
Pick a Lure Color:
A common way to select a lure color is water color and clarity.
Use darker colors in the winter and early months of the year and
as the water warms use lighter colored baits. Use florescent and
bright colored baits in muddy and dingy water, and lighter colored
baits in clear and warmer waters.
The colors used the most are
brown/orange/red combinations resembling crawfish,
chartreuse/blue combinations imitating bluegill, and chrome/black,
chrome/blue, and various pearl/white patterns resembling shad.
There are basically five kinds of water clarity, muddy, dingy,
stained, moderately clear and extremely clear water. In muddy
and dingy water where visibility is less than four feet, florescent,
chartreuse and fire-tiger work well.
As the day becomes brighter
the color patterns may change depending on the light penetrating
the water at the depth you are fishing. Wind will also affect light
penetration, the stronger the wind the less light will shine through.
The first color to fade out of the color spectrum will be the reds.
The use of high contrast baits in low light conditions will help the
bass find the lure presentation. Darker colored baits in the winter
and early parts of the year and moving to lighter colored baits as
the water temperature warms.
As water temperatures rise the fish
will become more active. Bass will begin to chase shad and bluegill.
Choose chartreuse/blue combinations imitating bluegill, and
chrome/black, chrome/blue, and various pearl/white patterns
resembling shad.
When fishing clear and ultra-clear water try using
natural colored or transparent baits. Down size the offerings no
matter what type of lure you are using. If you were fishing a 7 to
10 inch worm in dingy water, try a 4 to 6 inch worm in ultra clear
water. Longer casts away from you will help not to spook the fish.
Be careful of your shadow!
Have several baits in the same color,
but in different sizes until you find the size the fish are looking for.