When to Use Glow Lures: Dawn, Dusk and Dirty Water
Glow-in-the-dark trolling lures catch fish when the light is low. When to use them, how to charge them and which glow colours to pick.
Shop the lures in this guide
A glow lure has a finish that soaks up light and gives it back as a soft glow. It sounds like a gimmick, but in the right conditions glow lures get strikes when normal lures go quiet. The trick is knowing when to use them.
When glow lures work best
Glow helps any time there isn't much light underwater:
- First light and late afternoon. The first hour of the morning and the last hour of the day are prime feeding times for many gamefish. The light is low, and a glowing lure stands out.
- Overcast and rainy days. Thick cloud cuts the light in the water a lot, even in the middle of the day.
- Dirty or green water. After rain or when cold water pushes in, visibility drops. Glow helps fish find the lure.
- Deeper-diving lures. The deeper a lure runs, the less light reaches it.
On a bright, sunny day in clear blue water, glow makes less difference. That's when bright and natural colours do the work. See our guide on lure colours for clear vs dirty water.
How to charge a glow lure
Glow needs to be charged with light before it goes in the water:
- Sunlight charges it in a minute or so.
- A torch or headlamp works well before sunrise. Hold it close to the lure for 20 to 30 seconds. A UV torch charges glow very quickly.
- Recharge every so often. The glow fades over time. On a slow morning, wind in and recharge your glow lures every 30 to 60 minutes.
Which glow colour to choose
- Orange Glo: a bright yellow and orange lure that stands out in green or murky water.
- Candy Glo: a pink tiger pattern. Pink is a favourite dorado colour, and the glow gives it extra pull at first light.
- Red Glo: a chartreuse tiger pattern with a glow finish, very visible when the light is low.
If you only take one glow lure, put it in the spread for the first hour of the day and swap it out for a bright or natural lure once the sun is high.
How to use glow lures in your spread
You don't need a whole spread of glow lures. Use one or two among your normal lures:
- At first light, run a glow lure in a prime position close behind the boat.
- As the light gets stronger, keep one glow lure further back and change the rest to your normal colours.
- If clouds roll in or the water turns dirty, put the glow lures back in.
Quick glow checklist
- Use glow at dawn, dusk, on overcast days and in dirty water
- Charge with sunlight, a torch or a UV light before it goes in
- Recharge every 30 to 60 minutes
- Mix one or two glow lures into a normal spread
Heading out for dorado at first light? Read our guide to the best trolling lures for dorado.
