Matching the Hatch: Ecological Intelligence

“Matching the hatch” is borrowed from fly fishing, but the concept applies to all lure fishing. It means presenting a lure that resembles—in size, color, silhouette, and behavior—what fish are actively feeding on.

Understanding Forage Bases

Every body of water has a primary forage base—the most abundant food source that predators key on. Identifying this is step one.

Shad (threadfin and gizzard):

Most common in reservoirs and large rivers
Silver/white coloration, 2-5 inches typically
School in open water, suspended at various depths
Match with: Silver crankbaits, white swimbaits, chrome spoons, pearl-colored soft plastics

Crawfish:

Abundant in rocky lakes and rivers
Brown, orange, green coloration; 2-4 inches
Bottom-oriented, move backward when fleeing
Match with: Brown/orange jigs, crawfish-pattern crankbaits, creature baits in natural colors

Bluegill and sunfish:

Common in vegetated lakes and ponds
Green/yellow coloration with dark vertical bars; 3-6 inches
Shallow around vegetation and structure
Match with: Green pumpkin swimbaits, chatterbaits, and larger profile soft plastics

Perch:

Northern lakes and large reservoirs
Yellow/green with dark vertical stripes; 3-8 inches
School around structure at various depths
Match with: Perch-pattern crankbaits and swimbaits, natural green/yellow plastics

Alewife/herring:

Great Lakes, coastal areas, and connected rivers
Silver with bluish/green back; 3-7 inches
Large schools in open water
Match with: Silver/blue spoons and crankbaits, white paddle-tail swimbaits

Size Matching: The Forgotten Element

Anglers obsess over color but often ignore size, which is actually more important. A 6-inch swimbait, no matter how perfectly colored, won’t work if fish are feeding on 2-inch baitfish.

The 80% rule: Your lure should be roughly 80% the size of the primary forage. This makes it look like an easy meal (slightly smaller, perhaps weaker) without appearing suspiciously different from what fish are eating.

Exception—the oversized lure: Sometimes, especially for targeting big fish, an oversized lure (150-200% of forage size) can work. This triggers big fish to strike, thinking it’s a substantial meal worth the energy expenditure. Small fish often won’t hit these, which is perfect for trophy hunting.

Profile and Silhouette

Fish often see lures from below, silhouetted against the sky or ambient light. The profile—the shape and outline—needs to match what they’re expecting.

Baitfish profile: Slender, elongated body with a distinct tail kick. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, and spoons match this profile.

Crawfish profile: Wide body, claws extending forward, sits on the bottom. Jigs, creature baits, and square-bill crankbaits match this.

Bluegill profile: Tall, flat body with a rounded shape. Chatterbaits, swimbaits, and certain crankbaits match this.

Behavioral Matching

This is where advanced anglers separate themselves. It’s not just about looking like the food—it’s about acting like the food.

Fleeing baitfish: Fast, erratic movements with sudden direction changes. Use ripping retrieves with lipless crankbaits, burning spinnerbaits, or aggressive twitches with jerkbaits.

Injured baitfish: Slow, wobbling movements with pauses and struggle. Use suspending jerkbaits with long pauses, dying-retrieve soft swimbaits, or flutter spoons.

Crawling crawfish: Slow, bottom-contact movements with pauses. Use dragging jigs, slow-rolled crankbaits that bump bottom, or Carolina-rigged creature baits.

Schooling baitfish: Multiple smaller lures (like Alabama rigs) or lures that create flash, suggesting a small school. Willow-blade spinnerbaits create multiple flashes mimicking several baitfish.

Seasonal Forage Changes

Matching the hatch isn’t static—it changes with seasons:

Spring: Crawfish are molting (soft, vulnerable, very active). Crawfish patterns dominate. Baitfish are spawning in the shallows.

Summer: Shad and other baitfish are schooling heavily. Their young are 1-2 inches. Smaller baitfish imitations work well.

Fall: Baitfish have grown to 3-5 inches. Shad are schooling tightly, often pushed to the surface by predators. Larger baitfish imitations shine.

Winter: Forage is scarce and sluggish. Smaller, slower presentations of any forage type work since fish are opportunistic and conserve energy.

Understanding Lure Action: The Physics of Movement

Every lure is designed to move in a specific way, and that movement is dictated by physics. Understanding why lures do what they do helps you fish them more effectively and choose the right tool for the job.

Crankbait Physics: The Diving Lip

The lip on a crankbait serves as a hydrofoil—it creates water resistance that pushes the lure down (diving) and side-to-side (wobbling).

Lip angle determines diving depth:

Steep angle (more vertical): Creates more resistance, dives deeper, tighter wobble
Shallow angle (more horizontal): Less resistance, stays shallow, wider wobble

Lip size determines aggressiveness:

Larger lip: More water displacement, deeper dive, more aggressive action
Smaller lip: Subtle action, good for clear water and pressured fish

Square-bill physics: The squared-off front edge causes the lure to deflect sharply when it hits objects, creating an erratic flash and direction change that triggers reaction strikes. Round-bill crankbaits glance off more smoothly.

Buoyancy matters: Floating crankbaits rise when you pause, suspending ones stay in place, and sinking ones drop. Match this to fish behavior—suspended bass respond to suspended baits, bottom-hugging fish need sinking or floating baits that you work back to them.

Spinnerbait Physics: Blade Types and Water Flow

Spinnerbait blades rotate because of water flow, and their curved shape creates lift and spin (like a helicopter rotor).

Colorado blades (round):

Physics: Maximum water resistance, slow rotation, creates maximum vibration
Use when: Stained water, cold water, need maximum vibration for fish to locate lure
Movement: Tend to ride higher in the water column, more helicopter-like lift

Willow blades (elongated):

Physics: Less water resistance, fast rotation, creates maximum flash
Use when: Clear water, imitating shad (elongated profile), need to fish deeper
Movement: Less lift, stays deeper, faster spin creates more flashing light

Tandem blades (combination):

Physics: Colorado in front creates vibration, willow in back adds flash
Best of both worlds: Vibration for detection plus flash for triggering strike

Blade rotation science: The blade rotates because water flowing past the curved surface creates different pressures on each side (Bernoulli’s principle). Faster retrieves = faster rotation = more flash and vibration. Slower retrieves still maintain rotation but with less intensity.

Soft Plastic Physics: Flex and Flow

Soft plastics work because their flexible material responds to water movement in ways hard baits can’t match.

Paddle tail physics:

The tail’s paddle shape catches water and flexes back and forth
Faster retrieves = faster tail kick (more water flowing past)
The flex creates a swimming action that mimics a real fish
Wider paddles = slower, more exaggerated kick (big swim)
Narrow paddles = faster, tighter kick (panicked swim)

Creature bait appendages:

Multiple arms and legs create turbulence as they move through water
When you pause, appendages continue drifting with residual current
Creates a “living” appearance even when the lure is stationary
Water resistance on appendages causes slow, natural fall rates

Density and salt content:

Salt-impregnated plastics are denser, sink faster, and have more “feel”
Non-salted plastics are more buoyant, float on pauses, and suspend better
Match to technique: Fast sinking for heavy cover flipping, buoyant for shaky heads

Softness matters:

Very soft plastics have maximum action and feel natural in a fish’s mouth
Firm plastics are more durable and cast better, but have less action
Temperature affects softness—cold water makes plastics stiffer

Topwater Physics: Surface Disturbance

Topwater lures work by breaking the surface tension and creating a disturbance that fish detect from below.

Popper physics:

A cupped face catches water when you jerk the rod
Water is pushed forward and down, creating a “bloop” sound
Bubbles form in the cup and trail behind
Action: Sharp, downward rod snaps create aggressive chug; gentle twitches create subtle pops

Walking bait physics:

The weighted tail causes the lure to sink tail-down when stopped
Sharp, downward rod twitch causes nose to dive left or right (depending on current The slack line allows the lure to naturally swing to the opposite side
Creates zigzag “walk-the-dog” action
Key: Rhythm is critical—constant cadence of twitch-pause-twitch creates a continuous walk

Buzzbait physics:

The propeller blade rotates as the lure moves forward (similar to a spinnerbait)
Blade breaks the surface, creating a splash, sound, and a bubble trail
Fast retrieves keep the blade spinning and the lure on the surface
Squeaking noise (blade hitting rivet) adds additional attraction
Speed required: Must retrieve fast enough to maintain surface churn

Frog physics:

Hollow body creates an air pocket that keeps the lure floating over dense vegetation
Legs create a subtle kicking action on the retrieve
When a fish bites, its hollow body collapses, exposing the hooks
Walking frogs: Similar physics to walking baits—weighted rear, twitch action creates a walk

Jerkbait Physics: Suspending and Gliding

Jerkbaits use a combination of buoyancy, weight distribution, and lip design to create their action.

Suspending jerkbaits:

Precisely weighted to achieve neutral buoyancy
When you pause, lure hovers in place (doesn’t rise or sink)
Sharp jerks cause the lip to dive down and to the side
The slack line allows the lure to slowly rise to a horizontal position while suspended
Temperature sensitivity: Buoyancy changes with water temperature; some anglers adjust with Storm Suspend Dots

Weight transfer systems:

Internal weights slide or roll forward during cast (for distance)
Weights slide back during retrieve (for proper action and balance)
Creates better casting distance and maintains action

Glide baits:

No lip action comes from body shape and weight distribution
Sharp rod snaps cause the lure to glide side-to-side in wide sweeps
Creates a wounded-fish appearance with wide, searching movements
Works on slow presentations where fish track and follow before striking

Vibration and Lateral Line Targeting

Fish have a lateral line—a sensory organ that detects vibrations and pressure changes in water. Understanding this helps you fish effectively in low-visibility conditions.

High-vibration lures:

Chatterbaits: Vibrating blade creates intense, erratic vibration
Lipless crankbaits: Tight wobble creates high-frequency vibration
Colorado-blade spinnerbaits: Large blade displacement creates strong vibration
When to use: Stained/muddy water, low light, when fish rely on the lateral line more than vision

Low-vibration lures:

Soft plastics: Minimal vibration, subtle movement
Finesse jigs: Small profile, minimal displacement
Suspending jerkbaits: Smooth gliding action
When to use: Clear water, bright conditions, pressured fish that spook from aggressive vibration

Rattles:

Internal chambers with beads or BBs create knocking sounds
Sound travels 4-5 times faster in water than in air
Can attract fish from greater distances
Downside: Can also spook pressured fish in clear water who associate rattle sounds with danger

Lure Speed and Physics

The speed at which you retrieve a lure fundamentally changes its action and effectiveness.

Fast retrieves:

Increase vibration, flash, and turbulence
Trigger reaction strikes—fish don’t have time to inspect closely
Keep lures higher in the water column (more lift from water resistance)
Mimic panicked, fleeing prey
Works best with aggressive fish in warm water

Slow retrieves:

Reduce vibration, create subtle action
Allow fish time to inspect and track
Lures sink deeper, maintain bottom contact
Mimic is injured, easy prey
Essential in cold water when fish metabolism is slow

Stop-and-go:

Changes in speed create turbulence and trigger strikes
Pauses allow lures to suspend, sink, or rise—a change in action triggers the following fish
Mimics prey that’s injured or confused
Often, the pause is when the strike occurs
Advanced Color Theory: Beyond the Basics

Now that we understand fish vision and forage matching, let’s explore advanced color selection strategies.

The “Dark and Stormy” Theory

On overcast days or in low-light conditions, conventional wisdom says to use bright colors. Advanced anglers know that dark colors often outperform bright ones in these conditions.

Why it works: Fish looking up see lures silhouetted against the sky. On cloudy days, there’s less ambient light, making it harder to see light-colored lures. Dark lures (black, purple, dark blue) create maximum contrast against the gray sky.

Translucent vs. Opaque

Translucent plastics:
- Allow light to pass through
- Create a natural, lifelike appearance in clear water
- Fish can see the internal core, adding realism
- Work best in bright conditions and clear water
Opaque plastics:
- Block light, create a solid silhouette
- Better contrast in stained water
- Easier for fish to see in low-light or turbid conditions
- Work best in murky water or low light
Color Change with Depth

Understanding that colors disappear with depth means you should change colors as you target different depths:

0-10 feet: All colors work—match the forage 10-20 feet: Avoid pure red—use orange as darkest warm color 20-30 feet: Stick to yellow, chartreuse, green, blue, white, black 30+ feet: Chartreuse, white, blue, and black for maximum contrast

Confidence Colors

There’s a psychological element to color selection that shouldn’t be ignored. Colors you have confidence in will be fished more effectively because you’ll fish them longer and work them better.

If you believe green pumpkin catches fish, you’ll fish it thoroughly, make better presentations, and ultimately catch more fish. This self-fulfilling prophecy is real and valid—confidence matters.

Putting It All Together: The Complete Picture

Advanced lure selection integrates all these concepts:
1. Assess water clarity → Determines color contrast needs
2. Identify primary forage → Determines size, color, and profile
3. Consider depth → Adjusts color selection and lure type
4. Evaluate fish activity level → Determines lure action intensity and retrieve speed
5. Match the physics to the presentation → Choose lure type based on desired action
Example Scenario Analysis

Situation: Clear reservoir, 68°F water, spring, 8-12 feet deep, rocky points, fish feeding on crawfish

Analysis:
- Clear water = natural colors, realistic presentation
- Crawfish forage = brown/orange colors, bottom-oriented action
- Spring = pre-spawn feeding, moderately aggressive
- Rocky points = deflection opportunities, moderate depth
Lure selection:
- Square-bill crankbait in crawfish pattern (deflects off rocks, right depth, matches forage)
- Or: Football jig in brown/orange with craw trailer (bottom-contact, perfect profile)
- Retrieve: Moderate speed with bottom contact, deflections trigger strikes
Alternative scenario: Same location, but stained water after rain

Adjustment: Switch to a chartreuse/brown jig or an orange/chartreuse square-bill for higher contrast while maintaining crawfish profile

Final Thoughts: Science Meets Art

Understanding the science behind lure selection doesn’t remove the art—it enhances it. You now have frameworks for making educated decisions rather than random guesses.

But remember: fish don’t always follow the rules. Sometimes they eat blue lures when science says they should eat green. Sometimes they crush fast-moving lures in 40-degree water when they should be lethargic.

Use science as your starting point, but let the fish tell you what they want on any given day. The most advanced skill isn’t knowing the science—it’s knowing when to apply it and when to trust your instincts and adapt.

The intersection of knowledge and intuition, science and experience, theory and practice—that’s where exceptional fishing happens.

Lure Colors

Matching the Hatch: Ecological Intelligence