ERHAI / COLOUR LOGIC

Our Colour Selection

Built on Underwater Reality

Colours look distinct above water.

Many lure colours are easy to tell apart above the surface. Underwater, light absorption and scattering reduce saturation and compress colour differences — especially with depth, distance, and turbidity.

ERHAI selects colours using a simple standard:

Each option must remain functionally distinct underwater — through contrast, tone, and controlled chroma.

ERHAI / UNDERWATER COLOUR LOGIC

What water does to colour

Water does not treat colour equally. It filters, compresses, and shifts signals before fish ever see them.

Distance reduces separation
Depth shifts available light
Turbidity amplifies compression

Diagram showing how water changes visible lure colour underwater

Fish react to signal, not catalog codes

Bass are visual predators. They detect usable contrast and motion cues.

They do not evaluate:

Flake density differences within 3%
Slight temperature shifts of the same base colour

If two colours produce the same underwater signal, adding both increases noise, not choice clarity.

Diagram showing what bass sees underwater

Our Colour Logic

If there are fewer colours, how do I pick the right one?

Start with water conditions, not personal preference.

Clear + bright → subtle contrast / natural transparency
Stained + low light → stronger silhouette / higher contrast

This keeps colour selection fast, practical, and easier to defend on the water.

What about flake—does it matter?

Yes—but mainly as a light interaction feature.

Flake changes how the bait reflects and glints under the available light field. Underwater, that effect depends on both the water’s optical properties and the quality of illumination.

ERHAI keeps flake controlled so it adds signal without adding unnecessary noise, especially in clear, pressured water.

Are “natural” colours always better in clear water?

Not always.

Clear water punishes mistakes, but that does not automatically mean the most “natural” colour wins. Sometimes a cleaner silhouette—not a louder colour—is what makes the difference.

ERHAI treats colour as contrast management, not decoration.

Why do you use a small, defined colour set?

Because a larger palette can imply a level of precision that the underwater light field often does not preserve.

ERHAI keeps the lineup tight so each option remains functionally distinct after water optics, light loss, and contrast compression are taken into account.

How does ERHAI choose colours, in plain terms?

We use a constraints-first approach.

Optics: will the colour remain separable underwater in terms of contrast, tone, and chroma under realistic conditions?
Biology: is there evidence bass can use that kind of cue?
Field validation: if a colour does not hold up in repeated use, it does not stay in the lineup.

Still Not Sure?

Find the right colour with our guide

Choose by Water, Not by Guess

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