Primary Colors for Pike and Muskies - By fishing guide Jeff (Cubby) Skelly

Minnesota Fishing Pros - Your source for Minnesota fishing guides and guided fishing trips.

Primary Colors for Pike and Muskies
by fishing guide Jeff (Cubby) Skelly

Of all the factors involved in catching fish color is most dependant on personal preference. Do I worry about color? Does color make a difference in catching fish? If so, how significant a difference? The right color choice to me won’t overcome a bad presentation or poor location. But will the wrong color negate being in the right place at the right time?

Trends are nice, but talk is cheap. When it comes down to what’s tied on to the end of your line, personal confidence is the biggest color coordinator of all. In a nutshell, the right colors breed confidence. Confidence helps us fish longer and harder. Is a black bucktail really the best lure for muskies? Or are more Muskies caught on them because that is what most anglers are throwing? `Often a local preference develops due to watercolor, predominant forage, or angler use. Fish caught on a certain lure style or color encourages other anglers to try the same combination. Soon a local trend begins to develop.

Go with the flow, or against the grain? Tough call sometimes, Iam always trying to put the percentages in my favor. Local success is hard to argue with, especially if fishing pressure is light and the fish are aggressive. On the other hand, if everyone’s tossing the same thing and fishing pressure borders on enormous, a different shade might be a better strategy. A different color or style of baits and keep mixing things up can and will make a difference, you must keep an open mind.

Most anglers seem more open minded about experimenting color wise for pike, perhaps because pike are more abundant than muskies and consequently more pike are caught on different color combos. Not enough Muskies are caught to develop real color preferences or to feel real confident that color makes no difference. Muskies are a rare critter, even in the best Muskie waters in the country. In short, experiment with everything you have in your tackle box and be sure you fishing something that breeds confidence in what your doing. Once your confidence is gone, good-bye productivity-unless your lucky.

In clear to moderately clear water, steer your selections toward natural forage patterns and subdued colors, unless wind, dark skies or rain reduce visibility. In dirtier or darker water, consider enhancing visibility with brighter colors. They may be unnatural patterns, but fish can see them, you have to give them a target, because fish can’t eat what they cant see. Fancy natural forage patterns are pretty, but they may not be necessary. Patterns tend to blur when a lure is in motion and stand out when a lure is at rest. Fast moving wobbling lures likely don’t require meticulous scale patterns, while stop and go patterns might be enhanced by a life like array. Don’t neglect traditional colors for pike and muskiest. But don’t rule out experimenting either. The best way to see if color makes the difference is if one person tosses a primary color, the other a contrasting shade. Trade back and forth to eliminate that “first cast into the spot catches the most fish syndrome.

One thing is for sure; if your confidence isn’t there, replace the offering with something that feels right. Even if color choice does nothing more then breed confidence in your ability to trigger fish, you’ve increased your odds for catching trophy pike and muskies. Confidence helps you fish better, harder and with more enthusiasm. Don’t wish for fish. Fish for fish. Make’em bite. Colors not the primary ingredient in your recipe for success, but with a open mind it can and will make the difference some of the time.

Guided Fishing Trip Rates

Rates for a full day or half day guided fishing trip are reasonable and include bait, fish cleaning and packaging services as well as use of pro’s boat, fuel, fishing equipment and safety gear. Clients need only bring their valid Minnesota fishing license, rain and/or cold weather gear and food & beverage.

2010 Guided Fishing Trip Rates
Number of Anglers	Full Day Trip	Half Day Trip
1 - 2 people	$340	$270
3 people	$420	$315
Tag Boats	$100 per boat
Shore Lunch or Shore Dinner	$25 per boat
A $100 deposit ($100 per boat for group trips) is required to hold your reservation for a guided fishing trip with a MN Fishing Pro. Please send check or money order to the guide with whom you have booked your trip. The date of your full or half day fishing trip is not guaranteed until your deposit is received.

2010 Fishing Opener Dates

Walleye & Northern Opener - May 15, 2010
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Opener - May 29, 2010
Muskie Opener - June 5, 2010

2010 Fishing Regulations

Ready to Book? Click Here to Check Availability:

Just fill out our easy Check Availability Form and you'll hear back from Jeff Skelly within 24 hours. After you have confirmed the date of your trip with your guide please send your deposit along with this Reservation Form.

Jeff Skelly can help you plan a memorable Minnesota Fishing Vacation with a professionally-guided fishing trip on any of the hundreds of lakes in Northcentral Minnesota. Click here to start planning your next fishing vacation.

Minnesota Fishing Resorts:

Looking for a great Minnesota Fishing Resort to stay at this year? Click here to check out our Preferred Resort Partners list. These are resorts hosted by folks that MN Fishing Pros know treat anglers right!

BACK TO THE TOP