Match the Hatch – Color, Size, and Movement

Something our friends in the fly-fishing world focus on a lot is, what are the fish eating? Then they try to match the lure presentation to the food that the fish are actually eating. Simple. Makes sense. I think a lot of time in the world of spin casting and bait casting we forget these concepts.

One example that leaps to mind is when I fish Smallmouth Bass at Hawk Lake Lodge. The water is very clear. Many times you can see the Bass in shallow water. If you pay close attention, you can see the bass eating bait off the bottom of the lake. Now, let me show you the color and presentation that works best for June Smallies there.

Makes sense right? If they are eating leaches and Crayfish, you need a very slow bottom centric presentation to catch more bass. The darker colors baits should be used with the best being craw-colored lures.

Another example is on a fly-in lake out of Red Lake Ontario. The lake is very stained. It has very few or no Whitefish or Ciscos. We know the Walleyes are eating minnows and smaller Perch. What colors would be best? What size baits? What presentation?

Again makes sense right? Go small. Go slow. Go with Perch colors and red belly minnow colors.

The same concepts can apply to Pike in the far North. You want to think about what are they feeding on? What size fish? How active are the fish? Let’s say the answers are Ciscos and Whitefish in the 3-12 in size range. The season is early Spring, so you need a slow presentation. I’d try something like this:

Next time you hit the water try to spend a minute or two before you grab that lure. Think like a fly fisherman and try to match the hatch!

Brett