Crankbait Color Options

[Big Easy Bassin']

Just want to get some opinions on crankbait color choices. I bank fish ponds around the New Orleans area, so I am limited to the ammount of tackle I can carry. I have recently started using the 1/4oz Strike King Red Eye Shad and the Series 1 Square Bill and I really like them. These ponds and lagoons are normally no deeper than 5-6ft at their deepest and the water is stained (usually 6-8in of visibility). I'm wondering if 2 color options is enough or should I go with 3? And what are some of your go-to colors? 

[MIbassyaker]

I don't know about New Orleans area specifically, but a chartreuse with black back, firetiger, and red craw patterns are what I like in stained or muddy water.

[ww2farmer]

My "go-to" colors for the different type of crankbaits are different. I can't explain why, but it's been through a long trial and error process.

For squarebills I like: Bluegill, orange craw, chart./black back, and chart. sexy shad

Lipless: Jap. Shad, red craw, and albino craw

Mid and deep diving cranks: Chart. Sexy Shad, Chart. belly craw, Sexy Ghost minnow, and rootbeer.

[Silas]

You might want to throw some 4-5 inch wacky worms in black/blue flake or watermelon red flake. . Use a 1/16 oz weedless wacky hook. Also a Flick Shake worm or Zoom finesse worm. 

  Small cranks in Green back/ chartreuse sides and orange bottom. 

especially good are the Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.8 in a Smoke glitter on a weighted 1/16 oz weighted Owner Twistlock hook. Or a Little Dipper on a 1/16 oz Owner Twistlock light swim bait hook. (Sexy Shad)

 

Last would be a 1/4 oz swim jig in white/Chartreuse tipped with a Baby Rage Craw in blue or a 1/4 oz Bitsy Bug in Black/ blue tipped with small sapphire plastic chunk  

 

A light spinning outfit would help in getting the distance you need. Casting parallel to the bank is a good place to start. 

[Big Easy Bassin']

25 minutes ago, Silas said:

You might want to throw some 4-5 inch wacky worms in black/blue flake or watermelon red flake. . Use a 1/16 oz weedless wacky hook. Also a Flick Shake worm or Zoom finesse worm. 

  Small cranks in Green back/ chartreuse sides and orange bottom. 

especially good are the Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.8 in a Smoke glitter on a weighted 1/16 oz weighted Owner Twistlock hook. Or a Little Dipper on a 1/16 oz Owner Twistlock light swim bait hook. (Sexy Shad)

 

Last would be a 1/4 oz swim jig in white/Chartreuse tipped with a Baby Rage Craw in blue or a 1/4 oz Bitsy Bug in Black/ blue tipped with small sapphire plastic chunk  

 

A light spinning outfit would help in getting the distance you need. Casting parallel to the bank is a good place to start. 

I've caught quite a few on the wacky rig and T-rigged finesse worms. Been trying to expand my arsenal and learn some new techniques since I'm just getting into bass fishing. I haven't thought about a swim jig yet. Gonna have to add that to my arsenal for next weekend. Thanks

[Bankbeater]

I would use some shallow running crankbaits.  Firetiger, crawfish, and shad are the colors I would start off with.

[scaleface]

I think firetiger is the most versatile color made . Shallow to deep , clear to stained , its always a good starting point .

[Insanity]

Two colors will do fine.  I'd pick Chartreuse perch and black white for the red eyes.  I don't no the color options of the square bills.  

I bank fish a local lake and some other spots around here with lipless  Rappala rattlin raps.   The only two colors I use is chrome and blue, and gold and black. My favorite colors for any cranks.   I highly recommend those baits in 3/8 th oz. on heavily pressured bodies of water. For two reasons the rattle is quieter then most other baits and there hard to find so no one is using them any more. Bass pro shop has them.  

[Big Easy Bassin']

On December 22, 2015 at 6:10 PM, Insanity said:

Two colors will do fine.  I'd pick Chartreuse perch and black white for the red eyes.  I don't no the color options of the square bills.  

I bank fish a local lake and some other spots around here with lipless  Rappala rattlin raps.   The only two colors I use is chrome and blue, and gold and black. My favorite colors for any cranks.   I highly recommend those baits in 3/8 th oz. on heavily pressured bodies of water. For two reasons the rattle is quieter then most other baits and there hard to find so no one is using them any more. Bass pro shop has them.  

How much difference will the 3/8oz make from the 1/4oz? I went with the 1/4oz just because I don't fish in any water much deeper than 4 or 5 feet. Wasn't sure how heavy I should go in that shallow of water

[gulfcaptain]

5 minutes ago, cgerstnerjr said:

How much difference will the 3/8oz make from the 1/4oz? I went with the 1/4oz just because I don't fish in any water much deeper than 4 or 5 feet. Wasn't sure how heavy I should go in that shallow of water

If you're fishing shallow, opt for something like the SK Shallow 1.5 or a Manns Baby 1-Minus.  The shallow 1.5 will get down no more then 2ft, and the 1-Minus will stay in the top foot of water.  I wouldn't get hung up on weights of baits, but look at max depth and size and match that to what you're looking to fish.  

[Insanity]

On Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 6:39 PM, cgerstnerjr said:

How much difference will the 3/8oz make from the 1/4oz? I went with the 1/4oz just because I don't fish in any water much deeper than 4 or 5 feet. Wasn't sure how heavy I should go in that shallow of water

 

The 3\8 th Oz will run fine, the best lake i fish is four to five ft also. And the main reason I metion that size is the profile is larger and will usally produce better then a 1/4 Oz. 

[bigbill]

Bomber Model A or FAT A SIZE 05 cranks.

Redapple craw

Brown craw

Green craw

Fire craw

Citrus

Baby bass orange bottom

Silver 

NORMAN THIN N CRANKS

Chartruese

Blue gill

Redear

Violet

 

 

[Big Easy Bassin']

Just an update for everyone who has been giving me advice. By the way, I really appreciate the help. I know yall have been throwing out a bunch of different lure companies, but the SK Red Eye Shad has been producing for me so I've been sticking with what works. Went and bought about 10 different colors (all 1/4oz). I've been off of work since Wednesday, so I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and today in the park testing (had to do the family thing Friday lol) and this is what I've come up with. Like I said, I was trying to find 3 go-to colors so that I could limit the amount of tackle I was carrying around in my backpack. Well, I have found my big 3. 

1. Sexy Shad

2. Orange Craw

3. Firetiger

Orange Craw has been my top producer as of yet, especially today. Caught 15 bass, 11 of which were caught on O.C. The crankbait bite died out towards the end of the day, so I switched techniques and caught the last 4 on a weightless Baby Brush Hog. And I can now update my personal best to between 4 and 5 lbs!!! Caught the biggest bass of my life today on the Orange Craw. 4lb 4oz!!!