By Joe Cermele

How often do you look at a lure and decide it needs a stripe of red marker under the gills or a touch of bright-orange Krylon on the blade? Some of the most successful anglers I know buy a lure and immediately add their own subtle color changes. But Larry LaRue makes lure color his business. A Gulf War veteran, Oregonian LaRue is somewhat of a mad scientist of color, painting known Northwest producers like Kwikfish and selling them under the moniker Looney Lures. But if you think his wild color schemes are meant to catch the angler’s eye only, think again.

I first read about LaRue in Fish Alaska magazine. There I found out that he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and uses his hobby as a “way to find internal peace.” The skulls on his lures represent “war time memories." But there is some serious thought behind LaRue’s colors. Interestingly, LaRue places a lot of emphasis on water temperature when choosing lure colors. And his creations are catching fish and turning heads in the Northwest. LaRue inspired me to start digging through my wife’s nail polish collection and tinkering, so I got in touch with him to find out more. Perhaps he’ll inspire you, too.

FS: What was the turning point in your fishing career that made you decide you wanted to begin painting your own lures?
LaRue: It wasn't so much that I was unhappy with the available colors, but as I learned how to fish in the Northwest I began to understand how the colors were effective or not effective in different areas, temperatures, and depths. After I retired from the military in 2004 I began painting my own spinners under the guidance of renowned Portland angler Fred Trowbridge. In 2006, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Phil Rabideau, a lure inventor for Mepps and master of color technology. He took me in as his student and taught me about salmon and steelhead behavior, lure attributes, structure, the barometer, tide, and moon phases. After hundreds of hours of study I mastered color technology and applied it to my custom designs. My wife says I think and see like a fish.

FS: Do you remember the first custom lure you painted that caught a fish?
LaRue: My first spinner was a #7 Indiana blade, hammered back, rainbow with a blue tip. I was so jacked up that I gave everyone I was fishing with the same blue tip blade and we all caught fish for two weeks. That'll do it to ya!

FS: What is your top-selling color now?
LaRue: My top seller is the "Green Monster" (above) because as a rule of thumb here in the Northwest, emerald green and fluorescent green are the first colors salmon and steelhead moving from salt- to freshwater before spawning are attracted to.

FS: What is the most important thing an angler needs to know before selecting a lure color?
LaRue: Fish, particularly salmon and steelhead, react to color differently in cold, cool, and warm water, but they all have an optimum temperature. In water colder than that optimum temperature, they’ll react strongly to bright lures. At a cooler, mid-range temperature, use mid-range tone lures, like brass, chrome, or gold. If the water is warmer than the fishs’ optimum temperature, they get uncomfortable so you have to use dark lures because brights often spook them more than attract them.

Aside from Kwikfish, LaRue also paints spoons and spinners, so if you’re interested in buying some of his lures, you can reach him at larry.larue@us.army.mil or at (503) 954-0487. Looney Lures currently has no website, but LaRue will happily send you a shot of his vast color line up and help you pick patterns based on the water conditions in your area - JC

Comments (16)

from rdorman wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

That's some very interesting information. I wonder if it applies to any other types of fish?

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from Albert A Rasch wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Hey, if it works, and it makes LaRue a decent living, I'm all for it! Email on its way!

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
Ruger 10/22 Magazine Repair Tutorial

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Kort Barlow wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Fully cool post.

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from shane wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Someone help this guy get a website so he can make the big bucks. He deserves it, not only for his service but also for his dedication to fishing and his very smart, artistic, as well as scientific approach to helping people catch more fish.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

I want two - one to fish with and one to keep. Thanks for posting.

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from tkbone wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

We all have our amateur color theories but this guy's analysis sounds really well researched and reasoned - he ought to write a book on this (I'd buy one).

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from GHOSTREC wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

This Fishing lure designer is always finding away to be hind the enemies lines.AWESOME JOB LOONEYLURES WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THE PASSIONS OF COLOR DESIGN I WOULD BUY YOUR BOOK.

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from thebigone wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

yeah he really needs a website and a book in fact he should think about making his own small company

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Modern Day Moun... wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Good info, I think I'll try experimenting with painting my own lures now.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chrishinson1971 wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

i would for sure use lures like these i am almost ceretain they would catch fish to flashy not to .

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mikpike61 wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

I've been painting my pike lures for many years too, and can say that they very often outfish the box lure. I am no artist, but luckily they only have to look pretty to the fish. I recommend you bring some small model paints in your fish's favorite colors next time you're fish camp. That way when Vollmar is killing them on yellow and red, you can match his colors before he laps you.

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from jamesti wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

my sisters used to hate it when i would go through their nail polish to customize my lures. i actually caught fish off of them though.

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from countitandone wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

LaRue has found a nitch market. Bravo!

I've never understood the skull thing, however. If you want to purchase MC gear, be it Harley or knock-off, you run the gamut of skulls on bike paint jobs, clothing and helmets. The pre-occupation of death with skulls on anything, in my opinion, is too weird for me. It's a money maker though, in many genre.

JC, I've tinkered as well on hard baits in the past. Long before eyes were available on Needlefish and other Luhr-Jensen products, I copied the Flatfish eyes and applied them to eye-less lures. Once applied, I quick sprayed a clear lacquer for a hard finish coat.

To my way of thinking, eyes have got to be on any hard baits I'll try using. Luckily for me, every hard bait that I believe will work for my waters already have them painted on. Thankfully so, 'cause in no way am I the artist LaRue is to our sport.

Thanks JC for the link. Great post, once again.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from countitandone wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

And I honor his service and what he deals with every day.

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from ctilander wrote 49 weeks 6 hours ago

Larry (looney tunes) LaRue,
I've known this cat since he was a kid, I'm very proud of him, not only for his success, but mostly for his friendship and military service to our great nation.

Congratulations my friend, keep up the great work, Semper Fidelis...
May God bless you 7 fold...; Carl

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Steelie Phil wrote 45 weeks 8 min ago

Hi the lures look great, i just started to paint my own lures as well but i can not get the right paint for these lures and i was just wondering if the paints that are being used are enamel,acrylic, or water base i have used the water base and acrylic paints but the rub right off i would appricate any advise thank you and once again the lures are awsome.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

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from Albert A Rasch wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Hey, if it works, and it makes LaRue a decent living, I'm all for it! Email on its way!

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
Ruger 10/22 Magazine Repair Tutorial

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from shane wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Someone help this guy get a website so he can make the big bucks. He deserves it, not only for his service but also for his dedication to fishing and his very smart, artistic, as well as scientific approach to helping people catch more fish.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

I want two - one to fish with and one to keep. Thanks for posting.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mikpike61 wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

I've been painting my pike lures for many years too, and can say that they very often outfish the box lure. I am no artist, but luckily they only have to look pretty to the fish. I recommend you bring some small model paints in your fish's favorite colors next time you're fish camp. That way when Vollmar is killing them on yellow and red, you can match his colors before he laps you.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

That's some very interesting information. I wonder if it applies to any other types of fish?

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Kort Barlow wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Fully cool post.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tkbone wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

We all have our amateur color theories but this guy's analysis sounds really well researched and reasoned - he ought to write a book on this (I'd buy one).

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from GHOSTREC wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

This Fishing lure designer is always finding away to be hind the enemies lines.AWESOME JOB LOONEYLURES WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THE PASSIONS OF COLOR DESIGN I WOULD BUY YOUR BOOK.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from thebigone wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

yeah he really needs a website and a book in fact he should think about making his own small company

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Modern Day Moun... wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

Good info, I think I'll try experimenting with painting my own lures now.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from chrishinson1971 wrote 1 year 24 weeks ago

i would for sure use lures like these i am almost ceretain they would catch fish to flashy not to .

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jamesti wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

my sisters used to hate it when i would go through their nail polish to customize my lures. i actually caught fish off of them though.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from countitandone wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

LaRue has found a nitch market. Bravo!

I've never understood the skull thing, however. If you want to purchase MC gear, be it Harley or knock-off, you run the gamut of skulls on bike paint jobs, clothing and helmets. The pre-occupation of death with skulls on anything, in my opinion, is too weird for me. It's a money maker though, in many genre.

JC, I've tinkered as well on hard baits in the past. Long before eyes were available on Needlefish and other Luhr-Jensen products, I copied the Flatfish eyes and applied them to eye-less lures. Once applied, I quick sprayed a clear lacquer for a hard finish coat.

To my way of thinking, eyes have got to be on any hard baits I'll try using. Luckily for me, every hard bait that I believe will work for my waters already have them painted on. Thankfully so, 'cause in no way am I the artist LaRue is to our sport.

Thanks JC for the link. Great post, once again.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from countitandone wrote 1 year 23 weeks ago

And I honor his service and what he deals with every day.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ctilander wrote 49 weeks 6 hours ago

Larry (looney tunes) LaRue,
I've known this cat since he was a kid, I'm very proud of him, not only for his success, but mostly for his friendship and military service to our great nation.

Congratulations my friend, keep up the great work, Semper Fidelis...
May God bless you 7 fold...; Carl

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Steelie Phil wrote 45 weeks 8 min ago

Hi the lures look great, i just started to paint my own lures as well but i can not get the right paint for these lures and i was just wondering if the paints that are being used are enamel,acrylic, or water base i have used the water base and acrylic paints but the rub right off i would appricate any advise thank you and once again the lures are awsome.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.