Page 9 - VLA Newsletter Fall 2022

RStudies confirm that walleye prefer certain colors
esearch suggests that walleyes prefer certain lure colors depend-
ing on such factors as water
clarity conditions, light condi-
tions (sunny vs. cloudy/low
light) and available forage.
Other factors including but
not limited to water tempera-
ture, method of presentation (trolling, casting, jigging,
flipping), structure, depth and trolling speed also play a role
in the lure selection process; how- ever, there’s not enough space in a one-page article to discuss each and every factor. Those and other factors may be discussed in future articles. This article will focus solely what lure colors walleye prefer during spe- cific water clarity conditions, light conditions and when certain forage is available.
Data suggest that walleye prefer
bright colors like metal, chrome,
natural colors, orange, red, green,
purple and white lures in clear con-
ditions. On bright sunny days, the
most effective colors are going to be
metal, chrome and natural colors. In
low-light conditions such as cloudy days, white, or- ange, red, green and purple work well. As the name walleye suggests, their odd pearlescent eyes make vision their key sensory method for hunting food. They can see colors and can see well in very low light.
When suspended sediment in the water causes tur- bid conditions, walleye prefer yellow or gold lures. When an algae bloom is in full swing, they prefer black lures.
Another factor regarding lure selection is to choose a color that closely resembles a color of what walleye are actively feeding on. Natural looking lures re- sembling perch minnows and shad are typically big winners.
Now what about Lake Vermilion in particular. Lake Vermilion is a large, mostly clear lake that lacks fast-flowing feeder rivers that cause turbidity. Small rivers and creeks bring tannin-stained water without a great deal of suspended sediment into the lake, but by the time it reaches big water areas like Big Bay, Frazer Bay and Wakemup Bay, it has become mostly clear. Additionally, Lake Vermilion doesn’t have a huge problem with human-induced, nitrogen-rich agricultural runoffs that cause huge expansive algae blooms in the summer in, for example, Lake Erie. With climate change and if people aren’t vigilant about protecting the lake from fertilizers, we may see algae blooms being an increased problem going for- ward, but for now, Lake Vermilion generally has clear conditions. As such, a good choice for lure selection for a clear lake like Lake Vermilion on sunny days would be metal, chrome and natural colors. In low- light conditions such as cloudy days, bright colors like white, red, orange, greens and purples are best.
Above are a few photos of some personal favorite lures. Each one has caught many fish in Lake Vermil- ion.
During certain times of year, like jig and minnow time in the fall, I’m convinced that jighead colors don’t matter all that much. Fish are hungry at that time and will eat just about whatever presentation you put in front of them. However, at other times, the right lure color will dramatically increase your success rate.
John Yocum
VLA Board Member
Terry Grosshauser VLA Board Member
www.VermilionLakeAssociation.org 9