may be better than the other. It's up to us to figure out which to try to determine which may be best on that day. Frankly, IMO neither really look like a crayfish to me, and may not to the bass, but as long as they'll eat them, that's the important part.

As far as your question about colors to look for, try different things & see what's working best for you. Personally, I like black, green pumpkin & rusty browns for imitating crayfish, but other colors may be just as productive, and not look anything like a crayfish. Black & blue, or Peanut Butter & Jelly (brown & purple) colors are popular too, and don't necessarily look like crayfish.

Sometimes, a high light color such as chartreuse, or a bright blue in the case of jigs added to any of these basic colors mentioned can be productive, just keep in mind that size, profile & action should also always be considered together and that applies to most any type of lure we choose. 

Here's a "baitfish" jig I tied too. 

[coldfront]

As far as your question about colors to look for, try different things & see what's working best for you. Personally, I like black, green pumpkin & rusty browns for imitating crayfish, but other colors may be just as productive, and not look anything like a crayfish. Black & blue, or Peanut Butter & Jelly (brown & purple) colors are popular too, and don't necessarily look like crayfish.

jim,
I often wonder, as I try to imitate crayfish with my jig/chunk, just how often the bass may be thinking 'BLUEGILL!!!' when it hits it. 

and then I move on to the next cast...


since moving to the TN river system, I find myself more confused than ever.. as the fish here really key on shad 'a lot'.  so the natural 'intersection' of bluegill/crayfish feeders is a much smaller subset of the population. 

it's taking me an uncomfortable amount of time to adapt.   

[bigjim5589]

Coldfront, the only perspective we have is what we see or think a lure looks like. We can't ever be sure what the bass see them as, but as long as they're going to eat it, that's all that matters.

I would bet in any waters there's a certain number of fish at any given time that will be keying on different forage than what most may be targeting.

IMO, we can only do our best to be prepared for as many variables as possible & as you say, just move on to the next cast. 

[coldfront]

IMO, we can only do our best to be prepared for as many variables as possible & as you say, just move on to the next cast. 

personally, it's the engagement of mind and constant thinking that give me the greatest amount of 'fun' when fishing.  Sure I need success too...but the challenge of working to think I'm smarter than a few little green  fish on every 6th day is where it's at.

[bigjim5589]

personally, it's the engagement of mind and constant thinking that give me the greatest amount of 'fun' when fishing.  Sure I need success too...but the challenge of working to think I'm smarter than a few little green  fish on every 6th day is where it's at.

I'm much like you in that regard. I enjoy the thinking part almost as much as the fishing. To me now, it's just a game, but one I enjoy win or lose. May be the result of getting older for both of us too! 


We spend our fishing lives trying to learn how to fool those fish & still can never do it all the time.   

[analfisherman]

I'm with the thinking crowd.
It is FLAT OUT what makes fishing so addicting for so many years and in fact...I THINK over every outing on my way home, analyzing what I did right and wrong.
What produced and try and figure out WHY it did.

I also grew up Fly fishing for trout in streams.

Match the hatch mainly was do to bugs not bait fish.
Trout are usually in very shallow clear streams where I learned.
We actually had to crawl up to the banks because they were so easily startled.
They often ate what wasn't hatching/dropping but if a major hatch came they would 'key in' on those similar colored flies.
When fishing trout in Colorado we used Magnum PowerBait.
Small floating balls of every color imaginable.
Why the Magnums worked...In Colorado I was told the Trout feed mostly on eggs.
More so when available than flies.
And seeing they don't have calendars....if they saw something egg shaped they fed on it....any time of year.

Next I took up extreme Crappie fishing.
We NEVER used live bait but rather small jigs with plastics.
Color made a HUGE difference here but not based on ANY FORAGE.
You could actually get a huge amount on one color and then all of a sudden bite would completely die.
We then changed color on same outing and bite was back on.

So does matching the hatch work or is it important....really don't know?
Can it make a difference, definitly at times.

So my final verdict on matching the hatch is..........if you can match something that the fish are already feeding on IT CERTAINLY CAN'T HURT THE BITE!! 

But  I think action first (presentation or action of bait) , color second.

And last but not least...confidence facter.
If you know they are hitting red crawfish an angler can't help but feel more CONFIDENT in a red color.
Hence when bite is slow he varies his presentation and experiments with different retrieves till he finds one that produces.
No confidence...you simply change bait....and bait may not even be the challenge?

OK,OK...........I'm in the OVER THINKING CROWD!