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Why Bream Love The Colour Motor Oil
Magic of Motor Oil Color in Soft Plastics & Why It Works So Well for Bream Fishing
In the world of soft plastic fishing lures, one color has stood out among anglers for its remarkable effectiveness: *motor oil.* Known for its unique appearance and versatility, motor oil has become a favorite for targeting bream, one of Australia’s most popular inshore fish species. In this post, we’ll dive into what makes motor oil color so special, exploring its distinctive appearance, how it’s created, and, most importantly, why it works so well for catching bream.
What Is Motor Oil Color?
The motor oil color in soft plastics is a blend that combines a greenish-brown hue with an iridescent or fluorescent sheen, often shifting colors depending on the angle of the light. At first glance, motor oil might look like a dark, dull green or brown. However, when the lure moves or catches light, it reveals flashes of orange, red, or even purple. This chameleon-like quality gives it an edge, making it resemble various prey items under different water conditions.
Motor oil’s unique color-changing effect is not random—it’s intentionally created to mimic the light refraction that occurs with many natural baitfish and crustaceans underwater. Its versatility allows it to work in multiple water conditions, from clear estuaries to murky tidal flows, enhancing its appeal to bream and other inshore species.
How Is Motor Oil Color Made?
Creating motor oil color involves blending different pigments, dyes, and sometimes micro-flakes to achieve the color-changing effect. The main components are usually dark green or brown pigments with added iridescent particles. Here’s a general breakdown of how the color is achieved:
Base Pigment: A base color, typically a dark green or brown, is used to give the motor oil lure its primary look. This shade serves as the dominant color when the lure is stationary or viewed without light interference.
Iridescent Particles: The magic of motor oil lies in the use of tiny iridescent or metallic particles, often in shades of orange, red, or purple, which are mixed with the base color. These particles catch and reflect light, creating a shimmering effect. As the lure moves underwater, these particles reflect varying colors, giving it the distinctive “oil slick” appearance.
Micro-Flakes: In some variations, micro-flakes or glitter are added to create a subtle sparkle, enhancing the effect by making the lure shimmer as it moves. These tiny flakes mimic the reflective scales of small fish or crustacean shells, adding realism to the lure.
The combination of these elements produces a lure with a highly versatile color profile. When underwater, the lure appears different depending on factors like light angle, water clarity, and movement, making it more attractive to bream by mimicking the look of natural prey in various environments.
Why Motor Oil Color Is So Effective for Bream
Bream are known for their opportunistic feeding habits, and they rely heavily on sight to locate food, particularly in clear or shallow waters. Motor oil lures work exceptionally well for bream for several reasons:
Camouflage and Visibility Balance
The dual nature of the motor oil color makes it perfect for balancing visibility and camouflage. In murky or stained waters, the darker green-brown base helps the lure blend in naturally, making it less intimidating to the fish. At the same time, the iridescent particles add just enough flash to catch the attention of nearby bream, triggering curiosity without being too conspicuous.
This balance of camouflage and visibility allows motor oil lures to be effective in various water conditions, from clear to brackish environments. In situations where other colors might be too bright or too dull, motor oil hits the sweet spot.
Mimicking Natural Prey
The motor oil color closely resembles several types of prey that bream commonly feed on, including crustaceans, small fish, and aquatic insects. These natural prey items often have similar iridescent or reflective qualities in their shells or scales, especially under sunlight or filtered water. When bream see the motor oil lure, it closely resembles these familiar food sources, making them more likely to strike.
Furthermore, the color-changing effect of motor oil is especially effective at mimicking prey in motion. As the lure moves, it flashes different colors, imitating the shimmer and movement of a live creature. This feature helps the lure stand out while still looking natural, increasing its effectiveness.
Versatility in Different Water Conditions
One of the biggest advantages of the motor oil color is its adaptability. This color is highly effective in both clear and murky water, making it a go-to choice for many bream anglers who fish in varying conditions. Here’s how motor oil performs across different water types:
Clear Water: In clear water, the motor oil’s iridescent quality comes alive. The lure reflects sunlight, creating flashes of color that resemble the movement of small fish or crustaceans. This subtle flash doesn’t appear overly bright, which can sometimes spook bream in clear, shallow water. Instead, it looks natural and enticing, drawing bream in for a closer look.
Brackish or Murky Water: In stained or brackish water, motor oil’s darker base allows it to stand out just enough without appearing unnatural. The lure’s color blends well with the muted tones of the water, and the iridescent flashes help it remain visible even in low-light or murky conditions. This adaptability makes motor oil a reliable choice when fishing in estuaries, rivers, and other inshore environments where water clarity can vary.
Proven Success and Popularity Among Anglers
Motor oil has gained popularity because it consistently produces results, especially with bream. Many experienced anglers swear by this color, reporting higher catch rates and more aggressive bites compared to other colors. Its proven track record has made motor oil a staple in many anglers' tackle boxes, especially those who frequently target bream.
The color’s success has also been supported by lure manufacturers, who continue to release motor oil variations across various soft plastic designs. From grub tails to paddle tails, motor oil color lures are available in numerous shapes and sizes, allowing anglers to tailor their approach based on the fishing conditions and bream behavior.
Motor oil soft plastics work best in areas where bream are naturally hunting for food. Look for structures like jetties, rock pools, mangroves, or drop-offs where bream are likely to be patrolling for prey. Motor oil lures perform best with some light, as the iridescent particles rely on light reflection to create their flash. Fishing during dawn, dusk, or on sunny days can enhance the lure’s visual appeal.
The motor oil color in soft plastics is a top choice for targeting bream, thanks to its unique appearance, versatility, and proven effectiveness. Its color-changing qualities mimic the look of natural prey and adapt well to different water conditions, making it a valuable tool for any angler. Whether you’re fishing in clear or murky waters, motor oil lures can help you consistently land bream, adding a reliable edge to your fishing strategy.
In the world of soft plastic fishing lures, one color has stood out among anglers for its remarkable effectiveness: *motor oil.* Known for its unique appearance and versatility, motor oil has become a favorite for targeting bream, one of Australia’s most popular inshore fish species. In this post, we’ll dive into what makes motor oil color so special, exploring its distinctive appearance, how it’s created, and, most importantly, why it works so well for catching bream.
What Is Motor Oil Color?
The motor oil color in soft plastics is a blend that combines a greenish-brown hue with an iridescent or fluorescent sheen, often shifting colors depending on the angle of the light. At first glance, motor oil might look like a dark, dull green or brown. However, when the lure moves or catches light, it reveals flashes of orange, red, or even purple. This chameleon-like quality gives it an edge, making it resemble various prey items under different water conditions.
Motor oil’s unique color-changing effect is not random—it’s intentionally created to mimic the light refraction that occurs with many natural baitfish and crustaceans underwater. Its versatility allows it to work in multiple water conditions, from clear estuaries to murky tidal flows, enhancing its appeal to bream and other inshore species.
How Is Motor Oil Color Made?
Creating motor oil color involves blending different pigments, dyes, and sometimes micro-flakes to achieve the color-changing effect. The main components are usually dark green or brown pigments with added iridescent particles. Here’s a general breakdown of how the color is achieved:
Base Pigment: A base color, typically a dark green or brown, is used to give the motor oil lure its primary look. This shade serves as the dominant color when the lure is stationary or viewed without light interference.
Iridescent Particles: The magic of motor oil lies in the use of tiny iridescent or metallic particles, often in shades of orange, red, or purple, which are mixed with the base color. These particles catch and reflect light, creating a shimmering effect. As the lure moves underwater, these particles reflect varying colors, giving it the distinctive “oil slick” appearance.
Micro-Flakes: In some variations, micro-flakes or glitter are added to create a subtle sparkle, enhancing the effect by making the lure shimmer as it moves. These tiny flakes mimic the reflective scales of small fish or crustacean shells, adding realism to the lure.
The combination of these elements produces a lure with a highly versatile color profile. When underwater, the lure appears different depending on factors like light angle, water clarity, and movement, making it more attractive to bream by mimicking the look of natural prey in various environments.
Why Motor Oil Color Is So Effective for Bream
Bream are known for their opportunistic feeding habits, and they rely heavily on sight to locate food, particularly in clear or shallow waters. Motor oil lures work exceptionally well for bream for several reasons:
Camouflage and Visibility Balance
The dual nature of the motor oil color makes it perfect for balancing visibility and camouflage. In murky or stained waters, the darker green-brown base helps the lure blend in naturally, making it less intimidating to the fish. At the same time, the iridescent particles add just enough flash to catch the attention of nearby bream, triggering curiosity without being too conspicuous.
This balance of camouflage and visibility allows motor oil lures to be effective in various water conditions, from clear to brackish environments. In situations where other colors might be too bright or too dull, motor oil hits the sweet spot.
Mimicking Natural Prey
The motor oil color closely resembles several types of prey that bream commonly feed on, including crustaceans, small fish, and aquatic insects. These natural prey items often have similar iridescent or reflective qualities in their shells or scales, especially under sunlight or filtered water. When bream see the motor oil lure, it closely resembles these familiar food sources, making them more likely to strike.
Furthermore, the color-changing effect of motor oil is especially effective at mimicking prey in motion. As the lure moves, it flashes different colors, imitating the shimmer and movement of a live creature. This feature helps the lure stand out while still looking natural, increasing its effectiveness.
Versatility in Different Water Conditions
One of the biggest advantages of the motor oil color is its adaptability. This color is highly effective in both clear and murky water, making it a go-to choice for many bream anglers who fish in varying conditions. Here’s how motor oil performs across different water types:
Clear Water: In clear water, the motor oil’s iridescent quality comes alive. The lure reflects sunlight, creating flashes of color that resemble the movement of small fish or crustaceans. This subtle flash doesn’t appear overly bright, which can sometimes spook bream in clear, shallow water. Instead, it looks natural and enticing, drawing bream in for a closer look.
Brackish or Murky Water: In stained or brackish water, motor oil’s darker base allows it to stand out just enough without appearing unnatural. The lure’s color blends well with the muted tones of the water, and the iridescent flashes help it remain visible even in low-light or murky conditions. This adaptability makes motor oil a reliable choice when fishing in estuaries, rivers, and other inshore environments where water clarity can vary.
Proven Success and Popularity Among Anglers
Motor oil has gained popularity because it consistently produces results, especially with bream. Many experienced anglers swear by this color, reporting higher catch rates and more aggressive bites compared to other colors. Its proven track record has made motor oil a staple in many anglers' tackle boxes, especially those who frequently target bream.
The color’s success has also been supported by lure manufacturers, who continue to release motor oil variations across various soft plastic designs. From grub tails to paddle tails, motor oil color lures are available in numerous shapes and sizes, allowing anglers to tailor their approach based on the fishing conditions and bream behavior.
Motor oil soft plastics work best in areas where bream are naturally hunting for food. Look for structures like jetties, rock pools, mangroves, or drop-offs where bream are likely to be patrolling for prey. Motor oil lures perform best with some light, as the iridescent particles rely on light reflection to create their flash. Fishing during dawn, dusk, or on sunny days can enhance the lure’s visual appeal.
The motor oil color in soft plastics is a top choice for targeting bream, thanks to its unique appearance, versatility, and proven effectiveness. Its color-changing qualities mimic the look of natural prey and adapt well to different water conditions, making it a valuable tool for any angler. Whether you’re fishing in clear or murky waters, motor oil lures can help you consistently land bream, adding a reliable edge to your fishing strategy.
