Rethinking Topwater Colors

[papajoe222]

While reorganizing my tackle, I got to thinking about my assortment of topwaters and their colors.  Now I'll be the first to admit that color is at the bottom of my list when it comes to choosing baits. I adhere to the general guidelines about color, except for my topwaters. I've read, heard and even recommend that color really doesn't matter, just throw anything with a white or dark belly. the reason being the fish are looking up and the underside of a bait and that is what they see. So why do I have frog patterns, orange bellies, solid chrome and all the other colors and combinations of my favorite walking bait, the Zara Spook?

Two reasons; That bait can and does, call fish from a good distance away and not just from directly under it. From a side angle 15ft. away, a bass can surely see the sides of the bait. So if color can be an important factor with other hard baits, why wouldn't that also apply to topwaters? The other reason is that I rarely work a walking bait fast, so the fish gets a good look at it. As with other baits, if the fish aren't committing to a lure/presentation, I'll switch something. With me, it's usually cadence/speed or the size of the bait I'm using. Changing color is the last thing I will try, but it's the first when fishing on top. A switch to a frog pattern almost always results in solid hook-ups following explosive hits from fish that would only swirl at other offerings.

This realization has me rethinking my view of the importance of color for other applications. Nah, I'm an old fart that is resistant to change and has too much time on his hands during the off season.

 

[WRB]

Color maters when it matters, you will only know if you try different colors outside your comfort zone or fish with a partner who is kicking your butt.

Tom

[scaleface]

A few weeks back while tossing a chartreuse patterned spinnerbait , bass were not committing to it . I had two bass follow it to the boat and just nip at the tail .After  changing the skirt to a toned down baitfish pattern  the bass wolfed it down . I often switch colors first when bass are almost biting .

[Bankbeater]

Most of my hard topwater baits either have a white bottom or a black bottom, but I'm starting to think that it's more about the bait than the color.  I'm finding that certain topwater baits work better on certain lakes and ponds.  I change out the baits in my tackle bag depending on where I am going to fish.

[king fisher]

A fish can see more than just the bottom of a surface lure.  I can take a lure and hold it straight above my head.  All that is visible is the bottom.  If I  move it around so that I am looking at the lure from other angles while still keeping it above my head.  I can see more than just the bottom color.  At some angles I can see almost all of the lure.  I can't say whether the fish care what color it is, but I can tell you they see more than just the bottom color.  For those that might say this isn't the case in the water, I have done the same experiment in the water with same results.  I believe as with other types of fishing color doesn't always matter, but there are times when it makes a big difference.  

[Harold Scoggins]

Orange, white, and black.

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, king fisher said:

A fish can see more than just the bottom of a surface lure.  I can take a lure and hold it straight above my head.  All that is visible is the bottom.  If I  move it around so that I am looking at the lure from other angles while still keeping it above my head.  I can see more than just the bottom color.  At some angles I can see almost all of the lure.  I can't say whether the fish care what color it is, but I can tell you they see more than just the bottom color.  For those that might say this isn't the case in the water, I have done the same experiment in the water with same results.  I believe as with other types of fishing color doesn't always matter, but there are times when it makes a big difference.  

I like fishing topwater baits - Walkers & Poppers mostly.

And like most of my fishing, I believe that color plays some role; in topwater as well.

How much ?  Can't say for certain and everything else I offer here on the subject, is a guess. 

It does seem, that there are times where color plays virtually no role and in others, seems to be the whole enchilada.

These 'theories' are based on a few decades experience but are in no way, set in stone.

Bottom line, I don't know what a bass sees or how it see it.

When something works, I'll stick with it - until it doesn't.

Then, it's on to something else.

A-Jay

 

[jbsoonerfan]

The colors are better at catching me lol. These are just my ride alongs, I don't think any of them have seen the water.

[NHBull]

When I try new top waters, I go white, black and maybe perch.

if I like the bait, I may expand colors, but I truly believe black and white cover it.  That said, I have a morning dawn rat that outfishes all my rats by a mile.....but it does have a white bottom

[Catt]

Bone Orange Belly!  ?

[waymont]

When I use a Zara Spook or Jr, I use white with a red head. I have a clear one and frog pattern version that I never use because the red/white one is always catching fish. Not sure if color matters with that style bait.

[Bird]

Hmmm I'm a minimalist by nature. 

 

My tackle box has minimal baits , minimal colors. Lol

 

 

[pauldconyers]

Bone or black for me

[scaleface]

Colors matter, there is always a best one . I have a couple of old school chuggers and the chrome one out-fishes the black ones most days  

[riverbasser]

I've definately seen it make a difference. Fishing team tourneys I've been whooped throwing different color until I make a change. And I dont mean changing to the exact same topwater bait just the same color made the difference.

[Bandersnatch]

16 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I like fishing topwater baits - Walkers & Poppers mostly.

And like most of my fishing, I believe that color plays some role; in topwater as well.

How much ?  Can't say for certain and everything else I offer here on the subject, is a guess. 

It does seem, that there are times where color plays virtually no role and in others, seems to be the whole enchilada.

These 'theories' are based on a few decades experience but are in no way, set in stone.

Bottom line, I don't know what a bass sees or how it see it.

When something works, I'll stick with it - until it doesn't.

Then, it's on to something else.

A-Jay

 

How do you like those pop maxs and xs? 

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, Chief250 said:

How do you like those pop maxs and xs? 

@Chief250 ~Huge Fan of the Pop Max.

Been a solid producer for me past few seasons.

And this is what that looks like

A-Jay

 

[Bandersnatch]

7 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

@Chief250 ~Huge Fan of the Pop Max.

Been a solid producer for me past few seasons.

And this is what that looks like

A-Jay

 

A-Jay, do you prefer one to the other and do you prefer spinning gear for both? 

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, Chief250 said:

A-Jay, do you prefer one to the other and do you prefer spinning gear for both? 

I prefer the Pop Max - I like the bigger profile as I believe it targets the bigger bite I'm looking for.

If you watched the video I posted and the fish release clip, you may notice that the waters I'm fishing are Super Clear.

Accordingly extremely long casts are very important.

Having my top water baits in 4-10 ft of water as far from the boat as possible, really increases bite potential.

That said, I need to be able to hook a fish way out there.

A semi-long medium spinning stick (7' - 7'4") & 10-20lb braid does all of that for me.

A-Jay

 

[Bandersnatch]

Great advice. 

[primetime]

I generally stick to a basic flat white colored bait overcast days, Chrome on sunny days, and then black in dark water, but I really like two tone colors in stained water like the chart and white or chart/black spooks....Something about chartruese on a topwater that seems to work in stained water.....

 

I also like some orange on the bottom of a topwater when fishing shallow or around bluegill, pre-spawn, fall....I will often just add some orange to the bottom sides with a marker or few spots on the belly.

 

I know the theory is fish only see the bottom of the bait, but I catch more fish on a baby bass colored torpedo than any of the other colors....The bottom is white, but it rolls on its side at times, so I wonder if it's the green on the sides, or just maybe I have more confidence in that color.

 

I deviate a bit depending on type of lures, but if I am fishing a floating jerkbait mainly as a topwater, I feel like the Bomber Bengal Tiger color seems to work best in any water condition. The combination of silver flash, gold and brown, some orange seems to be the ticket bright or overcast.

 

Kind of funny, in Saltwater down here, Red head with white body topwaters and jerkbaits are the standard safe choice like green pumpkin in plastics, yet I have never done well with them for Bass. I think alot of it has to do with when I experiment with colors...Usually at times when I am not catching anything, so hard to make a legit comparison. 

 

Color does matter when it matters. I have had a few days where the exact same lure in a different color makes a big difference, but more times than not, I think alot of it is confidence. Kind of like a pink worm. I never use them, do not have confidence in them, but have seen them work for others. I try not to overthink color, but of course I like to make sure I buy plenty of funky colors just in case....For every bait or lure I like.....Buying lures & experimenting is half the fun for me.