Color of spinnerbait for clear water??

[BassinfromNC]

Most waters I fish are cloudy/muddy water, but today I was pretty clear water. I wasn't sure what color spinnerbaits to use, i used white for a while, but didn't have much confidence due lack of experience in clear water.

Thanks for your input?

[Brandon K.]

I would stick with the white. But, I think its more about your blade configuration. In clear water you'll wanna throw a willow blade since the fish doesnt need all the thump of a colarado to find your lure. Caught some decent fish yesterday slow rolling a shad color spinner with double willow down a steep rock bank.

[Jigfishn10]

The book on clear water spinnerbaits is nickel willows with a transluscent skirt, but, like so many others here have said, the fish don't read the same book...LOL

I've had luck with a pearl skirt and gold colorado or a gold willow. I've never had much luck with nickel blades, but up here we have more of a bluegill and perch forage base, hence the gold blades (for me anyways). I think that the added flash from a nickel blade can really turn off fish.

Sometimes a white skirt with a white blade will fool them. Just go thru a process of elimination and find out what works that day.

The other thing is presentation. How were you presenting your spinnerbait?

[RoLo]

Frankly, I almost never throw spinnerbaits in clear water.

If it HAS to be a spinnerbait, I'd probably choose a single willow-leaf

(nickel blade / white skirt) and keep it moving briskly.

Roger

[BassinfromNC]

The book on clear water spinnerbaits is nickel willows with a transluscent skirt, but, like so many others here have said, the fish don't read the same book...LOL

I've had luck with a pearl skirt and gold colorado or a gold willow. I've never had much luck with nickel blades, but up here we have more of a bluegill and perch forage base, hence the gold blades (for me anyways). I think that the added flash from a nickel blade can really turn off fish.

Sometimes a white skirt with a white blade will fool them. Just go thru a process of elimination and find out what works that day.

The other thing is presentation. How were you presenting your spinnerbait?

I was just casting towards bank and reeling in, sometimes changing direction. It was in a small clear water pond.

[backwater4]

Jigfishin is right on. Transulucent skirts work great in clear water. I been using nickel willow w/ a translucent chart/pink/pearl skirt. It's been working really well.

[Jigfishn10]

Try being a little more erratic with the bait.

Stop & go: Try 4 cranks & stop then count to 2 or 3 or 4 or more before you start again. Maybe it's 5 cranks or 3 cranks... you get the picture. I use this presentation a lot.

Twitch the rod tip: Do exactly how you retrieved, but twitch the rod tip. This will make the blade(s) flutter a little and the shirt to flare out. Sometimes it's just enough to trigger a strike.

Lastly, downsize 1 blade size or even a 1/2 blade size and reel as fast as you can. Even if the bait comes out of the water and the blades clang each other. I can honestly tell you that I read about this a couple of years ago and totally dismissed it as hog wash. Last season I couldn't catch a cold one day and decided to try it. I went from fishless to about 4 or 5 in 1 hour.  I actually missed 2 because I was cranking so fast I didn't feel the bite...LOL

Hope this helps and good luck out there. 

[Robert William Osler]

here are a few skirts combination to look for at your local tackle shop or on the web.

in the center row youll find the translucent colors.

Cheers.

[bandsr4me20]

Another thing to try is not having a full skirt.  Take a few strands out of the skirt.

[BassinfromNC]

here are a few skirts combination to look for at your local tackle shop or on the web.

in the center row youll find the translucent colors.

Cheers.

Thanks for posting pics. I got more to learn about spinner baits.

[KC Bass Fanatic]

I like a War Eagle Screamin Eagle in Mouse color.  The SE has a smaller profile (but still 1/2oz), smaller willow blades, and the mouse color is translucent.  I chunk this one a lot on Table Rock, which is extremely clear water (10+ ft of visibility)

[Big Fish Rice]

In my opinion, clear water (visibility 10+ feet) calls for lures other than a spinnerbait. It's tough to fool bass if they can get a solid look at this particular bait.

If the wind picks up, sticking to white and translucent colors will be your best bet. On the other hand, I have caught many fish on black skirts with (1) nickel willow blade.

If you can't find it, customize it.

[J Francho]

Chartreuse w/ Chartreuse painted double willow.  Bubble gum with downsized single Indiana or Colorado blade.

[Jigfishn10]

Chartreuse w/ Chartreuse painted double willow. Bubble gum with downsized single Indiana or Colorado blade.

OMG! Totally forgot about these combo's. Haven't used them since the late 90's! 

Thanks for the reminder.   

[BassThumb]

Translucent/green flake or gold shiner are what I toss.

[A-Rob]

when the water is really clear I throw my spinnerbaits in crankbait color or swim jig color or worm color.

haha

If I do fish spinnerbaits in clear water I like the wind to ripple the water a bit or overcast conditions.

In clear water don't forget to burn that spinnerbait so the fish don't get a good look at it.

Strike King makes a blue gill color spinnerbait I like in clear water.