Best colour

[Bloggsy]

Looking ay getting a couple of Zerek Tango Shads for trolling for flathead in eustaries in NSW does anyone have a favorite colour or two that they would recommend?

[wazatherfisherman]

Hi Bloggsy - pink bits for sure, models 'HD' and 'PB'. Pink is the 'go-to' colour

[noelm]

Funny thing, in Lake Illawarra, a sad looking, dull brown plastic seems to out fish everything else on Flathead, that said, I personally  think it's the action/technique that catches Flathead, but, fishing is a confidence thing, use what makes you feel like it's going to work!

[Green Hornet]

Two great answers from @wazatherfishermanand @noelm. 
I’ve always liked pink for low light (early morning, late afternoon) and switched to a natural brownish color as the sunlight increases. That being said, pink can also be an all day choice if the water is deeper or dirtier than usual.

[noelm]

I don't know what it is about the dull brown colour, but I have found, a smallish plastic (especially a twin tail kind of thing) works a treat in the lake, it doesn't really look like a Mullet or Prawn or anything, but, it works, that said, because I use it most of the time, I "think" it works better.........maybe? Flathead tend to like a "hop and stop" action, rather than just winding in, wind a little bit, stop, wind a bit, stop, or flick the rod tip to make the lure "hop" along the bottom.

[Green Hornet]

1 hour ago, noelm said:

I don't know what it is about the dull brown colour, but I have found, a smallish plastic (especially a twin tail kind of thing) works a treat in the lake, it doesn't really look like a Mullet or Prawn or anything, but, it works, that said, because I use it most of the time, I "think" it works better.........maybe? Flathead tend to like a "hop and stop" action, rather than just winding in, wind a little bit, stop, wind a bit, stop, or flick the rod tip to make the lure "hop" along the bottom.

Motor Oil colored plastics are definitely a standout in St Georges Basin as well. The 2-3 inch grubs are killers in anything shallower than 2 meters.

[dirvin21]

The Ayu, green scale and pearl colours have slways been my favourite for the tango shads

[Rebel]

I like Strawberry ZMan lures. Doesn't matter which one. They all seem to work.

Cheers.

[Mike Sydney]

I’ve had good success with the Zerek Tango Shad suspending in black jack colour (‘BJ’) on bream in the estuaries, though I fish at night and so gravitate towards darker ones anyways. 
 

 

[Green Hornet]

I can’t remember where or when I heard it, but I was once told a good starting point when selecting a lure colour was to select one that matches the colour of the water you’re fishing in.

Assuming the water isn’t stained with fresh run off, in my neck of the woods that means go with a brown lure in the shallow muddy bays and a green/blue over deeper clean sand.

That being said, when I used to do a lot of flathead trolling in deep water (22-25 foot) red was the standout colour by far.

Knowing red is the first colour from the spectrum to “disappear” at depth, I remember from my diving days, red used to appear a bluish white once you got down a bit. Who knows how fish see colours though?

[Mike Sydney]

Similarly from the “don’t remember where I read it”, matching the colour of the sediment, on the basis that fish camouflage themselves on their surroundings. 
 

Here’s a chart on the fish visibility spectrum. Doc Lures has a good podcast covering fish eyes and how they work (episodes 55 and 188).

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Mike Sydney