What are the Best Spinner Colors for Steelhead?

Water conditions, weather, and time of day will dictate the proper steelhead spinner color(s) and finish for success. Using the proper steelhead spinner, first cast of the day, is key. “So... what are the best spinner colors for steelhead?” This depends on the...

Weather Conditions
Water Conditions
Time of day
Background color(s) the fish views your spinner against

I've spent most of my life fishing for salmon and steelhead. Spinner fishing was my favorite method.

My goal is to make sure you're spending your steelhead spinner fishing time effectively.

Steelhead Spinner Selection Based on Weather and Water conditions

The information below is not set in stone. However...It's a good base point. I've followed these principals with occasional adjustments, here and there. For instance... if it's sunny and the water is clear and warm...

Using a copper or tarished brass blade may work although...

...a black steelhead spinner blade is standard. Remember, confidence plays an important role!

My temperature ranges discussed below are cold or warm. If the water is cool, I might lean towards the warm or cold choices. Avoid over-thinking this. Confidence, persistency, and fishing where the fish are is most important.

Clear and Cold Water: “What are the Best Spinner Colors for Steelhead?”

Overcast/Rainy

Components: Silver blade. Silver body. Green Tubing
Adornments: Pink. Red. Orange. Chartreuse

Sunny

Components: Gold blade. Gold body. Green tubing
Adornments: Green

Clear and Warm Water

Overcast

Components: Tarnished brass or copper blade. Same for body
Adornments: Subtle green

Sunny

Components: Coffee or black blade. Same for body
Adornments: Black or subtle green

“What are the best Spinner Colors for Steelhead in Green and Cold Water?”

Overcast

Components: Silver
Adornments: Chartreuse. Red

Sunny

Components: Silver
Adornments: Chartreuse. Black. Red

Green and Warm Water

Usually, when the water is green, the temperature is usually cool/cold.

Stained Water

If the water is off-color, use gold, black and chartreuse during all steelhead spinner fishing conditions.

Low Light

Black and glo white is best during all conditions. When it lightens up a hair, use a steelhead spinner with a matte silver blade.

Other Factors Effecting Proper Steelhead Spinner Selection

Background

The blade finish, body color/finish and adorments must contrast against the background which is viewed by the fish.

Contrasting Steelhead Spinner Colors

Contrasting spinner blade, body, and adornment colors will make your steelhead spiner easier to see... especially in off-color water.

“What are the Best Spinner Colors for Steelhead if their Eyes Are...

...Blue Sensitive?

When a steelhead enters a river from the ocean... it's eyes are blue and green sensitive. Use shades of these colors while fishing for fresh-run Summer and Winter Steelhead.

Red Sensitive?

After a steelhead has been in the river a few days... it's eyes become more sensitive to spawning colors. Lean towards, if conditions permit, red, pink or orange.

Color Range

Underwater, colors shift, according to water color and depth. For instance... if you're using red (especially non-florescent) in off-color water... it may appear black to the steelhead. As the distance/depth increase, so does the amount of color shifting.

Clear Water

Short Range: Red, orange.
Medium Range: Yellow, violet
Long Distance: Green, blue

Green Water

Short Range: Red, orange.
Medium Range: Yellow, blue
Long Distance: Green

Turbid

Very short range with all colors listed above.

Word about Using Florescent Colors while Spinner Fishing for Steelhead.

Florescent colors shift less over greater distances before changing to gray, then black. Colors like black and purple are not florescent.

I always choose florescent beads, lure tape and tubing over non-florescent.

Shine a black light on the steelhead spinner. If it doesn't glow, it's not florescent...regardless of what the packaging says.

Steelhead Spinner Blade Finishes

Here's a list of Steelhead Spinner Blade metals, platings and finishes, from brightest to dullest:

Silver plate
Gold plate
Polished brass
Polished aluminum
Polished copper
Chrome plate
Nickel plate
Tarnished brass
Coffee...

And finally... you guessed it... black!

Silver-Bladed Steelhead Spinners

Mattee silver is much brighter than shiny silver, which will reflect the background color...

Making it harder for the steelhead to locate your spinner.

Adornments

Beads: Different color beads will add contrast to your steelhead spinner.
Lure tape: Steelhead spinner lure tape can be added to the front or back of the blade. Using different colors provides contrast.
Hook tubing: Colored tubing added to the hook shank is effective.

Tip: Cold and Warm Steelhead Spinner Water

Steelhead are aggressive in warm water. Overall, I tend to shy away from the brighter colors. I also feel that I don't need to “wake them up.”

Cold water fish tend to be more lethargic... I feel that brighter colors “wake 'em up.”

A Winter Steelhead will act the same as a Summer Steelhead if the water temperatures are equal.

So... What are the Best Spinner Colors for Steelhead?

It depends on the current water and weather coditions, including time of day. When you arrive on your favorite steelhead spinner river... it'll take you no more than five minutes to:

Take the water temperature
Check the weather and water coditions and...
...make your choice instantly.

You won't need to pack dozens of steelhead spinners. Take only what you need to make the necessary choice, along with some spares.

Steelhead Conservation Comes First

Please get involved. Our West Coast steelhead fishery is slowly declining. Habitat distruction is not the only culprit. There's a lot of missing parts that need fixing. Here's some great information.

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