Have you ever been to a fishing store, and looked at the large display of lures. There are so many different colors and patterns. Just which one is best for trout fishing?
In this guide, I will share what I consider to be the best Kastmaster colors for trout fishing. I have been seriously trout fishing for over 20 years, and have been fishing Kastmasters for even longer. Over that time I have developed quite a few strong preferences.
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Does Kastmaster Color Really Matter?
Well, this is a tough one. Some days, and in some conditions trout seem to favor one color over another but the next done they will go after something entirely different. It is actually very hard to find any consistent long-term trends developing.
The best advice I can offer is to fish the colors and patterns you feel the most confident in. If you like blue with red dots, then fish with blue and red dots.
I was once trolling two lures side by side behind my kayak, for the first hour, I had 7 hookups on my left side rod. The trout were completely ignoring the other side. Well, I continued trolling for a couple more hours. 4 out of the next 5 trout took the lure on the right.
The unexpected thing is, I was fishing identical lures and setups on both rods. If I was fishing two different colors, I obviously would have come to the conclusion that Color A was the hot color after the first hour. But the lures were the same and the trout were still favoring one side over the other for reasons I just can not explain.
The feeding preference of trout can be very hard to predict accurately at times.
What I Consider to Be the Best Kastmaster Colors
Gold
Plain gold is one of my favorite Kastmater colors. It is reflective, but not overbearing. I feel it works well in a wide range of conditions. It is also slightly brighter than the more dull copper finish.
With regards to flash, gold reflects quite a bit of light but less than silver. I do not know if it matters for trout fishing, but gold absorbs more light towards the ‘blue’ end of the spectrum while reflecting the most within the infrared ranges.
I find gold is an excellent color for targeting wild fish and in particular brown trout. Because it is a little more subdued than silver it is a better option when the trout are a bit wary. So a good option for clear water conditions and when targeting wild brown trout.
I also know many fishermen like to use gold in cloudy weather. This is part of trout fishing lore that I don,t really agree with. I have not seen much of a difference based on cloud cover or light levels. I have caught plenty of trout on a gold kastmaster in bright sunny conditions.
Gold is a top performing color no matter the light conditions.
Silver:
I fish plain silver Kastmasters more than any other pattern. Silver reflects more light than any other kastmaster color. It is the color of mirrors after all. So, if you want to maximize flash and reflection silver is the answer. This makes it great at grabbing a trout’s attention from further away.
It is a great option for stock trout, sunny conditions, and clear water. I also like to fish the silver color over clean gravel or freestone bottoms. I like Silver the most when it shines at its brightest.
When trying to decide between gold or silver, I also take into consideration the general color of the baitfish. Are they more silvery or dark and brownish? If the former, I favor silver, if the latter I favor gold.
Silver and Orange:
I have had a lot of success with this coloration. It seems to really grab the trout’s attention in slightly murky water.
I rarely fish it in crystal clear conditions, but if there is a little cloudiness it works wonders.
Silver and blue
I like this color when fishing in larger rivers and lakes with a stony bottom. It is simply a popular variation of the plain silver Kastmaster.
Less relevant to trout fishing, but it is also a very popular color combination for saltwater species.
Fire Tiger and Metallic Perch
These two patterns have a similar appearance and I consider them interchangeable.
I really like this pattern when the water is dirty, it is my go to color when the water is white with rock flour.
The brightness can really get through the gloom and murk. In clearer conditions, it can be a very effective pattern for targeting stock rainbow trout.
White – I repaint them myself
This is not a standard color, but I wish it was.
I learned about this color from some of the old timers on my home river.
When my Kastmasters, or any trout spoon for that matter, start to look a bit old and battered. I paint them plain white. White reflects all wavelengths of light so, while not as shiny as silver. It still must be highly visible.
It is quite easy to do, just prep the surface with some sandpaper, clean it with alcohol and I paint them with whatever old white epoxy I have available. I then hang them to dry for a few days. Powder coating probably works even better but I have not tried it.
If you would rather use one of the standard patterns, then the Rainbow trout pattern is mostly white and fulfills a similar role.
Anyway. I like to fish plain white when the water is cloudy. Usually from snowmelt or maybe eroding sandstones.
Does hammered finish on a Kastmaster make a difference?
It is possible to get gold and silver Kastmasters in a hammered finish. In theory, the tiny dimples are supposed to reflect light in more directions increasing reactionary strikes from trout.
I have not noticed much of a difference compared with the plain silver and gold patterns.
Does flash tape increase the chance of strikes?
I personally like a little flash tape on my silver Kastmasters, it helps increase the randomness of the reflections.
It is also possible to purchase strips of flash tape and apply it to any plain old Kastmasters that are starting to look a little dull.
Does flash tape help? Well, it does make the lures more reflective and I do feel that can trigger trout to strike. So on bright
Does Kastmaster Bucktail catch more trout?
Adding bucktail to a kastmaster lure has several effects.
- Bucktail wiggles behind the Kastmaster like a small fish or chubby leech. In some situations, it can encourage the trout to strike.
- Bucktail assists in hiding the hook. I do not believe this is significant but might help when trout are very wary.
- Bucktail makes a lure seem longer and gives it a bigger presence in the water. In some situations, where the trout are feeding on small prey this could be seen as a disadvantage.
