Bead size guide
Best Bead Size & Colour for Chum in Green & Dropping Water
Quick answer: a 16mm bead (14–16mm) in Chartreuse, Purple, Hot pink.
Chum famously hit chartreuse, pink and purple — lean into it in prime water.
Every experienced Chum angler adjusts bead size and colour to the day's water, not a fixed favourite. The calico tiger of late fall — last fish of the season, biggest roe. In green & dropping water, fish see the bead clearly and have time to inspect it, so presentation matters as much as pattern. Chum famously hit chartreuse, pink and purple — lean into it in prime water. For chum specifically, that means leaning on chartreuse, purple, hot pink in the 14–16mm range rather than a one-size-fits-all pick. Quick ID if you're new to the species: white mouth/gums; no spots; calico bars spawning; white anal-fin tip; dog teeth. That points to a 16mm bead as the starting point today — dial the colour in from the shop links below. Conditions on any given river can change fast, so it's worth checking back here before your next trip rather than assuming today's call still holds. This page covers chum specifically in this water condition — use the interactive Bead Match tool linked below to compare all four conditions side by side, or to switch species entirely.
Shop chum beads for green & dropping water
Shop all 16mm beads →Common questions
- What size bead should I use for chum in green & dropping water?
- 16mm is the starting point (14–16mm covers the range), sized for green & dropping conditions specifically — Chum famously hit chartreuse, pink and purple — lean into it in prime water.
- What colour bead works best for chum when the water is green & dropping?
- Chartreuse, Purple, Hot pink are the recommended families for this combination. Chum famously hit chartreuse, pink and purple — lean into it in prime water.
- Does the right bead change if the chum water condition changes?
- Yes — Chum respond differently across low/clear, prime, high/coloured and blown-out water. This page covers green & dropping specifically; use the Bead Match tool to see the full breakdown across all four conditions.
