Best Dropshot Colors?

[moguy1973]

We are taking a trip to Bull Shoals in a couple weeks. So we will have pretty clear water. Any tips on what colors work best for deep clear water like BS has?

[Fishing Rhino]

You're likely to get a different answer from each person who responds. I know nothing (Sgt. Shultz expression) about Bull Shoals but I have some colors which have produced everywhere I have tried them. In no particular order.

Watermelon with red flake, or in the case of Senkos, watermelon with black and red flake.

Black with red flake

Black with blue flake

Pumpkin with gold and purple flakes, ala Rage Tail Menace. My new favorite bait.

Pumpkin with red flake;

There are other colors that on some days have done better than the above, but on average, those above have proven themselves to my satisfaction.

I will add this qualifier. I will admit I have more patience with the above colors. When trying something new, if I go a few casts without a hit, I'm already thinking about changing to another color. Not so much with my "favorite" colors.

[Highhawk1948]

Watermelon red and green pumpkin

[tritonguy]

Watermelon red and green pumpkin, there is nothing else.

[Dave P]

Purple.

[ww2farmer]

Some lakes seem to have a color that works better there than other places. Other lakes color don't seem to matter. Having never been to Bull Shoals, I can't say what would be the best option specific to there. BUT you can't go wrong in clear water with some form of green pumpkin, smoke, or watermelon.

[Sam]

Moguy, it is impossible for us to tell you the exact color of baits (plastics, spinning, Chatter, jigs & pigs, cranks and lipless cranks) for any specific body of water on any given day.

What works yesterday will be different today. And what works today will be different tomorrow.

You have to base your color selections based on the water clarity, weather conditions and what they are eating, like bluegills, shad, crawfish, salads, prime rib, etc.

And the water clarity can go from clear to stained to dirty and then back to stained and clear and back to stained and dirty and then dirty and then back to clear.....and they can change their feeding mood and go from bluegills to crawfish to shad to pumpkinseeds to ring perch then back to crawfish and what ever is in the water.

Use baits that mimic the forage as best you can.

So stay with the basic colors and add some additional color to your presentations and techniques via JJs Magic and color variations within the line of baits you are using (Zoom, PowerBait, Rage Tail, Senkos, Bandits, Normans, Siebert, War Eagles, Strike King, Luck-e Strike, Northstar, etc.)

Watermealon - Clear

Green Pumpkin - Stained

Junebug - Stained and Dirty

Blue/Black - Dirty

Check out the articles at the top of this page; read what the guys suggest; visit the pros' web sites; Google the bodies of water you will be fishing for their fishing reports; buy DVDs on techniques and bait presentations; get any Kevin VanDam publication and DVD; Ike has some great DVDs, too; go to Woo Daves web page and read his articles; add the pros you like to your Facebook page; check out the Senko color chart; visit a tackle store and ask the bass fisherman to discuss biat colors and view all of the various baits and styles on the shelves and for suggestions on what to throw when you go fishing; try to locate a Zoom color chart of all Zoom colors; and drive yourself nuts like the rest of us deciding what colors work best and when.

And then throw them to find out if the bass are interested in them that day.

Good luck and just remember, you have to wet the line to catch something and you have to find the "pattern" of the day.

Let us know what you threw and the results.

[Quillback]

I fish Beaver and Table Rock frequently, maybe not as clear as Bull, but like Bull they are in the White river chain. My number 1 DS worm has been a Zoom finesse in Old Purple. My fishing buddy has done well with a Roboworm in Morning Glory. Other colors mentioned by the guys on this thread will also work. Main thing is when using the DS is locating the bass schools, once you've done that, I don't think color is really that important.

FWIW, the guides have been killing them on Table Rock the last week on the DS. Mostly spots with a few SM and LM in the mix. The topwater bite has also been improving.

The Drop shot bite has been good lately on Beaver and Table Rock, since August, I imagine it's working on Bull also. Got a big cold front coming through this weekend, it may change things up. I'd bring some FB jigs, cranks and spinner baits, and topwaters, JIC.

[WRB]

I fish clear water with threadfin shad populations similar Bull Shoals and rarely fish the colors everyone has suggested. Shad colors, night crawler colors and high visibility colors;

Roboworms 4 1/2" and 6" straight tails

Prizim shad, oxblood light red flake, MMII and people's worm.

These worms work everywhere that has clear water!

Tom

[Aluma-Bass]

shad colors this time of year

[moguy1973]

I fish clear water with threadfin shad populations similar Bull Shoals and rarely fish the colors everyone has suggested. Shad colors, night crawler colors and high visibility colors;

Roboworms 4 1/2" and 6" straight tails

Prizim shad, oxblood light red flake, MMII and people's worm.

These worms work everywhere that has clear water!

Tom

I did pick up some Roboworm Fat Worms in Prizm Craw, cool brown with shiny purple on bottom.

Also got some Green pumkin, Black grape, and some other natural colored 4" finesse worms...Hopefully that does the trick. I also have some 6" pumpkin trick worms and of course some white and shad colored flukes that I'll try...