On a recent trip to Clearwater Island Lodge on Melville Island in the Northern Territory I was confronted with several situations that challenged my beliefs about the relevance of colours in lures. In years gone by I have had amazing sessions on Barra in particular at Melville Island.
One session we managed to land around 100 Barra in only two to three hours. We were using Rapala Barra Mags and X-raps that are known Barra catchers but colour did not seem to play any part in our hook up rate. I have caught Barra out of the one snag on gold X-rap’s and then again on various other colours in the same snag.
I have even had guides tell me that if I don’t use a particular colour in one area I will not catch fish only to prove them wrong by using a very different colour.
My theories on colour were always if you use a natural colour and the fish are hungry then you’re in with a show. How wrong was I on our last trip Melville Island. Michael Benton from Clearwater shared one of his theories on lure colours that seemed a little strange at first but proved to be spot on.
He said that if you start a session on a particular colour in one spot, the fish with lend themselves to that colour for the entire session. We were filming for our new show, Fishing Addiction to be aired on the Lifestyle channel in December this year when Michael’s theory well and truly proved itself.
On one morning I started with a bleeding mullet colour and my fishing companion for this trip, Joe, was using a Gold X-Rap. First fish went to Joe. A 106cm Saltwater Barra. This was a very special fish. Firstly it was Joes first Barra over 1 metre and it was by far the healthiest, most robust Barra I had ever seen.
This barra just seemed buff and tested Joe for almost 20 minutes before we landed it. Mark one down for the Gold coloured X-Rap. We continued to cast around the area Joe hooked that magic fish and landed a few smaller fish, again all on the gold colour.
Next major fish to be caught was a Threadfin Salmon that went 107cm, again to Joe’s Gold coloured X-Rap. Joe was on a roll and having the time of his life. Don’t get me wrong I was very happy for Joe, but here I was, a seasoned fisho, casting with pinpoint accuracy on each snag, working the lure to perfection with not results at all.
Joe had only just begun to master using a bait caster yet seemed to be landing all the fish. I switched to a white ghost colour, which again is a very attractive and proven Barra catcher. We moved into another small creek and again nothing would eat my lure and Joe was again smashed time after time on the Gold X-Rap.
I had well and truly had enough. It was 11.00am and I had not caught one fish and Joe had the session of his life. It was time to succumb to Michael’s theory and switch to the gold. First cast in I hooked an 82cm Barra. Coincidence perhaps? But, the day turned around instantly for me, as we were smashed time after time on the gold X-Raps.
Just to test the water again I switched to another colour. This time to the olive green. I have caught several Barra on this colour and felt confident it would work. We spotted a barra actually sitting in a snag facing into the current just waiting for a baitfish to smash. This would be a perfect test for the different colours. I landed my Olive Green X-Rap about 12 inches in front of its nose and worked the lure with fast twitches letting the current take it towards the fish. Nothing!
I repeated this about five times with no interest from the Barra at all. I used Joe’s rod next with the Gold X-Rap and repeated the process. The lure landed directly in front of the Barra’s nose and I used the same action as I had a moment ago with the Olive colour. Without hesitation the small Barra burst out of the snag and in traditional Barra fashion boofed the Gold X-Rap. I needed no further evidence that colour really does matter.
Incidentally, the following day was all about the Guns and Roses coloured Barra Mag. The gold caught few fish but nothing compared to the very brightly coloured Barra Mag. I guess it pays to have a few colours on hand and don’t be fooled into believing in only one colour.
Mark Berg
Great story Mark. Melville island sounds amazing. I have found that lure colour does matter on Barra. Gold coloured lures have always been my favourite. Love your work, keep it up.
Cheers from Brisbane.
Hi mark great Story on the barra fishing.
There have been a few good barra caught in the Noosa river in the last month. I caught a 8 pound
Coral Trout 3 weeks a go at Sunshine Reef when I was out with dad. I also start work Experience with Davo,s bait and tackle in June for a week.
I would like to invite you on our 6.3m tabs boat if you come to sunshine coast. you called me last year and made me very happy I hope you can make it from Sean and Dad and mum