Flashy Soft Plastics: Clear or Murky Water

[Sylvaneous]

I was a fan of the Berkly Havoc Pit Boss in the old Lime/Purple in clear water.  I frequently fish shallow (less than 5 ft) clear, weedy water.  I bought the watermellon green / orange flake bit boss because it looked good.  But it is HEAVY on the sparkle with lots of orange metal flake in the pour.  It makes me wonder if it's too much for clearer water.  They make a blue shiner color (I think) that looks perfect to me, but it' only in 3" and 5".  I want the standard 4".

So, in fairly clear water (4-5 ft vis) are brightly sparkling soft plastics good?  

There seems to be a lot of BLUE baits, Okeechobee, saphire and such.    What's your opinion of the Blue Perfection for clear water?  

 

Thanks

 

Syl

[Bluebasser86]

I like baits with some bright or opaque color/flake in weeds to give it a little something to stand out against the weeds. The Lime-Purple Passion Pit Boss is still one of my favorite baits to flip weeds. I have about 2 dozen bags right now that I bought when they discontinued the color, along with the Sapphire Blue, Summer Craw, and Blue Shiner. 

 

Perfection blue is great whenever they're feeding on gills. Big Texan has been very good when they're feeding heavily on craws. Plain old green pumpkin is a solid, all around choice though. 

[Catt]

Throw the color charts in the trash can & let the bass tell ya what they like!

[Sylvaneous]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

. Plain old green pumpkin is a solid, all around choice though. 

Yes, I try to find a reason why NOT to use green pumpkin.  I RARELY find one!  I loved the Bama Bug color which is something like 1/2 plum or junebug with 1/2 green pumpkin, again.  They now make red/pumpkin, which is essentially the same.  Differences make it more fun.  Thanks about the suggestion to have sparkle help distinguish the bait from the weeds and junk it's being fished through.  I thought the same thing myself.  My lakes are very weedy (millfoil) and the bass orient to that shallow cover and so focus on bait further up in the water column.  I wish there were more soft plastic pitching baits that had bluegill/shad color schemes. (gold, silver, white and gray) That's what bass are eating up there, not crayfish, which is what most colors represent.  I may start flipping swimbait lures more intentionally.  I've done it in the past, just basically pitching and swimming out baits in tight cover over short distances.  Nearly all my pitching strikes have been instantaneous reaction strikes.  But using more baitfish color and shape baits might get more delayed hits from the more choosy bass.  

Thanks again.

[tonka_blue]

If you'e flipping in that shallow of water I don't think color accents play a huge role. Especially if you'e fishing thick weeds. In clear water something green pumpkin with literally any accent will resemble some sort of bluegill or perch. Dirty water that black n blue will stand out. With reaction bites I really don't think color is the issue, rate of fall to me is the biggest factor.