Help for a Tuna Newbie with color selections

Jason S · 07-14-2008, 07:59 AM

How do you guys pick what colors to run for different conditions?

I know the popular colors seem to include: Mexican Flag/Zuccinni, Black/Purple, Pink/White and Blue/Silver. I have got all of those now in larger quantities than I thought I would with all the excitement of this season kicking off.

Was planning on a trip this coming weekend to Depoe but early indications have me having my out of state best freind from growing up not flying in. If it changes for the better a lot me and my regular crew of one may still make it. But how do you start color wise and does it change during the day much? I know some I have talked to keep thier spreads all the same color but is that the norm? Vary it and see what is working? Try and vary size of baits within colors or keep them all the same rough size too?

I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for weather to do this. Have thousands invested and have only done it a couple times ever. This board has been evil to me. So now I sit looking forward to the weekend of the 26th.

Bluefinn · 07-14-2008, 08:10 AM

You can not go wrong with the colors you have.I would start out with Mex flag or Zuke.If you do not get bit and you have very low cloud cover and it is a dark day then switch to your darker colors.I like Purple and black and rootbeer or brown for these condtion.More important then color is having them in the spread where the tuna can see them the best.Try to have them close enough to eachother that you can get multiple hook ups.Also have your baits running where the water is the cleanest.Not in the froth and foam from the motors.you have to think like a fish where can the fish best see the baits from under the water.Good luck it is not rocket science for the most part it is just commomn sense.Goodluck

fishonjon · 07-14-2008, 08:14 AM

lite use dark Dark use lite. I allways start 4 hand lines two with boards 1 cedar 1 mex flag 1 zuq 1 purp blk rods the same. If they only hit one color. stack them. But remeber color bite could change in minutes. Good luck!

Tinman · 07-14-2008, 08:38 AM

I'm a believer in offering a variety, and seeing what the fish prefer. It's important to vary the lure type and size, as well as color. For a 5-lure spread, I suggest the following as a starting point.

* Cedar plug
* 2 standard trolling feathers (Clone, Zuker, etc. in any of the colors you mentioned)
* 1 smaller (4 1/2 inch) trolling feather
* 1 swimbait

I like to try various trolling distances behind the boat. If I'm not catching fish, I change trolling distance often.

Some very good fishermen believe in a tight spread of same-color lures, and I respect that point of view. However, the variety approach works very well for me.

Packy · 07-14-2008, 10:22 AM

All those colors are great with mexi flag and black&purple being my favs. This is what I do and it works great for me. I run Hand lines, and only 2 poles, that I put out on outriggers. I have a tuna board I run across the back of my boat. A 12' treated 2X4 with stainless I-bolts on each end. Then I have them every 2' from those, going towards the middle of the board. That will give you 7 lines. This also works good with a 5 line setup on the same length of board with a little more spacing. The lengths of the lines I hook on to the board are, in this order from each end, 200' 175' 150' 100' 150' 175' 200' The poles are on the outside of each end at 225' to 250'. the lines on the board are setup as such. Rubber snubber, 250# Tuna Cord, 200# Mono last 12 ft, then your jig. You can go shorter too, like 150' 125' 100' 75' I like the longer lines myself. This is a great way for a 8 foot wide boat to get a good spread in a V pattern. I also run all the same color. The theroy is, you are trying to imatate a school of bait. When you get in them its alot of work for 2 guys LOL! but alot of fun too. I have had 5 on at once using this method. I also never stop trolling keeps fish on better until you can get them in. You do get some tangles but not as many as you would think. Keep some back up lines in various lengths ready to throw out when you do get tangled and worry about the tangeled ones later. Like when the bite slows down. This method has proven to be very successful. Its great way for the smaller boats to get a good spread out in the water. Good Luck! CMON! TUNA!

Reel Song · 07-14-2008, 10:44 AM

hand line 75'in the middle single mexi clone , spreader bars off corners 100' same color rod's 150' same clones, rod's 200' natural ceader plug start changing colors when not getting bit find something hot and stack it, some times we change long rods to mylar poppers( common for wahoo) but have been very effective mid day and I believe we even had some sort of exotic break us off last year. this has produced 45 to 60 fish most every trip for last 5 years unless casting bait. colors you have are fine but would like to try some eat me lure stuff if we had any info here in central oregon

fishonjon · 07-14-2008, 11:40 AM

WOW you guys are fishing in a differant time zone 175' 200' back. The fish are 350' 400' when you go into the slide. Cool !

run them in the smoke.

Elkiller · 07-14-2008, 12:07 PM

I always offer a cedar plug in the spread, start the day with at least one green daisy chain and then run three others of mixed light/dark colors. Most of the rigs run close in the wake- It really depends on your boats wake how far back to put them. I like them to skip onto the surface some.

I run at least one rig twice as far back. If it is the only one getting hit I will bring it up short with the others in hopes to get multiples. If that doesn't work they all go back. I really don't care much for trolling, so others on the board know more. Once you have a pattern of one rig gettting hit, most of the troll rigs get switched to what is working. All my troll rigs are on rods, no handlines for me.

I focus on casting to birds, jumpers, boils.

good luck

Waytogo · 07-14-2008, 12:41 PM

Here is my setup- I run 4 hand lines starting on inside 2-40' back then 2 60' back. I tie a few knots in the hand lines to create bubbles.next the inside rods are just outside the long hand lines and I put one at 80' one at 100' then the outriggers are 120 & 140' I Start with combo of collars but try to have 2 cedar plugs on 2 poles. Mex flag & zucchinis work great maybe purple & black on overcast days -bright days Hot pink & white . good luck and hope the ocean lays down soon.--Mike-- WAYTOGO---

steelfreak · 07-14-2008, 01:49 PM

Experiment, see what works for you. I could tell you what works for me but then again, you can ask 50 different people the same question and get 50 different answers(as you can see). Basics: light colors on bright days, dark colors on cloudy days. Run your gear tight to the boat! no need to be out 100yds back. Keep your pattern tight together(in a ball). Teasers are good! have fun

fishonjon · 07-14-2008, 01:58 PM

Most important make sure you'r shoes match you'r bag.

Reel Song · 07-14-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishonjon

WOW you guys are fishing in a differant time zone 175' 200' back. The fish are 350' 400' when you go into the slide. Cool !

run them in the smoke.

Never no what my be Lurking back there, but my old tug 75' might be in the smoke

Tinman · 07-14-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelfreak

Experiment, see what works for you. I could tell you what works for me but then again, you can ask 50 different people the same question and get 50 different answers(as you can see).

Yes, and the diversity of opinions illustrates that LOTS OF DIFFERENT METHODS WORK. The fact is, tuna are pretty easy to catch once you find them. That's why boats can catch 40 fish per day!

Find the right water, and don't sweat too much about lure selection, at least in the early season.

tracker · 07-14-2008, 02:58 PM

At this point there may not be an early season. We fish mostly same color stuff. And we normally have them very close to the boat. And close to each other. But as said already, many different things work. You can see how it works at Charleston. See you soon!

Chesapeake · 07-14-2008, 03:09 PM

We run everything tight and within 100' or so of the boat. Closest are about 60' in the center and then out in an inverted V.

My primary lure is the yellow/green Zuker broom tail (grass skirt). If I only had that in the tackle box I wouldnt feel under gunned. We also have a slew of colors from pink to purple and black that hardly see water.

If you want to spend some more money its real easy.

We drag a few birds with daisy chains following. They seem to realy draw the fish in. We also run a few spreader bars. They also seem to draw the fish in close, but do create some tangles.

You might also think about diver boards. I dont have any yet, but "YET" is the key word.

Oh and for your question. Seems that pretty well most of the days the weather lets you out will be sunny and not very overcast. For these days we use the yellow/green. On overcast days you might try purple/black or blue/green.

We also drag either an 11" Eat Me lure way back in the middle, or a cedar plug. This is on a rod set up with 900 yards of 80# braid with an 80# top shot. The hope is for a big exotic, but all its ever caught yet is albi's. But one can hope. We need to learn more.