I'm Doing An Experiment For School

[FinCulture]

For my school science fair project, I decided on testing how bass react to different colors of the same bait. I haven't started the experiment, but that is definitely the topic I'm choosing. The decision I'm trying to make now is what bait to use. I'm deciding between a jig and a chunk trailer and a shakeyhead with a creature or craw bait. For this experiment, I'm not really looking for quality fish, but numbers over anything else. I need to be able to collect as much data as possible. So which do you guys think I should use? If you have any other suggestions, that would also be great, just make sure it's a bait that should catch a lot of fish, big or small, from late September to early-mid October. Thanks!

[einscodek]

Be even more interesting if you tested the various colors across the most fav classes of lures to see if theres any fav color for each lure class then check out if the color matched in any way with local forage

[bassarmy7]

For my school science fair project, I decided on testing how bass react to different colors of the same bait. I haven't started the experiment, but that is definitely the topic I'm choosing. The decision I'm trying to make now is what bait to use. I'm deciding between a jig and a chunk trailer and a shakeyhead with a creature or craw bait. For this experiment, I'm not really looking for quality fish, but numbers over anything else. I need to be able to collect as much data as possible. So which do you guys think I should use? If you have any other suggestions, that would also be great, just make sure it's a bait that should catch a lot of fish, big or small, from late September to early-mid October. Thanks!

It would be a hard one to do since there wouldnt be a control in the situation. There are so many variables that would factor in. Not saying it cant be done. Would be one heck of a project though

[Smokinal]

Just kinda brainstorming, I think the best way to attack it would be to have 2 guys, same boat, same day, throwing same bait in different colors. If you go out one day with one color and another day with  a different color, theres a huge variable.

[Senko lover]

If you're looking for small fish, go with a shakeyhead or dropshot, or even Ned Rig. 

[lo n slo]

Green Pumpkin

Purple

[papajoe222]

First thing you need to decide is the control color, the one you'll be comparing the others to. As stated, you need to compare them side by side and the only true comparison would be to offer the same fish both colors and note its reaction to both.  Great idea, but gathering the information is going to be a challenge. 

If I may offer a suggestion, you could do a comparison project of colors at various depths or light intensity and relate that to lure colors.

[NotnatsSamoht]

Find a free aquarium on Craigslist, always available in my area, taken home a bass until experiments over, experiment with lure before feeding every morning and night by putting 2 lures in the tank at opposite ends, one controlled color one new color, until you developed patterns for what he goes for, if this is a color experiment I recommend just tying up grubs without hooks then feeding him grubs or worms. Make sure then bass is legal size limit and if tank doesn't come with filters then air pump or or water pump is about $5 to make oxygen.

[Sam]

May I suggest you fish with three different colors for each bait you use.

 

Junebug, watermelon and green pumpkin are one set of colors.

 

Crawfish, bream/bluegill and shad if you go with another.

 

Black/blue, firetiger and chartreuse for a third option.

 

And what ever you color combination you want.

 

Same set up for all baits: 7' spinning rod on 8 pound flouro with a 6:1 or 7:1 spinning reel.

 

As long as the body of water and your setup are the same for all baits and techniques your project will have more creditability.

 

Different times of the day along with water temperature, water clarity and weather need to be memorialized to show if those factors have any impact on the colors you use.

 

Please let us know how you do and if you get an A for your efforts.

[FinCulture]

If you're looking for small fish, go with a shakeyhead or dropshot, or even Ned Rig. 

i'm not necessarily looking for small fish, just more fish.

[FinCulture]

Find a free aquarium on Craigslist, always available in my area, taken home a bass until experiments over, experiment with lure before feeding every morning and night by putting 2 lures in the tank at opposite ends, one controlled color one new color, until you developed patterns for what he goes for, if this is a color experiment I recommend just tying up grubs without hooks then feeding him grubs or worms. Make sure then bass is legal size limit and if tank doesn't come with filters then air pump or or water pump is about $5 to make oxygen.

I did give that idea some thought and think it's a good option. That way I'd be testing on the same fish in the same conditions (light, water temp., time, weather, etc.) It would make the experiment a lot easier. Perhaps that is what i'll do.

[bassarmy7]

Find a free aquarium on Craigslist, always available in my area, taken home a bass until experiments over, experiment with lure before feeding every morning and night by putting 2 lures in the tank at opposite ends, one controlled color one new color, until you developed patterns for what he goes for, if this is a color experiment I recommend just tying up grubs without hooks then feeding him grubs or worms. Make sure then bass is legal size limit and if tank doesn't come with filters then air pump or or water pump is about $5 to make oxygen.

This is what i meant about having a control sorry bout not explaining more

[Bruce424]

It have to be a tank test to take out alot of variables. Maybe color live bait.

[Fisher-O-men]

It have to be a tank test to take out alot of variables. Maybe color live bait.

I had a friend do this very thing in High School. (1972) He caught some bass and put them in a large tank.  He then dyed night crawlers with food coloring.  I do not remember the outcome.

[Weld's Largemouth]

It is necessary that you fish the same body of water throughout the entire experiment. 

[the reel ess]

i'm not necessarily looking for small fish, just more fish.

I think that's the same thing. You'll have a larger pool to draw from if you target smaller fish.Go with the numbers baits like 3" grubs, for example, that are easily bought in different colors. Just my opinion.

[FinCulture]

I think that's the same thing. You'll have a larger pool to draw from if you target smaller fish.Go with the numbers baits like 3" grubs, for example, that are easily bought in different colors. Just my opinion.

ohhhhhhhhhhh I get what you mean. Smaller fish usually make up the majority of a population so trying to catch smaller fish is the same as trying to catch more fish.

[FinCulture]

I also need to figure out what presentation to use for this project. It needs to have a small profile, as I'm probably going with the tank idea, which'll involve small fish. It also has to be something that doesn't involve using a hook. I'm thinking either a little finesse jig with something to block the hook or a small craw. It just needs to be a smaller sized bait that I can work in  place and a bait that small bass will take.

[lo n slo]

Crappie jigs maybe? Would be easy to get in all of your colors, as well as, cost effective.