Best Bait & Lure Colors for Bluegill Fishing (Full Guide)

Knowing how bluegill view colors and which color baits to select, given the conditions, can make a difference in whether you catch fish or get skunked. So what are the best bait colors for bluegill fishing.

The best bait colors for bluegill are natural color like ghost, clear, browns, and olives in clear water and sunny conditions. Under overcast skies or muddy water, focus on bright colors like whites, chartreuses, and reds.

In this article, we will break down the best colors to choose for each light, water clarity, and time of day condition you will face when bluegill fishing. Check out this helpful guide on the top water temperature for bluegill fishing.

Seasonal Breakdown: Bait Colors

Winter

In winter, bluegill tend to be less active and feed less often, so it’s important to choose baits that are small and natural-looking to entice bites. Some effective colors for bluegill in winter include silver, gold, and white.

Try using small jigs or ice fishing spoons such as the Clam Outdoors Pro Tackle Drop Tg Jig or the Northland Tackle Forage Minnow Spoon in sizes ranging from 1/32 to 1/16 ounce.

Spring

In spring, bluegill tend to feed more actively as they prepare for spawning, so brightly colored baits can be effective in attracting their attention. Small jigs in colors such as chartreuse, pink, and white can work well, with sizes around 1/16 to 1/32 ounce. Soft plastic baits in natural colors like green pumpkin or watermelon can also be effective.

Summer

Bluegill tend to prefer natural and light-colored baits in the summer, such as brown, green, and yellow. Small jigs and spinners with a slow retrieve can be effective, like the Mepps Aglia in size 1 or 2 with brown or green skirts or the Beetle Spin in a 1/16 or 1/8 oz size with a yellow or green body.

Fall

In the fall, natural and earthy tones tend to work best for bluegill fishing. Try using small jigs or flies in brown, olive, or black colors. A great option is the Woolly Bugger fly in olive or black, or a small jig in brown or olive.

Bluegill Color Guidelines

Natural colors like brown, green, and blue are effective in clear water, while bright colors like chartreuse, pink, and orange work well in stained water. Size and presentation are also important factors to consider when selecting the right color bait for bluegill fishing.

Click here for a complete breakdown of how to catch morning bluegill. You may also be interested in an article we wrote on the most interesting bluegill facts.

Water Clarity & Bait Colors

Choosing the right color bait is important for bluegill fishing as it helps the bait to be more visible and attractive to the fish, especially in different water clarities. For clear water, natural or subtle colors may work best, while bright and flashy colors are more effective in murky or stained water.

Clear Water Bluegill Fishing: Color Selection

In clear water, natural colors tend to work well for bluegill such as green pumpkin, watermelon, and brown. Additionally, lighter colors like white and chartreuse can be effective as well.

Muddy Water Bluegill Fishing: Color Selection

When fishing for bluegill in muddy water, it’s best to use bright colors that can be easily seen, such as chartreuse, pink, or fluorescent orange. Small jigs or spinners with these colors can be effective in attracting bluegill in murky conditions.

Light Conditions & Bait Colors

Selecting the right bait color for bluegill fishing is crucial in different light conditions. On bright, sunny days, it is best to use lighter and more natural colors, while on cloudy or overcast days, brighter colors can help increase visibility and trigger strikes.

Clear, Sunny Bluegill Fishing: Color Selection

Bright and flashy colors such as chartreuse, pink, and white can be effective for bluegill fishing on bright, sunny days. Small jigs or spinners in these colors can work well, as can small poppers or topwater lures in bright, eye-catching colors.

Cloudy/Overcast Bluegill Fishing: Color Selection

On cloudy, overcast days, natural colors such as brown and green are effective for bluegill fishing. Soft plastic lures in these colors, such as the Zoom Trick Worm in watermelon or green pumpkin, can be effective. Additionally, bluegill may respond well to lures with a flash of silver or gold to mimic small baitfish in the water.

Night Bluegill Fishing: Color Selection

Nighttime bluegill fishing can be productive using dark colors like black, brown, and purple. Glow-in-the-dark colors like green or chartreuse can also be effective. Small jigs or flies in these colors can entice bluegill to bite in the low-light conditions of nighttime fishing.

Bluegill Behavior & Bait Colors

The color and type of bait you use for bluegill fishing should match the behavior and activity level of the fish. If the bluegill are actively feeding, brightly colored baits may be more effective, whereas natural colors and smaller baits may be more effective if they are more cautious or inactive.

Best Colors for Active Feeding Times (early mornings & late afternoons)

During peak bluegill fishing windows, it’s best to use natural colors such as green, brown, and blue. Soft plastic baits like worms, grubs, and small minnow imitations in these colors are effective. It’s also important to match the size of the bait to the size of the bluegill in the area.

Best Colors for Slow Feeding Times (middle of the day & early afternoons)

During less active bluegill fishing daily windows, using more natural colors such as brown, green, or black is best. These colors blend better with the surroundings, making them less noticeable to the fish. Using smaller baits during these times is also important, as bluegill may be less willing to take larger offerings.

Natural Colors for Bluegill

Natural colors such as brown, green, and yellow are effective for bluegill fishing in clear water. When fishing in murky water, dark colors like black, brown, and dark blue are more effective.

A common technique for using natural colors is to use live bait, such as worms or crickets, or imitate live bait with lures with a natural color pattern. Another effective technique is to use natural colors in a small size to mimic the small prey that bluegill feed on.

Bright/Bold Colors for Bluegill

Bright colors can attract bluegill in low light conditions or murky water, with chartreuse, fluorescent green, and hot pink being popular choices. Natural colors such as brown, green, and blue are more effective in clear water and bright conditions.

It’s important to vary retrieve speed and use small bait sizes to mimic the natural movement of bluegill prey. Adding small accents or scents, such as a red dot or garlic scent, can also increase effectiveness.

UV Colors for Bluegill

UV colors can be highly effective for bluegill fishing as they increase visibility in low-light conditions. Best UV colors include pink, chartreuse, and orange.

When using UV colors, it’s important to ensure that the bait is exposed to enough UV light to activate the colors, which can be achieved with a UV light or by fishing when UV light is naturally present, such as during dawn or dusk.

14 Bait Color Selection Tips for Bluegill

Use blue or purple colors for bluegill fishing in deeper water.
Use small poppers in white or yellow colors for topwater action.
Use small jigs in brown or olive colors for slow bottom bouncing action.
Use small spinners in silver or gold colors for quick retrieval action.
Use small flies in black or brown colors for realistic insect imitation.
Use small plastic worms in green or brown colors for slow retrieval action.
Use small grubs in pink or white colors for fast retrieval action.
Use small spoons in red or yellow colors for flashy attraction.
Use small nymphs in brown or green colors for realistic insect imitation.
Use small crankbaits in shad or crawfish patterns for deeper water action.
Use small inline spinners in black or yellow colors for flashy attraction.
Use small swimbaits in blue or silver colors for a realistic minnow imitation.
Use small beetle flies in black or brown colors for realistic beetle imitation.
Use small streamers in olive or black colors for larger fish targeting.