Bait Colors?

tbirds00 · 01-30-12, 07:24 PM

What factors go into choosing bait color? Is it mostly trial and error or is there a way of telling what colors work best on certain days?

kennethdaysale · 01-30-12, 08:07 PM

Whole books have been written about color but a good place to start would be to match the water color. Clear water=light natural colors. Dark water=dark colors. Also consider matching what the fish are eating. Notice all the lures available in Shad colors and Bluegill etc............

Jrob78 · 01-30-12, 08:19 PM

My general rule of thumb is similar to what Kenneth said, I like natural colors in clear water and either dark or bright colors in off colored water. Natural colors could be shad or bluegill patterns, any of the pumpkin or watermelon hues, browns, basically things that look natural. Off colored water colors would be black, sapphire blue, june bug, chartreuse, bright oranges, firetiger, things that are going to jump out when visibility is low.

carolina-rig-01 · 01-30-12, 08:44 PM

I start the process of selecting colors just like Kenneth and Joe, then I make adjustments from there. Of course all the lakes I fish have a few "special" colors that seem to work better there than anywhere else for whatever reason, and I always lean on those colors a lot.

bamabassman · 01-30-12, 08:48 PM

i have to agree with all the above statements. soon oyu'll find the colors YOU have more confidence in. that is what is the best color, the color YOU like the best.

tbirds00 · 01-30-12, 08:51 PM

Very helpful, thanks a lot for the responses. Only been on this site for one day and already learned a lot

Dogmatic · 01-30-12, 10:27 PM

You forgot PINK! (stained water).

basstech · 01-31-12, 04:02 AM

1.) Light penetration
2.) Water clarity
3.) Water color
4.) Forage
5.) Bottom color
6.) Color of the available cover, (vegetation, rock, trees, etc.)
The most inportant thing to keep in mind when choosing a color is not what color you should choose, but how visible the bait your throwing is to a Bass. Color is just simply a way to make the bait more visable or less visable to the bass, the needs of which is dictated by the conditions you're faced with.

jdw174 · 01-31-12, 07:37 AM

If you're just starting out, you can't go wrong with a shad imitator for clear-lightly stained water, and a chartreuse/black back for darker water.

kennethdaysale · 01-31-12, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basstech

1.)
The most inportant thing to keep in mind when choosing a color is not what color you should choose, but how visible the bait your throwing is to a Bass. Color is just simply a way to make the bait more visable or less visable to the bass, the needs of which is dictated by the conditions you're faced with.

Basstech............please repeat this but just a little slower for me

01-30-12, 07:24 PM	#1
tbirds00 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 12	Bait Colors? What factors go into choosing bait color? Is it mostly trial and error or is there a way of telling what colors work best on certain days?

01-30-12, 08:07 PM	#2
kennethdaysale BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: rock hill, sc Posts: 2,315	Whole books have been written about color but a good place to start would be to match the water color. Clear water=light natural colors. Dark water=dark colors. Also consider matching what the fish are eating. Notice all the lures available in Shad colors and Bluegill etc............ __________________ Sometimes you gotta risk it to get the biscuit.

01-30-12, 08:19 PM	#3
Jrob78 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4,671	My general rule of thumb is similar to what Kenneth said, I like natural colors in clear water and either dark or bright colors in off colored water. Natural colors could be shad or bluegill patterns, any of the pumpkin or watermelon hues, browns, basically things that look natural. Off colored water colors would be black, sapphire blue, june bug, chartreuse, bright oranges, firetiger, things that are going to jump out when visibility is low. __________________ There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L

01-30-12, 08:44 PM	#4
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	I start the process of selecting colors just like Kenneth and Joe, then I make adjustments from there. Of course all the lakes I fish have a few "special" colors that seem to work better there than anywhere else for whatever reason, and I always lean on those colors a lot. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

01-30-12, 08:48 PM	#5
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	i have to agree with all the above statements. soon oyu'll find the colors YOU have more confidence in. that is what is the best color, the color YOU like the best. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

01-30-12, 08:51 PM	#6
tbirds00 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 12	Very helpful, thanks a lot for the responses. Only been on this site for one day and already learned a lot

01-30-12, 10:27 PM	#7
Dogmatic BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 714	You forgot PINK! (stained water).

01-31-12, 04:02 AM	#8
basstech BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rockford, Ill Posts: 489	1.) Light penetration 2.) Water clarity 3.) Water color 4.) Forage 5.) Bottom color 6.) Color of the available cover, (vegetation, rock, trees, etc.) The most inportant thing to keep in mind when choosing a color is not what color you should choose, but how visible the bait your throwing is to a Bass. Color is just simply a way to make the bait more visable or less visable to the bass, the needs of which is dictated by the conditions you're faced with. __________________ The words just won't come to me!:confused:

01-31-12, 07:37 AM	#9
jdw174 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Paris, TN Posts: 84	If you're just starting out, you can't go wrong with a shad imitator for clear-lightly stained water, and a chartreuse/black back for darker water. __________________ If a smallmouth weighed 100 pounds, a bass boat would be just another buzzbait!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)