Shocking Underwater Video + Test Shows Best Lure Color!

If you fish, you should watch this! I was shocked by what I saw when I recorded some underwater fishing video, but blown away at the lure color fishing test results that followed two days later. More than 70 fish were landed during the test. If you ever fish mornings, evenings, night, or in water that's not very clear, what you learn from this video will help you catch more fish. Do you think shiny lures are good? Think again! We finished this test with a doormat Summer Flounder (Fluke)!
---------Gear and Stuff------
Online Fishing Course Discounts - www.saltstrong.com/skinner/
New John Skinner Fluke/Flounder Rod: bit.ly/2QeiT6G
Fluke Reel: bit.ly/2SDW7Rg
Reel Power Handle: amzn.to/3pMJox8
Fluke Bucktail (2-ounce): bit.ly/2JUiXQ4
Teaser Lure (Silicone Skirt Glow): bit.ly/3bUtRmB
Spinning Rod: amzn.to/36qKt5k
Spinning Reel: bit.ly/2ICzn37
Gulp Bucktail Trailer (6-inch): bit.ly/2MYfaDe
Gulp 4-inch Pink: amzn.to/3aazv5R
A27 3-ounce Diamond Jig: bit.ly/3i5Wxj3
Gulp Hooks (3/0) : amzn.to/3p4MFYu
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Leader: amzn.to/3yDGUFx
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Trolling Motor: bit.ly/2VS9C2r
Fishfinder Coastmaster Chart - bit.ly/34KEcQo
The above are affiliate links.

[@trevorv5648]

For Christ’s sake, someone sponser John for a boat. He’s done more to help the layperson catch fish than anyone ever.

[@bluefj-wc3vz]

Lol A nice Whaler or Parker sponsor does not seem out of line

[@jimstoeckel179]

A nice Varka.us when I resume building.

[@howechilds5060]

Maybe he likes his old boat. He's got his stickers, knows how it rides, knows how deep the water has to be. I have an old fishing rod that I know is junk but I love it and I catch a lot of fish. Besides, maybe he wants to be incognito!

[@jimstoeckel179]

It does raise fish

[@adamdavi8869]

I would think a Steiger would be in order. Local fishing guru, local boat guru.

[@bobbymartin2604]

Hey John I love how you experiment. Great inspiration on how to never just settle with what’s normal and keep finding what works best

[@bobsmoot2392]

Great work, sir. Very informative. I learned a LOT! And it's just fun going along with you.

[@cullenbigd]

45 years ago, when I was a kid on LI I went on a party boat for blues in the fall above a wreck. Caught my first fluke and it remains the biggest one of my life, 28", 10.5 lbs. My parents were proud. PRs are great! You never forget.

[@brucedemoranville4577]

Outstanding video. Thank you for sharing the revealing video and the jig color tests results.

[@markcarson1844]

Great show John, good info and grats to bro on that doormat.

[@FreshwaterSouL]

Thank you very much for this video and the information you put into it. I got my brain thinking more for when I fish for crappie at 16' deep.Colors and jig profiles mean alot and this helps out alot from your video.

[@MFourns]

Great vid Skinner!!

[@jimmycomp]

Love your videos...Thank-you for these educational videos. I have learned so much from watching these videos. By far the best saltwater videos. Thank-you for your dedication.

[@wickedoutdooradventures6694]

Love the video !!!! Glad to support you brother, Captain Scott

[@ytpython73]

Nice last second save with the net John. That fluke was like "Ha! I got away... DAMNIT!"

[@alexbetancourt6378]

Amazing results,impressive thank you!

[@curtfriday7121]

Could you video the glow jig in the dark to see if we could see it?

[@lovinhouse374]

Great vid! Going to give Gulp glow a try for fluke in deeper water 👍🏻

[@Aight23]

I have been waiting for this video ever since it was briefly mentioned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jasonholliday7107]

Outstanding!! Great information as well 😎

[@willie-the-fisherman]

Wow John, that's is awesome thank you for this video 📹

[@davelester3357]

Man, the weakfish have really made a comeback, only took 35+ years. Maybe in 30 more years we can get 40-60lb cod and some nice pollack. 😎

[@benw2569]

You’re always teaching me something.

[@johnsamothrakis4621]

Thanks for another Great helpful Video

[@robfarnam938]

Nice, I like how you are constantly looking to improve your setup. The boat is just fine, seems like it gets you to the fish. Take care, Thanks

[@chuckbixler3570]

Well done test John. 🎣

[@josebordonada9180]

Great video John I learn a lot about lure colors in the dark , and black see to be the lure for night fishing . 🐠🐟🦈

[@artkitzmiller957]

Bob's "Holy Crap!" had me laughing. He sounded just like you on some of your PBs. It must be a family favorite quote. ;) I have some Black Bucktails in my tackle box that are going to get a workout on my next trip out!

[@Craiggy83]

John, this was a very interesting video. I cracked up after you showed the pitch black camera footage. I was thinking "so what revelation came from this", In the end it's amazing what your footage revealed since most people aren't throwing black or glow. Thank you!!

[@lennykibbs260]

Thanks for posting- I did this with fluke balls a few years ago, ordered some custom colored ones (black) from a local guy (upstate) making them in his house, he was hesitant to make black ones and finally realized im a paying customer, managed to still F up my order... anyway they did produce

[@flounderwetspot8524]

All the research aside, awesome to see you fishing with you’re brother.

[@joedennehy386]

A dozen or so years ago with gulp softbaits, one called midnight, which was nearly black. It out performed other lures in the very early morning 4am. Trout anglers here in New Zealand say dark day dark lure, bright day bright lure. Amazing video. Thanks

[@damnjustassignmeone]

Wow, great insight. Interesting stuff.

[@brianwaterman9588]

Great teaching video. Thanks

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Interesting lesson for sure

[@wiiwanna]

Wow John Skinner! Great video!

[@jobino511]

Congrats to Bob! Nice doormat!

[@BalmandMrryhofGilead]

Well done sir. Well done!

[@bettercallbernie959]

love the testings of colors

[@juanrodriguez-mu7ko]

Awesome well done John Skinner

[@joshrussell9460]

Man what a day with your brother . That's awesome congrats on the fluke Bob. Good to see so many weakfish the last couple of years

[@dieseldick1264]

GENIUS. YOU MAKE US ALL BETTER

[@matthewdoud7151]

The fact John only has 116 thousand subscribers is a mystery. The guys literally is a fishing encyclopedia with all the right equipment and even has his own products. It really dont make sense but his fishing always does. Gonna buy some black jigs John and I just picked up some uv glow cocahoes with a yellow tail. Gonna put em together next time I fish dirty water in the sun see what happens. Thx.

[@brianjones866]

Congratulations on the personal best fluke great video John I feel like I know a lot more now 👍🏽🇺🇸

[@Gypsyboy932]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@stevehogan8829]

Thanks John... Just discoverd you about a week ago.. Thanks for the great vides. That's a nice Fluke.

[@clamdiggerdan8581]

Very neat info.Now I have to figure out how deep is darkness!

[@7citiesfishing]

That's pretty epic right there! Knowledge bomb

[@yellostallion]

Great info. Thanks!

[@josephbernard1666]

Awesome video love using dark colors at night

[@BStavFishing]

Black and glow!! This is great! I've been using Tsunami swing hook fluke ball jigs in glow 1oz in the back bays of SJ for flounder for the last two seasons. I replace the stock short shaft hooks with Gamakatsu 3/0 or 4/0 baitholder hooks (not sure who turned me on to those hooks hahahahah). The jig is tipped with 4 inch Gulp grub in pink shine and I vary the gulp on the teaser above. The Tsunami glow ball jig and pink shine grub have outfished everything else that's been fished on my boat. This year has been a little slower than last year (I have my thoughts regarding why), but that glowing Tsunami ball jig with the swinging baitholder hook has been my go-to rig. We don't have anywhere near the depths you were fishing in this video, so I'd imagine that the light down below isn't the same. I think I'm gonna give a black gulp grub a try to see if it works. Great video Skinner and congrats to your brother for catching his personal best flattie!!

[@jamesps7515]

All hail Skinner, all hail Skinner! Dude you are really something. Congratulations to your brother! My favorite part of this video, “no i dont think its even the size of the last one...ah shit” grabs net, fish spits hook some how still goes home for dinner 😂 you’re the best the east coast has to offer and you cant argue it! Tight lines John

[@pwrplnt1975]

I'd love to see a lot more underwater videos along with your other amaz9ng videos!!

[@paulblanchard7123]

Very interesting video and under water camera with different colors. Congrats to your brother PB fluke

[@benadams4942]

Outstanding vids. Bravo

[@HWCism]

Nice video. Thanks

[@justinallen5145]

Long time fisherman short time viewer and have to say I love your video. Been fishing since 15 (23 now) and watching your videos alone helped me Excell a lot mostly with fluke fishing. Keep these videos coming!!!

[@jamesps7515]

I wouldn’t say 8 years is a long time fisherman, but hell yea man keep it up! If you’re a short time viewer you’ve been missing out! Tight lines!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Thanks for the kind words. It's great to see younger people fishing!

[@zacharywedding1]

Great video 👍👍👍

[@mikewhitaker2306]

Great video I've always heard black at night

[@smellyhipsters]

John Paduano said he also found small black jigs to work wonders and he couldn't figure out why. I know of guys who are big smallmouth fisherman and their recommendation is always gold on days with poor light conditions and/or deep water. There's certainly gold diamond jigs too but they seem less popular than chrome. Awesome content!

[@user-je6jx9gh1y]

Love the videos

[@crikeymoses2389]

Fantastic video, really useful info. Gotta say, I'm a 'belt and braces' angler-I'd be tempted to go black, AND a bit of luminous, plus a little extra fluoro too...

[@bcinnamonclark8301]

A very valuable lesson about the chrome. I will paint my Krocodile spoons Black and my Chrome colored lures. TY John

[@christophernieves5440]

Wow revelation is an understatement

[@GlocksAndGlizzys]

Another great video.

[@66shaggy77]

Congrats on that Doormat❗💯🤙🎣✌

[@leeseoWestport]

Nice job!

[@drafthorse3547]

When we night fish for largemouth smallmouth bass here in Tennessee we have always used either black or Junebug colors. Even use black top water plugs, spinnerbaits and buzz baits at night.

[@Primofishin]

Fishing days are always the best with your brother

[@johndewling9069]

Thanks for the info John I’m going on a deep sea trip in new England in April in about 300 feet of water I’m gonna get a glow jig and a glow teaser !

[@vondoomliff5183]

I’ve always been taught silver/chrome is for clear water, medium light (overcast, morning/evening when the sun is low). Black/dark is for low light and dirty water when the fish are more keyed into silhouette and the absence of light (bait blocking the moonlight). Gold is for clear water, bright light (and always for Spanish mackerel), it reflects but less than silver so it’s not too much for the fish on really bright days. Never tried glow, might need to change that.

[@thegoods2240]

I have always painted my deep metal jigs white on one side, and black on the other, for contrast. Even my heavy bucktails for deep water I'll color half the hair with black Sharpie marker, or I'll use white hair with the head painted black, and a black trailer.

[@conordowling8259]

This is such a great video! I think it demonstrates that the fish actually seeing the lure (or seeing it clearly) is a big piece of the puzzle, maybe an obvious thing to say, but I think it is overlooked. I would be very interested to see how a white lure would work under the same conditions. I have a couple of comments. The fact that the black lure caught more fish would indicate there is still some light at the depth you were fishing (however low the intensity) otherwise it would not create a silhouette. Also, the high number of foul hooked fish on the chrome jig (given you were using single hooks) seems too high for this to be a “snagging” type situation. I might be wrong, but I am guessing these were deliberate hits on the chrome jig where the fish could not get a definitive view of where the jig was, knew something was there and hit at it anyway, getting foul hooked. I have been painting some of my jigs bright yellow for fishing dirty water in the surf for a couple of years and have done much better with the yellow over the plain chrome. Looking forward to your next video.

[@LongIslandLethals]

Awesome video John, how cool is that? Your bro cathing his PB on your rod with you. Thanks for the excellent content 👍

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I never would have guessed that's black water under the boat in those spots.

[@alponyberg6107]

I used to jig for stripers almost exclusively with diamond jigs(chrome). Last 4/5 years I’ve been using butterfly style jigs which are usually painted finishes in different color patterns. I didn’t realize until now that not using chrome may have improved my fishing. Had my personal best bass last season 30.5 lbs. mid August! Side note, my bass/bluefish ratio has been around 6/1. Western LI Sound

[@nikmar1338]

Amazing!

[@rogerr7856]

As with bass fishing, shiny, white, bright colors in clear water, sunny days, dull dark lures in murky low light conditions. Glow helps in dark conditions. And white braid is the hardest to see in deeper water because it absorbs/reflects the surrounding color. Red, green etc turn darker, easier for fish to see same as with lures.

[@mcdude3005]

Interesting test I’ve only been using silver with glow jigs for tilefish. I’ve been told red with gold is a good deep water grouper jig color. Wonder how gold would do against silver?

[@vincentfrasca9991]

Hi John, Great video as always! What net do you use on your boat?

[@robgrubb420]

this is exactly what I have found for colors working black gives the best silhouette, which makes it viable at night and low light depths. Glow is always a great color at low light depths as well. Chrome seems to be a shallow water/ clear water/ sunny type of success.

[@SaneAsylum]

Spot on!

[@timconnors3211]

When you attack science, you attack John Skinner! great info and very very entertaining video John! Black diving bombers are always in my night bag. Thanks for sharing! Your brother looked so thrilled to bag that doormat!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

He was shocked. Biggest he'd ever seen.

[@jbelpre]

Another outstanding video John.

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

Hmmm this is very interesting indeed. So maybe it is more about the vibrations if so then a jig that makes more commotion might do even better.. as well as banging the bottom more.. I wonder if this would have good application for deep lakes as well. Might be worth it to try the glow in the dark on some lakes.🤔 Great experiment sir! 🙌🏻🤙🏻

[@KCsniper79]

Great video John, I’m seeing a lot more people catching weakfish in the Cape Cod area, an as for your brother and that doormat I don’t think he could believe it really nice fish..🤙🏼🤙🏼..

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Great news on the cape weaks.

[@The6stringpenguin]

Hey John. Would love to see you perform the same color test with bucktails and fluke. Thanks!

[@fishtailfred8686]

I was just watching this thinking ..hmm..why is he always using white bucktails?

[@sumptinfishy]

Great video. I wonder if a black/glow combo jig would work as well or better than solid black or solid glow.

[@dominiciadicicco8935]

John, Fish do have a version of night vision from what I am reading. It would be interesting to know how they see in the dark, what colors, and so forth.

[@johnweinbuch2060]

My parents used to own a tackle shop on Tremont Ave in the Bronx about 20 years ago. I remember my dad telling me about a commercial fisherman he was friendly with who was constantly on fish - even when it was slow. He only ever used black jigs and black bucktails.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I get why now.

[@Onewayto2024]

I’ve been killing it in FL this spring with the snook at night with black bucktails and black trailers. White, yellow or chartreuse hardly get a bump. Great video John!!!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Just like the wine red bucktails working well in the South Shore inlets at night. It was nice to see the side-by-side test though with a good number of fish. Glad you're hitting the snook! Any luck on darters and bottles?

[@Onewayto2024]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing Thanks John! Unfortunately I haven’t been fishing in areas where I could really use darters & bottles to their full potential. I need to try a nearby inlet with stronger currents and rips.

[@xanderaibas6253]

my dude, thanks.

[@Captain-Seasick]

What a fluke . Congrats to your brother

[@johna9530]

You should do the same test on bass!

[@djttimeebp8249]

Wow that's unreal

[@alphaperez]

Exceptional. I love the scientific method of collecting and analyzing data. I'm wondering how the camera lens functions in low light conditions? My iPhone has difficulty in low light conditions; the screen will appear dark or black even when my eyes can still see. Black sure outfished the chrome either way though, and very interesting insights about the weakfish hiding from blues. Makes sense. Congrats to Bob on that big fluke. 61 fish!

[@bradluongo4604]

Is there a way to polish up metals/diamond jigs , I mean I always rinse mine off and wipe them down but eventually they do get dull ??

[@lukequinn6195]

I have used a black one up shad very successfully.

[@usobninja14]

Damn, was a little upset when the thumbnail showed a rocky shoreline and it wasn’t a shore based video, still an awesome video loaded with a ton of useful information tho, best of luck with the rest of the 2021 season

[@frenchtoast963]

Yes

[@eddielikesfishing]

Red is the first color in the spectrum to turn black underwater at 3', which is probably why you were doing well with pink. Violet is the last color in the spectrum to turn black. I used to know what depth all the individual colors would turn black, but that was a long time ago. Congratulations to your brother Bob on his personal best summer flounder aka fluke. Thank you for this experiment and tight lines.

[@TruthSeekingAlways]

Black is the 1st color to turn black under water 😆

[@eddielikesfishing]

@@TruthSeekingAlways Black is a shade, red is a color. 😃

[@bigfri5]

Spray painting my jetty caster bucktails black tomorrow

[@jamesdubela4605]

Excellent video that confirmed a suspicion of mine. However, I wonder if a white jig v black v glow would be of any value?

[@reginaldfowle4586]

You might like the black jig by Point Jude also called the PO-Jee black jig. I love mine. I believe it's 1 oz and a half

[@mbartolacc]

i bought some glow rubber tails to go with single hooks that i swap out trebles for on my various types of jigs, i wonder if a glow tail on a black jig is the best of both worlds (have not tried this)

[@Munromh]

John love your videos, great stuff! As a local New England diver who also does video my one comment is check/test the low light capabilities of this camera. I'm going to guess there's still ambient light where the camera was but the sensor just couldn't process it.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

There's probably a little light, but I found it real interesting how in whatever low light that was that chrome lost its effectiveness.

[@SaneAsylum]

Certainly the fish aren't just feeling around in the dark. They must see the lures reasonably well. How they see them at that depth is the real question (presumably answered by the catch rates). The black would amplify the shadow effect whereas the glow would create contrast in another way. In both cases though I would guess that contrast is the effective mechanism.