Heddon lures use specific color finishes that represents the different fishing conditions. These color finishes allow a person to choose the appropriate Heddon lure for the water conditions in which they will be fishing. The chart provided by Heddon lures allow a person to understand which colors work in which environments.
A person can use this chart to make more better decisions about which lures to purchase and use when fishing because the chart eliminates the guesswork that might occur in choosing a Heddon lure. Heddon lures have remained consistent for a long time because they rely on established patterns instead of incorporate new trends into there products. The water conditions in which a person is fishing can change while on the fishing trip.
How to Pick the Right Heddon Lure Color
The color of the Heddon lures will change according to the water conditions in which a person is fishing. For instance, if the water is clear in the morning but becomes milky with the approach of noon, a certain color of Heddon lure that work for clear water might not work in water that appears milky. The chart helps to explain which Heddon lure colors work in low visibility conditions and which Heddon lure colors ranges from natural finishes to silhouette finishes.
A frog pattern will work well for bass that lives near vegetation but also work well for pike in off-color water because the contrast of a frog pattern will travel more far in the water than a baitfish imitation. The color of Heddon lures that a person uses will need to be changed according to the changing seasons. In the early spring, the water is often cold and the fish is sluggish so bright colors of Heddon lures will be more effective than realistic finishes.
During the summer waters are typically clear and the fish are used to seeing the same patterns in the water so translucent and natural finishes are preferred. During the fall, many fish will begin to feed on the schooling of baitfish so Heddon perch and shad lures will work best. In the winter, the metabolism of the fish are low so muted colors and natural finishes work best for Heddon lures.
A comparison between vintage and moddern Heddon lures may reveal some differences. The change in the materials used to make Heddon lures causes the differences. Many vintage Heddon lures used thicker lacquer and real foil to make there lures whereas many modern Heddon lures use airbrushing and UV enhancement to there lures.
These changes in materials affect the way that Heddon lures look especially at the depth at which the fish see them. Neither vintage nor modern Heddon lures is clearly better than the other but a person can choose between the two depending upon the conditions of the water that they are fishing in. Certain fish species will have a preference for specific colors.
For example, largemouth bass will have a preference for colors like frog and chartreuse because these colors tend to work well for fish that live near vegetation. Smallmouth bass will show a preference for natural shiner and craw colors as these match the environment in which the fish live. Walleye have shown a preference for Heddon lures in finishes that mimics perch and gray shad as these fish are the forage for walleye especially at dusk.
A person should not purchase every color of Heddon lure that is available in the store. A person should purchase a small selection of Heddon lures that have been proven to work best in the water conditions in which a person will be fishing. For example, a small selection of Heddon lures should include one color that mimics natural baitfish for clear water, a bright color for stained water, a silhouette lure for low light condition, and a lure that matches the forage that live in the water during the current fishing season.
A small selection will cover more situations in the water then a larger quantity of random colored Heddon lures. Furthermore, having to choose a color for the lures isnt a random selection but based off specific condition in the water which allows a person to make better decisions when fishing with Heddon lures.