If you've been following my lure selection series, you will understand the role that lure color plays in selecting the perfect bait. You'll also appreciate the value of choosing lure colors that truly stand out against their surroundings. Unless you were paying close attention to my guide to metal fishing lures, you may not appreciate the importance of natural, unobtrusive fishing lure colors.
Unlike the fiery red and orange lures I featured in my last lure selection guide or the bold chartreuse lures I featured before, green is a color that tends not to stand out. Its appearance can vary drastically and can completely shift based on accent colors in and around the green base. In this post, I'll explain the benefits of four popular green lure colors: green pumpkin, baby bass, watermelon, and olive green. I'll list some of the lures that are most effective in each shade, what prey items they mimic, and the best color combinations to maximize their effectiveness.
Green Pumpkin
Green pumpkin is an earthy green color, often with red or brown notes to it. The green base is commonly mixed with black flakes that help it mimic crawfish and small baitfish.
Lures to Try:
- Stick Worms: These straight, tapered worms can mimic nightcrawlers or small leeches found in ponds and lakes. Popular presentations include wacky rig, ned rig, or Texas rig.
- Creature Baits: These legged soft plastics mimic crawfish, making them an excellent choice for bass. These baits are perfect for flipping and pitching into heavy cover.
- Skirted Jigs: Combined with green pumpkin trailers, they resemble crawfish or other small aquatic creatures.
- Crankbaits and Jerkbaits: Mimic small fish like young perch or sunfish, effective in stained water.
Color Combinations:
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Green Pumpkin with Black Flakes
- Best Season: Spring to Early Summer
- Mimics: Pumpkinseeds, Bluegills, Dragonfly and Damselfly Nymphs
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Green Pumpkin with Red Flakes
- Best Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
- Mimics: Injured Bluegills, Small Crawfish, Stonefly Nymphs
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Green Pumpkin with Purple Flakes
- Best Season: Summer
- Mimics: Adult Bluegills, Leeches
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Green Pumpkin with Orange Flakes
- Best Season: Early Spring and Fall
- Mimics: Molting Crawfish
Baby Bass
Baby bass lures replicate the look of juvenile bass, featuring a mix of green and white with a hint of black striping.
Types of Lures:
- Crankbaits: Mimic the swimming action of juvenile bass, which larger bass and other predatory fish feed on.
- Jerkbaits: Imitate injured or fleeing juvenile bass.
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Soft Plastics: In Texas or Carolina rigs, resemble small fish and frogs.
- Featured: 5" Senko in Baby Bass
- Swimbaits: Provide a lifelike appearance and action, mimicking juvenile bass.
Color Combinations and Seasons:
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Baby Bass with Silver and Gold Hints
- Best Season: Spring to Early Summer
- Mimics: Juvenile Bass, Small Trout, Minnows, Large Aquatic Insects (Dragonflies, Damselflies)
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Baby Bass with Green Pumpkin
- Best Season: Late Spring to Summer
- Mimics: Small Sunfish, Juvenile Perch, Insect Larvae
Watermelon
Watermelon is a dark green color, often mixed with black or red flakes, closely resembling the natural appearance of many prey items.
Types of Lures:
- Stick Worms: Mimic slender worms or leeches, excellent for finesse techniques like drop-shotting or wacky rigging. These can resemble native earthworms or aquatic worms.
- Creature Baits: Resemble crawfish and aquatic insects.
- Jigs and Trailers: Watermelon skirts combined with trailers mimic small fish or crawfish.
- Soft Plastics: Used in shakey heads or Texas rigs, they mimic worms and grubs.
Color Combinations and Seasons:
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Watermelon with Red Flakes
- Best Season: Summer to Early Fall
- Mimics: Killifish, Shiners, Stonefly Nymphs, Caddisfly Larvae
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Watermelon with Black Flakes
- Best Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
- Mimics: Crayfish, Large Minnows, Dragonfly Nymphs
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Watermelon with Green Pumpkin
- Best Season: Summer
- Mimics: Crawfish, Worms, Insect Larvae
Olive Green
Olive green is a more subdued, natural green color that blends well with many freshwater environments.
Types of Lures:
- Jigs: Ideal for mimicking crawfish and other bottom-dwelling prey.
- Crankbaits and Jerkbaits: Resemble small fish or amphibians like frogs, effective in clear water.
- Soft Plastics: Great for Texas and Carolina rigs, mimicking worms, grubs, or small amphibians like salamanders.
Color Combinations and Seasons:
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Olive Green with Black Accents
- Best Season: Early Spring and Fall
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Mimics: Small Trout, Suckers, Damselfly and Mayfly Nymphs
- Featured: BOOYAH Pad Crasher in Cricket Frog
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Olive Green with Brown Accents
- Best Season: Spring and Fall
- Mimics: Bottom-Dwelling Fish, Frogs, Caddisfly and Stonefly Nymphs
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Olive Green with Green Pumpkin
- Best Season: Summer to Early Fall
- Mimics: Small Fish in Vegetation, Aquatic Insects
Additional Green Favorites
Most styles of lure that I offer have at least one option that includes some green. Some of these options don't really fit in the list above, but they're absolutely worth highlighting.
- Berkley Choppo in HD Bluegill for a topwater lure that's guaranteed to deliver a noisy presentation when visibility is limited
- Pinpoint Finesse Jig Combo in Perch for a scented option with a baitfish-like appearance.
- Rapala Original Floating in Perch for a classic jerkbait that comes in multiple sizes
- Z-Man Finesse TRD in Goby Bryant and Z-Man Ned Rig Kit in Hot Colors for soft plastics that are equally at home on the river or in a pond
- Chatterbait in Green Pumpkin or Green Pumpkin/Purple for a topwater classic that can accommodate your favorite trailer
In my previous post on lure colors, I promised I'd share updates as I tried new colors and new fishing styles. I'm happy to report that orange has been a wildly successful color for me this summer. I'll share more details on a future episode of The Cottage Chronicles. For now, I will say that Z-Man fire craw and hot craw have made me a believer - landing bigger fish and greater variety than ever before. They've also got some great green and chartreuse options that have been putting fish in the kayak with every river fishing trip. The ned rig kit featured above is no joke!
If there's a color you'd like me to feature in a future post, drop a comment below. If you're enjoying the colors I've featured so far, show some love on Instagram and Facebook. Until then, tight lines and happy fishing!
