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[Spawn Sack]

When I started steelhead fishing a couple years ago a friend gave me some of their extra rubber/plastic baits. I got a bag of pink and bubble-gum worms in 4-6 inch sizes, some Jensen eggs in the standard orange color, some orange gooey-bobs, etc. However this supply is running low and the other day I was in the tackle shop looking at the diffent colors of rubber worms, jensen eggs, etc. Wow the variety!

I was tempted to buy the standard pink worms and orange Jensen eggs, but the other colors looked too cool to pass up! However the choice of colors was a bit overwhelming...

My question is...under what water conditions would you fish a different color of worm or other plastic bait? I always thought the more colored water the brighter a bait one would want to use, but according to some of my online research, darker colors like black/purple, or a contrasting color like white actually is more visible to fish under such conditions than a brigher color like pink or orange.

So far the rules of thumb I follow with my plastic baits are: murky water I'll use a 6" pink worm. Water with better clarity I'll go with a 4" pink worm. If the water is clear I'll fish a Jensen egg in a natural color.

Of course I do not just fish plastic bait for steelhead. I also occasionally fish bait, spinners, spoons, jigs, etc. I just have not had a lot of luck with plastic baits and think I could learn a thing or two about which color works best under certain water conditions.

Mad River makes a lot of cool worms and eggs in a wide variety of colors. Before I drop $25-$50 on a variey of plastic worms and eggs, I would like to be more aware of what type of water the different colors are best fished in. I could just stick with good old pink worms and orange Jensen eggs, which I've done alright on, but having seen all the cool different colors I must try at least a few different varities. So, are the different colors designed to catch fish, or to catch fishermen???

[milo]

Pink is always good (in all its shades) as it is very visible, even in murky water.
Other great producers are white, orange, and red, but they are not as visible when water clarity is low.
And don't forget the natural worm imitation, especially later in the season.

[Spawn Sack]

Thanks for that Milo. Good to know about the pink, I imagine that's why most of the ppl I see fishing a worm are using one in some shade of pink.

Do you have an opinion about fishing a dark worm, like black or purple? Some stuff I've read has said that such colors stand out better in murky water than pink, etc.

As far as the natural worm imitation, why are they more effective later in the season? Is is because of the increased water clarity? Or is it because the fish are spawned out and starving and looking for calories to charge up before returning to the sea? Sorry for all the questions, just looking to soak up some knowdedge 

[Every Day]

As far as the natural worm imitation, why are they more effective later in the season? Is is because of the increased water clarity? Or is it because the fish are spawned out and starving and looking for calories to charge up before returning to the sea? Sorry for all the questions, just looking to soak up some knowdedge 

Natural worms, from what I have found, work best in clear water or water with 3+ feet of vis. I only use them after a rain (or sometimes I'll toss them if nothing else is working). I tend to start using the nat coloured worms when the robins first come out or when I start seeing the worms in the gutter after a big rain. Fish will key in on the ones that get washed into the river since it is an easy food source.

As for your other question. I am partial to pink worms, in the bubble gum pink colour. My favourites are from "Kraemer's pimp plastics." I think the ones I have done best with are the bubble gum pink paddle tails with a chartreuse tail. I have also done well on the purple paddle tail with the chartreuse tail. The little stubby fat worms he has work great too in lower water conditions.

Definitely check out the pimp plastics though. They have some awesome looking new stuff out, including some really realistic egg clusters. Very reasonable price too, especially for your standard pink worm.

Cheers,
Dan

[islanddude]

 Why buy worms when you can make your own. I have been making my own pink and other color worms since 1975. M-F Manufacturing Company,  Fort Worth, Texas. They have is all. Molds,color dyes, glow in the dark powder etc. Make sure you order the saltwater plastic. This plastic is tough and you don't have to mix hardener with it. Make sure you shake the jug before using. Tight lines.

[milo]

As far as the natural worm imitation, why are they more effective later in the season?

Every Day pretty much nailed it.

Later in the season the ground softens, and the worms come out. It also rains more and the snow melts, so there is more soil being washed into the river bringing with it a lot of protein in the shape of worms. 

When the robin sings, drift a juicy night crawler or red worm or imitation.
Hook it through the clitellum (don't thread it!) and let it drift naturally. Keep the presentation a foot above the bottom and hold on to your rod. The takes are seriously savage!

[Johnny Canuck]

Every Day pretty much nailed it.

Later in the season the ground softens, and the worms come out. It also rains more and the snow melts, so there is more soil being washed into the river bringing with it a lot of protein in the shape of worms. 

When the robin sings, drift a juicy night crawler or red worm or imitation.
Hook it through the clitellum (don't thread it!) and let it drift naturally. Keep the presentation a foot above the bottom and hold on to your rod. The takes are seriously savage!

I guess the fish seeing roe, flies, blades, spoons, egg sacks, prawns and jigs for months wouldn't have an affect on an angler using something different...

[Every Day]

I guess the fish seeing roe, flies, blades, spoons, egg sacks, prawns and jigs for months wouldn't have an affect on an angler using something different...

Quite possibly.
I had one day this year where I could see fish, but they wouldn't take anything.
Switched to a natural worm, and nailed 3 fish in 4 casts, and that was in January when it was below 0C.

Change at times work... should mention the pink, purple, and red worms had no effect that day.

[Fish Assassin]

Why buy worms when you can make your own. I have been making my own pink and other color worms since 1975. M-F Manufacturing Company,  Fort Worth, Texas. They have is all. Molds,color dyes, glow in the dark powder etc. Make sure you order the saltwater plastic. This plastic is tough and you don't have to mix hardener with it. Make sure you shake the jug before using. Tight lines.

I make mine as well. I got an ice cream container full of rubber worms of every colour.

[SteelheadAdict]

best #1 producing worm for me is the mad river 4inch pink body with chartruse tail in shrimp scent best dam worm out there

[Spawn Sack]

Wow thanks a lot for the tips guys! That makes sense about when a natural looking worm would work, I never thought of that.

Milo, I have no idea what a clitellum is, but I'll look it up on the net. I'm guessing it's the collar near the head. However, if it's only hooked by that and dangling far off the hook, aren't you likely to get a lot of short takes? Or are steelhead more likely to inhale it?

Gonna go to the tackle shop tomorrow and buy some new worms. Thanks a lot guys I feel a lot more confident in my worm knowledge and will be expanding my color usage beyond the only color I have ever used, pink.

Island dude and fishassasin, thanks for the idea but at this stage in my fishing career I'm not terribly interested in pouring my own worms. Maybe one day. I am getting into typing my own flies which eats up most of the free time I can devote to tinkering around with my fishing tackle.

[milo]

Milo, I have no idea what a clitellum is, but I'll look it up on the net. I'm guessing it's the collar near the head.

Correct.

However, if it's only hooked by that and dangling far off the hook, aren't you likely to get a lot of short takes? Or are steelhead more likely to inhale it?

Read my previous post more carefully. The answer to your question is already there. 

Hint: last sentence

[Spawn Sack]

Re-read it. Mmmm...alright I think I can picture what you're talking about. Thanks again!

[BigFisher]

I make my own rubber worms and plastics at home in my Bug processing machine, Theses things are great. I even fill them up with flavor and add scent. Try one for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6QsqV0ymY0

[Every Day]

I make my own rubber worms and plastics at home in my Bug processing machine, Theses things are great. I even fill them up with flavor and add scent. Try one for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6QsqV0ymY0

That's great, funny thing is, it would probably work too lol.
I'v seen a guy get one on a yellow and green 4" gummy worm