Inside Angles: When Not to Match the Hatch

Among the most parroted advice in fishing is that we need to “match the hatch,” or make lure choices that resemble the forage our target fish are eating. I don’t deny that this is worthy of consideration. But we should also consider that abundant forage fish may not actually be preferred—and, therefore, matching the hatch may not always be the best approach.

Many studies have clarified how fish make food choices. Pike in one study were given a choice of yellow perch, dace, sticklebacks, and fathead minnows. The pike ate the minnows first, then switched to sticklebacks and dace. Perch were least often targeted.

Yet perch are the predominant prey in many North American waters. Apparently, pike and other predators can create their own prey environment, selectively eating prey species they prefer until harder-to-catch species dominate baitfish populations. Eventually, a somewhat balanced predator-prey environment develops where harder-to-catch prey are most abundant. Just because they’re most abundant doesn’t mean they’re preferred.

But the point can be made that at least some predators in such environments will always be looking for perch given that they’re the dominant remaining forage. Or gobies in many parts of the Great Lakes. So matching the hatch still makes sense. Agreed. But the point also is that offering fish something that looks much different could be just as effective.

Lure color is a predominant part of matching the hatch. Before color becomes important, however, we must be on fish. At that point, lure (or bait) depth control and speed control are more important than color. Lure vibration often plays a role, too. And then color becomes a concern. No doubt about it, though. Color choice can sometimes be the difference between five fish and one fish on a difficult day; the difference between adding a kicker fish to an average bag on an otherwise average day.

So here again it helps to know what fish are feeding on, because particular baitfish project prominent general color patterns. Shad are silvery with a modestly darker back. Beyond such a general pattern it may also help to consider the subtle holographic hues that may play a role. Subtle greens, blues, purples, and golds often play forth in the right light.

 “Matching the hatch” may not always be critical, but knowing what “the hatch” is usually plays a role in our final working solution. Sometimes it works to match most of the hatch, then to add a touch of distinguishing color like a chartreuse, a red, or an orange to modestly (and at other times significantly) heighten the overall contrast and visibility of the package. Such a touch of color may also play on a fish’s curiosity, just enough to get them to sample a lure—a tentative bite. This can work as well with crankbaits as it does with hair jigs, swimbaits, and jigs with soft trailers.

We can also factor in the colors each fish species sees well. Some science suggests, for example, that bass have visual peaks in the red-orange and green portions of the spectrum. They can also see well orange-yellow and green-yellow. On each side of those peaks, color discrimination drops off. They probably can’t distinguish blues, which they see as something dark. Overall, though, bass apparently can be somewhat discriminating in red-orange and green portions of the spectrum.

Walleyes, meanwhile, also have color vision that peaks in the orange-red and green portions of the spectrum, although the green peak isn’t as sensitive as is red-orange. Like bass, they see colors on both sides of each peak, but sensitivity declines. Overall, they see orange and red well, followed by green and yellow. They’re least sensitive to blue and violet, so much so that in most situations they probably can’t distinguish them. That includes purple.

Consider, too, input on another visual factor that attracts and triggers fish, from Dr. Keith Jones in his book Knowing Bass—The Scientific Approach to Catching More Bass. For bass and other species, part of their instinctive response is tied to “flash patterns.” Bass from early on learn to see flash as a predatory cue. Flashy baits—like spinning blades or wobbling spoons—play on the fish’s predatory instincts.

Adding flash (and flicker) enhances lure detectability. Some flash patterns simulate baitfish. But, Jones says, others that don’t necessarily match the hatch, so to speak, can actually be better at attracting attention. Flash isn’t just a manifestation of spinning lures. It’s also a factor with flickering crankbaits and swimbaits.

Flash patterns have their main appeal in water with strong directional light, such as in the upper water column in clear waters in strong daylight. Flash steadily decreases with increasing depth where sunlight is randomly scattered. Many anglers never consider these factors when they’re trying to match the hatch.

We could also discuss environmental background colors and water clarity and color, all of which determine what colors are absorbed and affects what fish see well. But the point has been made. Matching the hatch remains a fundamental consideration in the lure choice process. But a perfectly realistic match of what fish might be eating isn’t necessarily always the best approach. As always, fishing is an on-going experiment in action. Many of the choices we make are intuitive. But counter­intuitive can also rule the day.

---