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I have found over the years that generally gold spinners seem to catch more fish than silver ones do. However, at times only the silver will catch fish. I have learned that lighting and water clarity play a role in this. My observations are based on using the same exact lures with the two colors. I am curious as to your other opinions as well on why it plays out this way and reasons behind it. So which do you catch more with... Gold or Silver?
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One thing I've heard a lot is weather plays a role. On overcast days use gold, on bright days use silver. I can verify that this has worked for me.
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[quote happybob91]One thing I've heard a lot is weather plays a role. On overcast days use gold, on bright days use silver. I can verify that this has worked for me.[/quote]

Exactly-- it is all in how the light reflects off
The bait.
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I really don't think there are absolutes on it and sometimes the fish just want what they want. Figuring out why can just give you a headache. That said, here are a few things I've noticed.

1. White bass love silver.

2. Trout in clear water streams prefer gold.

3. If a river is murky and off color, silver works better.

4. Anything goes when using spinners in lakes.
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Once you use black, you'll never go back.
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LOL ... Oh, man Jim.
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It depends but I always have a variety of colors when I'm using spinners on the Provo. I typically will use a gold or silver variation regardless. I just make sure I have both just in case.
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Black was the color on a trip into some back country lakes a few years back
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I mostly fish spinners for trout in clear streams and beaver ponds. I have probably caught more fish on a black lure with a gold spinner than every other combination put together. But, I don't know why.
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My favorite spinner of all time is a silver and blue #2 Blue Fox. I'll bet i have 10 of them in my box. Fishing the salt and snake rivers in Wyoming it cant be beat
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i've caught hundreds of Northern pike on plain old silver spoons- they cant resist them ( should note i'm a Midwest transplant)
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I'm with Jim! Caught way more on black than gold or silver combined. Has contrast in stained or clear water. It just flat works.
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Strange. I've noticed the opposite in my ventures. Always done better on silver than gold.

Like betterthanwork, my all time favorite lure is a #2 Blue Fox. However, I prefer plain silver, over silver and blue. Gold is my second favorite.

I have had days that only gold work, though.

I've never tried black, as some have suggested. Gonna give it a try.

Fish are weird.
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I like the old classic jake's lure. Have caught fish on gold, silver, white with red dots, red with white dots, and black.

Some high mt. lakes red is all that works. I keep a combo of colors at all times.
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Black huh?

That's interesting.........
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Intuitively, I would generally reach for a gold spinner first, and I agree with one of the posters, regarding a black body (with spots) and a gold blade as a top producer. Seems to me that gold is a little more subtle and less likely to scare fish off, with silver on a bright day in cold, clear water seeming a little too much to me. However, both can work well, depending on conditions, time of day, etc, and certainly for some fishes (white bass) silver seems to be the way to go.

Growing up, my dad and his dad used to use Mepps spinners, though it seems as those have gone out of vogue a bit. I used to have two "go to" spinners when fishing the mighty north California tribs of the sacramento; they were black and brown rooster tails (which I dont see used much in Utah) and gold panther martins, which I think are still around and used fairly often.

I think a lot of it is personal preference and totemic power, and if you're fishing with a lure you really believe in, you're likely to fish it confidently, and longer, thereby reinforcing your prejudices.
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