Q. Every year, there are new, hot lures and patterns on the market. What are the hot patterns and lures that are all the rage this year?
A. I ran your question by Chip Leer, a longtime professional angler and guide, outdoor communicator and fishing promoter from Walker, Minn., and here's what he had to say:
"The hottest color going right now in all of fishing is not a color at all, but a coating. Many leading tackle manufacturers are now adding a UV (Ultra Violet Optical Brightener) coating to their products that allow fish to see the lures in darker, deeper water. Humans cannot see the UV coating, but we can understand how it works if you have ever seen a fluorescent object under a black light.
"The UV coating over certain colors helps fish find your lure in less-than-ideal conditions. Look for the letters 'UV' on your favorite tackle packages, as some companies have started adding it to existing products.
"You are also seeing new products developed with the UV paint or coating integrated into the product during the development process. Good examples are Rapala, which simply added UV to many of its products already existing, while Northland Tackle designed specific products with UV in mind such as the new Gami-Jig and, coming this winter, the new UV Buck-Shot Rattle Spoons."
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And yes, Leer added, you might need another tackle box!
If you have a question for Talkin' with Dokken, call (701) 780-1148 or send an email to bdokken@gfherald.com .
