Fall Pike Record

            As an angler, some days are better than others. Some days you can make the fish bite and some days you can't. The same goes for being a guide. Some days I arrive at a fishing spot to get ready for my clients and I just have a feeling that it's going to be a good day. Other days I feel like I'm about to embark on a disaster due to weather or difficult clients. My most recent pike charter was one for the scrap book, and the record book.

The trip began like most. The wind was calm, but the water was about 8' low. Low water makes pike fishing tough for me, because this time of year the fish are shallow. We are often sight fishing for them on just a few feet of water. Water that is 8' low leaves the usual spots high and dry.

My fall trips are trophy trips. We aren't looking for numbers of fish, but the big females that are feeding to prepare for winter. As we made our way across the water I gave Jay and Diego my usual pep talk about fishing for one fish at a time and not giving up if they experience hours of casting with no fish.

Spot number one was an area that has produced a fish every trip, but that wouldn't be the case this time. I decided to fish our way down the same shore line to a prominent point before heading to another area. One cast turned into ten, and then into 50, and still no action, which isn't uncommon. As we rounded the point Diego, who was in the front of the boat, decided to switch side. Jay continued fishing the inside. I no sooner finished thinking that I wanted him to cast in a spot than his lure landed in that exact spot, but nothing.

Jay made another cast and a few seconds later I saw his rod bounce. "That was a bite," I said. Then I watched as Jay's rod slowly began to bend. "Set the hook," I said. "You've got a fish on." Jay set the hook and we watched in amazement as a giant pike gracefully rose to the surface and swam straight at the boat. Jay steered the massive fish out from under the boat, around in a circle, and into my landing net. 

The massive pike was the largest ever caught by me or any of my clients. The fish measured 43" long and qualified for the NH Trophy Fish Catch and Release program. Weight estimations based on length and girth put the massive fish around 22 pounds. After many high fives and a handful of photos we watched as the big female swam away as if nothing had happened. It was a day I will never forget, and neither will Jay or Diego.

 

The release.

For Review: Old Town Predator PDL

Since its release, the Predator line of kayaks from Old Town Canoes & Kayaks has acquired one award after another. The follow up to the original Predator MX was the Predator 13. Then, in 2014 Old Town won Best Boat and Best of Show at ICAST with the release of the Predator XL Minn Kota. You can read my review of that boat here. This year Old Town outdid themselves once again with the release of the latest in the Predator lineup, the Predator PDL. This kayak went on to win best new boat out of about 15 pedal driven boats released this year at ICAST.

The Predator PDL is a pedal driven kayak on the same great Predator platform, with a few minor improvements that I'll discuss later. The drive on the PDL is a circular bicycle-style pedal drive to a two-blade prop that allows you to go in reverse without the use of a switch or pull chain, you simply pedal backwards. The 10:1 gear ratio spins the propeller so fast that you cant see it move at high speed and pushes the kayak at speeds up to almost 6 MPH.

The PDL pedal drive is sealed and ready for saltwater use.

The PDL drive has a spring assisted stow and deploy feature that is a slam dunk. It makes stowing and deploying the drive easier than it needs to be, which is great when landing after a long day of fishing or when you unexpectedly encounter shallow water and rocks. The drive is by no means heavy, but having the spring assist makes the process of stowing or deploying the drive much smoother. The drive lowers into an enlarged scupper hole (like the Minn Kota console on the XL) and stows on a small shelf to keep it securely out of the way. There is also sealed storage in the drive and I'm told when sealed, the air trapped inside the drive storage will float the entire drive, but I haven't tried it...yet. The drive is held in place with to clips, the same clips used to hold the Minn Kota drive in the XL, and can be removed in seconds.

The XL and PDL could not be made compatible due to the need to adjust the seat forward and backwards on the PDL, the additional build-up to accept the PDL drive, and the fact that you steer the XL with your feet, which isn't possible if you are pedaling. I'm sure Old Town could have made it work, but it was a choice between an okay addition to the XL, or an amazing stand-alone addition to the line of Predators. To me it was a no-brainer.

PDL rudder steering control knob

The PDL is steered with a rudder, but a much upgraded rudder system than before. The rudder is stowed and deployed using a lever that can literally be used with one finger. Steering is by way of a knob on the left side of the kayak that you turn left to go left and right to go right. It too can be operated with one finger.

New storage pocket location. Easier to get to.

Some improvements to the entire Predator line include additional padding sewn into the now removable seat, making it even more comfortable and allowing you to take it out during transporting and storage. Two flush-mount rod holders behind the seat mean you need to mount fewer rod holderes on the kayak, which leaves room for other accessories such as flags, lights, or camera mounts. There is also a change to the mounting plates. The four forward mounting plates now consist of two plates, one on each side. The  forward mounting plates are longer and the rubber storage pockets that used to be along side the seat now sit beneath the forward mounting plates. I love this feature, because now I can see what is in the pockets and get to those items easier. The storage pockets are also large enough to hold small Plano-style boxes.

Predator PDL rudder deploy lever with one-finger operation.

I attended On the Water Magazine's Striperfest this summer and two gentlemen were inspecting the PDL with the hairiest of eyes. One had the other turn the pedals by hand and when he looked beneath the kayak (which was on a stand) to watch the prop spin and said, "it's not moving at all." Once his friend stopped turning the pedals I said, "look again" and to his surprise, he realized that the prop had been spinning too fast for him to see it. It isn't just fast though, the drive is surprisingly smooth. Everyone that I know who has tried the PDL has commented on the smoothness of the pedal drive. I can leisurely pedal while chatting or tying new fishing gear at around 3 MPH.

The PDL was a hit at On the Water's Striperfest

One of my first days on the water with the PDL was spent with a friend who has a Hobie Pro Angler 14. As I made my way across the tidal estuary where we were striper fishing, I noticed he wasn't with me. I turned only to see his jaw dropped. He was amazed at the smoothness, acceleration, speed, and my ability to stop on a dime by simply pedaling backwards. He wasn't the only one, every time I get in it all I can do is smile. I can get the PDL up to speed in seconds and when I wish to stop, a couple of reverse rotations of the pedals is all it takes to bring the PDL to a screeching halt. All of my Predator kayaks have their place and time, but the PDL seems to be getting more use than the rest. The PDL is fast, hands free, comfortable, and stable. There are still places I can only fish with my Predator XL, but the more I use the PDL the more I prefer it over the others. I can get it on the water faster and get fishing sooner.

For Review: Basecamp LED Sensor Headlamp

I fish for striped bass in my kayak at night a lot. One of the many challenges is seeing what I am doing and what is happening when I have a fish on, especially a big fish. While headlamps are great, they still present a challenge getting them turned on during the sometimes pandemonium that ensues once I set the hook on a giant striped bass.

While browsing the Mr. Heat/Basecamp website I stumbled upon the LED Sensor Headlamp. The name alone caught my attention because it implies that the light is hands-free, but the low price made me question the quality of the item. Not that I think Mr. Heater makes low quality products, but I need a product that is bright, will last me all night (at least) during regular use, and most importantly, will hold up to regular use and abuse while saltwater fishing during damp nights. I figured $13.99 was a small investment for the possibility of a hands-free headlamp that didn't cost a gazillion bucks.

At 94 lumens, the LED Sensor Headlamp isn't the brightest headlamp on the market, but I don't need a spotlight. I need a light that will allow me to see my entire kayak, find tackle, tie hooks and lures, and get fish unhooked quickly so as to take photos and get them released.

The headlamp has an IR (Sensormatic) sensor. Move your hand within a few inches of the sensor and the lamp turns on and off. I was worried that moving around during fishing would activate the light, but that's not the case. Your hand needs to pass in front of the red LED within a few inches to activate and deactivate the headlamp. You can also manually turn the light on or off, and it has a red warning light. One great feature is the SOS function, which hopefully will never bee needed, but certainly can't hurt for someone who uses it on the water as much as I do.

The LED Sensor Headlamp has quickly become my favorite. It's plenty bright for me to use in my kayak or boat at night, isn't bulky or heavy, and turns on and off easily, and has yet to turn on accidentally. At $13.99 I consider this headlamp to be undervalued so, I'll take two!

Kayak University 2016 Recap

For several years I have had a vision that was formed after attending Ice Team University in Minnesota. Ice Team University is a weekend-long event for ice anglers. The attendees pay one price, and in return they get their meals, lodging, and the opportunity to fish with Ice Team pros from across the ice belt. Every year when I return home from Ice Team University I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a cool event, but saddened by the fact that there is no such event in New England. The attendees of Ice Team University and the Ice Team pros arrive largely as strangers, and depart as friends. I observe relationships form, form many relationships myself, and old relationships strengthen. It's really cool to see. Everyone learns and takes something away from the event, including the pros.

Last year I decided to plan a similar event for kayak anglers in New England. I wanted an event that was for all skill levels, beginners and experienced. I also wanted an event that was not kayak manufacturer specific, because I wanted all kayak anglers to feel welcome without any competitive (although there was a fair amount of ribbing) nature. Through filming for Ice Team's Across the Ice Belt I formed a wonderful working relationship with Cottage Place on Squam Lake in Holderness, NH. I was barely finished telling Sue (the owner) what I was thinking before she began throwing in ideas of her own. It was clear at that moment that Kayak University would happen, and where.

I began reaching out for sponsorship and the response was amazing. The companies I am affiliated with were quick to ship items to be given to attendees. I also assembled an all-star cast of kayak fishing pros, and industry professionals. The line-up included Eric Harrison of Hobie pro staff, Wilderness Systems pro Mike Baker, Mark Beauchesne of Fish NH Guide Service, Daddy Mac Lures co-owner Dennis MacDonald, Nick Howard of Kittery Trading Post, Ryan Bibeau of On the Water Magazine, and my right hand man and close friend Chuck Fritz.


Kayak University 2016 was held on the weekend of June 3-5. It fell on New Hampshire's free fishing day, which was no accident. Special guests were invited to put on seminars, fish, and exchange knowledge with the participants, and each other. Off the water group activities were held in the Lodge, which is also where all of the special guests stayed.

Check-in began at 3pm on Friday. I arrived around noon to begin setting up and I was greeted by one of the attendees Larry W. To say that Larry was excited would be an understatement. The rest of the participants and guests arrived and we began with a welcome message from Cottage Place owner Sue Smith followed by dinner (venison american chop suey) and a great seminar by Mark Beauchesne about Squam Lake history, and information about the area we were to fish. Then we had another talk about basic kayak fishing safety by Mike Baker. Before the night was over we did numerous giveaways before a little social time and chat about the next day's fishing.

 Saturday began at 6am with a quick breakfast. We then departed as a group to a private location where we were fortunate to have been granted access to one of the most beautiful areas of Squam Lake by friend of Cottage Place Peter W. Words cannot describe how beautiful this lake is. On Friday evening I tried to explain it to the group, but their jaws still dropped when they approached the lake and saw the incredible scenery. After working as a group to get everyone unloaded and vehicles parked, we launched and eventually split up into two main groups, with a couple of people doing a little exploratory fishing within sight of the main groups. It didn't take long for everyone to begin finding fish, a lot of fish. Throughout the day the two groups mingled, met for lunch, and caught tons of smallmouth bass. As if the amazing fishing wasn't enough, the scenery on Squam Lake is absolutely breathtaking. The entire group met back at the launch site after a very long ten hour day of fishing that only felt like only five hours. Everyone was exhausted, but charged from such a fun day. Their was so much energy it felt like we were just starting out.

We made it back to Cottage Place where people showered, straightened out gear, and I got started on the fish fry. We were to have fresh-caught fried flounder and haddock with french fries. Mary (Cottage Place manager) and her husband Tony were invited for dinner and when they arrived they had quite the surprise with them, a casserole dish filled with fiddleheads for everyone to sample. We gorged on fish while some folks sat around the fire outside, and others relaxed inside. I cooked fish continuously for over an hour until it was all gone. Then were were treated to a seminar by Eric Harrison about his journey to becoming a kayak angler. It was a cool story that not only provided a ton of fishing information, but left everyone feeling like they knew Eric better as a person. As the evening progressed I sat observing our group of angler. This group of mostly strangers was interacting as if they had known each other for years. I couldn't have been happier.

On Sunday the plan was to have breakfast and then anyone who wanted to fish could launch across the street into Little Squam at their leisure. There was heavy rain in the forecast, but it was calm and cloudy to start. All except a couple of participants chose to fish. We launched one-by-one and in pairs, working together to make sure everyone was able to get their kayaks to the water, and proceeded to catch more fish. Our group caught smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and lake trout. I invited Cottage Place manager Mary's husband Tony to fish with us since I had an extra kayak. He hadn't fished in a kayak before. Eventually the rain came, but not too heavy. Everyone caught fish and the entire group was off the water before noon. Upon my arrival back at the beach I met Tony who had return just before me. "That was the best day of fishing in my life," he said with a huge smile. That...is what Kayak University is all about.

View more photos from the 2016 event by clicking here.

Next year's Kayak University is scheduled for Jun 2-4, 2017. That Saturday is again free fishing day in New Hampshire. There is no fishing license required to fish that day. We already have a ton of interest. We have arranged with Cottage Place so that you can register and reserve your space, and not pay until after the first week in January 2017. Give them a call at 603-968-7116 or contact them through their website at www.CottagePlaceOnSquam.com.

For complete details about the event visit www.KayakUniversity.info.

Thank you to the special guests and participants, 

and to Sue and Mary at Cottage Place on Squam Lake.

A special thank you goes out to our sponsors who generously donated products that were given away to lucky participants.

Tim Moore Outdoors

Bigtooth Tackle Co.

Sonarphone

Daddy Mac Lures

Kittery Trading Post

Suds N' Soda Sports

Bass Pro Shops - Hooksett, NH

Today's Tackle

Kayak Fish New England

Filletmaker

Never Too Old (or Good) to Learn

It's funny, last week I was asked at a seminar if I had ever fallen out of my kayak into the water. No, was my answer. I'm pretty careful on the water. I don't normally take risks, and I always have adequate safety gear with me. The Predator kayaks I paddle are so stable, I couldn't imagine tipping one over. Well, I've never met anyone who was exempt from complacency...including myself.

Yesterday was an incredible morning of flounder fishing with my good friend Mike Baker and fellow Tim Moore Outdoors guide (and close friend) Chuck. We absolutely crushed the winter flounder from our kayaks. I had a limit of nice fat flounder in my catch bag (over 20 pounds worth) by late morning and was ready to call it quits. I lifted my catch bag out of the water and turned around to swing it into the very back of my Predator. As I went to swing it, the extra weight, coupled with my leaning out farther than normal, caused my kayak to tip. By the time I realized I was going over it was too late to do anything about it and I was in the water. I distinctly remember thinking, I can't believe I'm tipping my kayak over right now, as I saw the water surface racing toward my face.

I no sooner popped up and grabbed hold of my overturned kayak, than I realized that all but two items of gear had gone to the bottom. As shock, embarrassment, and fear began to subside I felt myself wanting to cry. There was over $1000 of gear sitting at the bottom and at that moment I considered it all lost. The worst part? It was an act of my own stupidity that caused it.

Mike had already left, but Chuck was still on the water with me and witnessed the whole thing. He was almost as shocked as I was and paddled over to see how he could help. He collected the couple of floating items while I got myself up on top of my overturned kayak.

Normally I would have flipped it right there, but I was only about a hundred feet from shore, so I caught my breath and paddled to shallow water to flip my boat. While catching my breath we realized that it was low tide and we could see a lot of my gear sitting on the bottom. We spent the next two hours dragging jigs on the bottom and were able to retrieve all except three items, my GoPro, net, and a rod holder.

This incident was a wake up call. Replaying it in my mind I realize that it was complacency that did me in. I leaned over the side as if I could do so with impunity. It was ridiculous to think I could lean that far over without tipping and I have learned several lessons as a result. All kayaks, regardless of their design, have their limits. While it is good to know first-hand what the limits of the kayak you're paddling are, this was a costly lesson. I will also secure gear better than before. I'm out a GoPro, expensive fishing net, rod holder, and my iPhone case leaked. My phone currently sits in a bag of rice, and I sit with hurt pride hoping my phone can be salvaged. In the end, I will be more conscious as a result of this experience, which will make me a better angler and guide. No matter how long you have been doing something, or how good you think you are, you're not exempt.

In case you are wondering, yes I was wearing my pfd...I always do.

5 Turkey Hunting Lessons I've Learned

 

I've turkey hunted in New England for more than 25 years. I'm by no means the best turkey hunter out there, but I have made enough mistakes to know what not to do. My guide service is one of the most popular services in New Hampshire for turkeys. While I may not be the best there is, I have learned many valuable lessons that I have been able to test time and time again. Some are better than others, and a few are worth their weight in gold...at least to me. Here are five of my most important "Cardinal Rules."

1) Less is More

I'm a minimalist when it comes to calling turkeys. So much so that it drives most of my friends and clients crazy, until they see how well it works. Turkeys have good hearing. They rely on their hearing to help detect predators and find lonely hens off in the distance. Many hunters want to call a lot and way too often, especially when a tom is fired up and responding by gobbling.They think that if a turkey gobbles every time they yelp, they should keep yelping. Trust me, if there is a tom in the area, he hears you. If you call, and he gobbles, you got him. A few soft yelps every 20-30 minutes is all you need to let him know you are still there, and still interested.

2) Hold That Pose

My wife loves yoga. I've been with her a few times. One thing they tell you in a yoga class is that when you feel like you can't hold a pose any longer, hold it for ten more seconds. Turkey hunting is similar. I can't tell you how many turkeys I have shot that other hunters called in for me. By that I mean, they had been in an area calling, got impatient, and left. I come in, set up, and finish what they started. My clients are often dismayed when I tell them that we may sit in the same area until noon. If I know there are birds in the area, even henned up toms, I will sit for a long time. When I feel like leaving, I sit for a while longer, usually in 30 minute increments. When the birds are done feeding they begin to move around, and they are curious. If you been calling, and not too much, many of the birds will come to check you out. If you're patient, and another hunter doesn't do you in, you will often be rewarded. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but works more often than not.

 3) Sometimes Silence is Okay

Every turkey hunter loves the call-and-response of a fired up gobbler. There's nothing like making a few yelps and getting a thundering gobble in return. Some hunters like it so much that they won't even enter the woods (not my preferred way to hunt) unless they hear a bird gobble. While I like it too, if I've done my scouting and I know there are birds in an area, I will sometimes sit there all day...gobble or no gobble. In areas with high hunting pressure, the turkeys seem to be adapting to a lifestyle of less gobbling. It seems like most gobblers shut up as soon as they hit the ground, except for a few random gobbles throughout the day. Knowing this I sit for hours, making only a few yelps every 20-30 minutes. I can't tell you how many times I have looked only to see a strutting tom that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. In fact, most of my birds have come that way.


4) Let 'Em Come

Another one of my cardinal rules is to stop calling when an approaching tom is within sight. Once a gobbler has decided to come, you don't need to keep reminding him where you are, he knows. They will often veer slightly, making you want to turn him back toward your direction, but don't do it! If a gobbler is able to pinpoint your exact location, he knows exactly when to hang up and let "the hen" close the distance. If he doesn't know exactly where you are, don't tell him.

5) They're Closer Than They Sound

There are many variables that can change the volume of a turkey's gobble. The direction he is facing, tree density, hills and hollows, and even wind can alter the volume, and thus your ability to judge how far away the gobbler is. One thing I've learned is that they are ALWAYS closer than they sound. I have found that if a gobbler sounds 50 yards away, he's more like 35 yards away. If you think you can close the distance by 10 yards, and almost be within shooting range, then you probably can't. The only time I try to close the distance on a gobbling bird is when it is moving away from me.

Interested in a guided New Hampshire turkey hunt? 
Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com/turkeyhunts.html

A Better Morning in the Turkey Woods

Some days, the experiences in the turkey woods far exceed any successful harvest. Today was one of those days. I set up in the dark in an area I had seen a few mature birds the day before. I heard a few gobbles around 6:30am, but when they hadn't appeared by 8am I decided to try another spot. 

I drove by a few fields to see if there were any visible birds (my least favorite turkeys to hunt) and also to see how many hunters were around. There wasn't much happening so, I switched to Plan B, I always have a Plan B. I know a few wooded areas that have regularly held birds for years. These areas get hunted hard, but most people give up on them way too early in the morning. It was 10am, I had two hours of hunting time left, more than enough to seal the deal. So, I decided that this was where I would finish out the day.

My clients are often dismayed by my desire to sit in the same area for hours on end, even when we aren't hearing any gobbles. I believe that confidence is as important when hunting as it is when fishing. When I'm in an area that I know holds birds, I am confident and can sit longer. The turkeys in southern New Hampshire get a ton of hunting pressure. As a result of all the pressure the turkeys are becoming conditioned to gobbling less. This leads to many hunters giving up and searching for a bird that will gobble. Don't get me wrong, I like to hunt a fired up tom as much as the next hunter. I also love the satisfaction of being patient, sitting tight, calling only a little, and scoring big with a mature bird that comes in completely silent.

My custom calls from Finger Lakes Custom Calls

I was set up inside the woods where I could just barely see two fields separated by a road. I started out with a few series of loud long-distance yelps, before settling in for a two hour sit that would consist of just a few "here I am" yelps every 20 minutes or so. An hour into my sit I noticed a tom appear on the far side of the far field. He was coming straight to me. When he got to within 100 yards I broke one of my own cardinal rules and made a few yelps. I should have kept quiet, he knew where I was. Instead I allowed him to pinpoint my location, and decide how far away from me he would stay. He made his way into the woods and began gobbling his head off. About 20 minutes in I hear two more gobblers, some wing beats, and a real donnybrook. Then, the first bird appeared behind a brush pile at 40 yards. After a few minutes the big bird spotted me and made his retreat, alarm putting and taking the others with him. Moments later three young jakes and three hens walked right by me as if to signify the 12 o'clock hour had arrived. I didn't seal the deal, but I couldn't have asked for a better morning in the turkey woods.

NEW NH Lead Ban Effective June 1

New Hampshire's newest lead law goes into effect on June 1, 2016. This new lead ban makes all weights and jigs (weighted hooks) one ounce or less illegal for sale or use in New Hampshire freshwater. Any hook with lead on it weighing one ounce or less will be illegal. The new law does not affect lead core line, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, spoons, poppers, plugs or flies. Click here to read it for yourself. Remember, this ban only prohibits the sale and freshwater use.

Hopefully we will begin to see a better selection, availability, and pricing of non-lead options that are better than tin as more states ban the use of lead jigs and weights.

Sonarphone T-POD vs. T-BOX

The Sonarphone might still be considered by some anglers to be the new kid on the block, but to those of us who have been using it since it was introduced, it has found its place among the tools considered to be necessary.

For those who still have questions, those questions seem to almost always be the same. Here is a video answering some of the most common ones I have been asked.

Choosing Lure Color

             I always tell people that lure color should be one of the last things you change when fish aren’t biting. Change size, shape, even presentation, before you change color. Since they are near-sighted, vision is close to the bottom of the list of senses that fish use when feeding. Moreover, the wavelength of certain colors and the available light plays a large part in which colors fish see best. A little understanding of the senses fish use goes a long way.

              The biggest factors in lure selection should be shape (or profile) of your lure and the type of bait, if any, that you put on it. Fish use their lateral line system, which is made up of hair-like mechanoreceptors called neuromasts that detect changes in water pressure created by vibrations or displacement. Their lateral line system is so sensitive that fish can even determine which direction the vibration is coming from by which direction their lateral line hairs move. Fish can key in on an object’s movements from much greater distances than their vision can often detect. There are several good lures on the market, such as the Rattlin' Blade Spoon from Clam Pro Tackle and the Salmo Chubby Darter, that displace water and can be used to “call” fish from a distance. Lures like the Chubby Darter will also show up well on a Vexilar because of their larger surface area.

Fish also have a very sensitive olfactory system, which they use to detect odors in the water. Olfactory detection of food is limited by currents’ directions: if a fish is up-current from its prey then the odors will be pulled away from the predator; however, if the current is in the fish’s favor, then it can detect odors from much greater distances than its lateral line system can detect vibrations. Soft plastics can create vibration, but some are also scented. Maki Plastics are not only hand-poured, but are also impregnated with a worm particle and fish protein in an anise oil called Maki Juice. Sometimes the combination of vibration and scent will pull fish in close enough to see your lure. Only after a fish has zeroed in on its meal using its lateral line or olfactory system will it rely on its vision. So, unless there are fish directly under or around you, you don’t need to worry much about what color lure you are using.

            When there are fish within sight of your lure, then color becomes important. You want a color that will stand out to your target species. This is where water quality comes into play. When there is a high algae content (which is less common in winter) water appears green, high tannin content from leaves will leave water reddish brown, and a high silt content will leave water almost red. Choose a lure that will be visible to fish, not to you.

The old adage is to match your lure color to the light conditions. Use bright colors on bright days, neutral colors on cloudy days, and dark colors at night. Red is the first color to disappear since it has the shortest wavelength, followed by orange, yellow, green, and blue. The deeper your lure sinks, the more these colors (in that order) will disappear or turn black. As light fades, these colors will disappear or appear black to fish. Gold and silver are only good on bright days because they reflect the available light. If the available light is grey or black, that is what the lure will reflect. The goal is to make your lure stick out to the fish, not the fisherman. 

If you look in or around any of my fishing gear you will almost always see more than one Clam Jig Box. Because they hold so many small panfish jigs, I can carry several jigs in many different colors. I typically have red, orange, green, blue, white, and gold lures in every jig box; I usually start out with something green or white, depending on where I am fishing. Where I'm fishing, and what I'm fishing for always dictates which lure I choose, and in what color. Knowing the natural forage of your target species can also give you a leg up. 

The available light and type of prey your quarry is chasing will determine which color lure you should ultimately use, but a good starting point is to match the available light – bright colors on bright days, etc. – but before you change color, change your presentation. Sometimes the slightest difference in the way you present your jig will have far more impact than anything else.

Tim Moore is owner/operator of Tim Moore Outdoors Guide Service and Promotions. Learn more by visiting www.TimMooreOutdoors.com.