Top 5 Bead Colors for BC Rivers (And When to Use Them)
If you’ve spent any time fishing rivers in British Columbia, you already know one thing—conditions change fast, and fish can be picky. One day they’ll crush anything you drift; the next, it feels like they’ve completely disappeared.
Choosing the right color for the conditions is the secret to consistency. After years on the water, these are the five bead colors we keep coming back to.
1. Glazed Chehalis Orange (Natural)
This is as close as it gets to the real thing. When salmon are actively spawning, trout and steelhead are keyed in on eggs drifting downstream. A mottled peach bead mimics that perfectly—subtle and natural.
- Best conditions: Clear to lightly stained water; active salmon spawn.
2. BC Orange
BC Orange is one of the most effective bead colors for salmon fishing in BC and Pacific Northwest. It imitates fresh eggs while still being visible in slightly stained water. This makes it especially effective during:
- Early to mid-season salmon runs.