Water Clarity When Choosing Lure Color

[Bealsey1]

if you guys have 1-3 ft. of water clarity would you consider the water to be stained? 3+ of water clarity clear?  At what water clarity depths do you guys consider stained vs. clear?

[derekxec]

 

[Sam]

Stained. Heavy stained.

 

The fish can see six times farther in water than we can so if you can see 1 to 3 feet they can see 6 to 18 feet.

[Brian Needham]

1-3 foot is clear here in my neck of the woods, but we fish oxbows.

 

clear, stained, muddy: it's all relative to water type and area of the country.

 

highland reservoir that might be stained, but to an oxbow that might be gin clear... 

 

 

meaning if the normal clarity is 6 foot then 3 foot is stained, but if the normal clarity is 2 foot then 3 is clear. its all relative to YOUR body of water.

[ww2farmer]

I am currently fishing in water with only a few feet of visability at best, in places where it's usually clear to 10-12 feet deep or beyond. Such is the summer alge bloom season on WNY waters. I am still using the same greens, browns, and natural colors on sunny/bright days that work in clear water, and am still catching just fine. I switch to dark colors like black/blue or june bug on cloudy days/darker conditions, and that (depending on the lake I am on) seems to be working out just fine too. I worry about finding fish first, then figuring out what type of bait and/or presentation they want to bite, before I worry too much about color.

[BuffaloBass716]

I am currently fishing in water with only a few feet of visability at best, in places where it's usually clear to 10-12 feet deep or beyond. Such is the summer alge bloom season on WNY waters. I am still using the same greens, browns, and natural colors on sunny/bright days that work in clear water, and am still catching just fine. I switch to dark colors like black/blue or june bug on cloudy days/darker conditions, and that (depending on the lake I am on) seems to be working out just fine too. I worry about finding fish first, then figuring out what type of bait and/or presentation they want to bite, before I worry too much about color.

I see you are from WNY, as am I! Where abouts do you fish? Can you tell me any good places to fish? Im new to bass fishing this year and would love to find some awesome places to start catching some decent bass.

[Bankbeater]

As a general rule, when the water is clear I use natural colors like browns and greens. 

[bigbill]

Awesome video. He's on target.

I list my water conditions as follows,

1. Clear water, natural colors, smaller sized lures, fished the fastest.

2. Slightly Stained water, a mix of smaller lures natural & less brighter colors but fished slightly slower slower than fast. I tone the brighter colors down in this water condition.

3. Stained Water, medium sized lures, bright colors, fished slower.

4. Muddy Water, larger sized lures, fished the slowest.

Having a rattle, a knocked or ticker is a plus. Having a tad more wobble or vibration is a plus, using scents is a plus.

Picking a lure color for any water conditions also relates to your

choice of plastic colors too. Remember size does matter in clear water.

[JayKumar]

Good advice here.  I would add that black is a great color for stained and muddy water, and sometimes crazy colors like pink even work...if you can make yourself throw them....