"What is the best color for catching steelhead?"
I used to say stuff like, "It depends." Nowadays, I make up some long-winded story about how "certain" combinations will catch the biggest of all steelhead. And in the toughest of conditions. With the worst gear. But, for now, I will tell the truth. Or will I?
In all my history, trampling the muddy banks of emerald streams, two colors stand starkly in the repertoire of steelie luredom. Cherise, a "hot pink" super bright and enticing color to tip a hook with, and chartreuse, the limish, yellowy, ultra bright green.
These colors are popular because they are bright AND natural. The obvious visible aspect is not lost on the natural pink hues that resemble things like shrimp. The typical pink background of maybe a fish gill, or even the striped side of another fish, is enough to mimic reality.
The same can be said for bright greens. The super-visible chartreuse resembles the whites of a fish belly, the color of small baitfish, and sand shrimp. Steelhead love sand shrimp. And that exact point gets us to our tips.
It really does not matter what color you use. It is exponentially more important to have a lure that looks natural. In optimum conditions, a savvy steelheader can catch fish on most gear. Of course, there are subtle differences that come into play as experience grows. In the beginning it should be obvious that bright pink will be more productive in muddy, clouded up water, than say, a brown lure. As the obvious becomes less apparent, it is important to remain tuned in to conditions.
Lures come in every color there is, and sometimes the selection can overwhelm the novice. To those newcomers, I have one lesson: Learn techniques, not colors. After the ways of steelhead fishing are learned, the techniques like knot-tying and rigging, and the ways of the hydrology, color may not be a question. Sometimes, different conditions will change the color(like muddy water), and the choice of a lure may matter slightly. There are many steelheaders that will say things like, "on a sunny day use a silver spinner and on cloudy days use gold, or copper." I would agree, but I also stand by the moniker that "a good steelheader like myself, can catch steelhead in a rain puddle on the street." What this means is, when a steelheader learns good techniques, and studies the river and its fish, knowing "where" the fish are, is the key.
Techniques like sharpening hooks are crucial. If a fisherman chooses the "perfect" color, and a steelhead picks it up, what happens? The hook gets set, gets buried in the boney jaw, and hang on! But if that fisherman does all that without a sharp hook, it will be game over soon. That fish will get away. They know how to dislodge a hook. I have personally seen a steelie nosedive the river bottom, in an attempt to dislodge a hook.
Black is a color that most steelheaders ignore, and that fact brings us back to discussions of "natural", which is what black is. The natural looking silouette is highly productive in many conditions. In the scheme of things, when a fish sees the black lure, whether it be a jig or a spinner(or otherwise), if the things looks or acts "real", then the fisherman has a chance. I have seen fish take the bobber above my jig, and that was at the water's surface. It looked real, like a fish sucking a fly, or oxygen perhaps. But the fact is, black is a potent silouette of prey. The fish had simply made up its mind to investigate.
Red is of course the color of gills, and that is a huge attractor. White, the color of a fish skin. Green, the color of a smallmouth bass or a juvenile ling cod. It is simply to obvious to pass up. Orange is the natural color of roe(spawn sac eggs), and is of course, very attractive.
My roe is cured with sea salt and brown sugar. Nothing else. The methods that took 20 years
perfecting are for sale. But...not many have that
kind money.
My 6-10 pound 9 footer, a steal. On it is a Daiwa clearance find. Spooled with 8lb. Maxima Ultragreen.
Combinations of colors may resemble a particular fish, or a stonefly, but to target where the fish may be is crucial. I truly believe that the instinct to hit, is far too great too ignore. And that utilizing the fish's ability to survive on pure instinct, can be translated in to catching success. In light of that, my final advice is to use small, subtle lures, as they mimic the river surroundings better, and they act natural in the current's flow.
Thank-you for not littering and remember to respect nature, and all of her critters.
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