Green/blue baits--a theory

[plawren53202]

For some reason this season soft plastics that are green and blue have been killing it for me. Specifically, baits that have a green portion and a blue portion (rather than something like green pumpkin with blue flakes throughout). This has included Moon Juice in the Strike King products, Bream in Yum Dingers, and Nirvana in the 6th Sense shaky head worms. I've had success on this color in multiple locations, different types of water, and it seems like it carries over a wide range of water clarity.  Also seems like I've been seeing more of the YouTubers I watch using baits similarly colored.

 

I was looking at pictures of bluegill online last night--originally I started because I wanted to give some thought to more often using a little chartreuse or orange Spike It on my green/blue baits to really copy bluegill. But after looking at the pics I have a theory--bluegill have that light blue or grayish blue patch at the bottom of their gill plate (thus the name "bluegill," thanks Captain Obvious). I'm wondering if bass get conditioned to strike at that blue patch because they have to swallow bluegill head first, and therefore aim for the head. This would make the addition of a larger patch or swatch of that light blue color to a green pumpkin bait something that triggers the "aim for the head" strike response, over and above just a plain green pumpkin bait.

 

Who knows, maybe I'm way overthinking this. 

[Mobasser]

I'm not so sure your over thinking this. I fish two smaller lakes where bluegill are the main forage for bass. Grape and purple have been the best colors here. I always thought they were close to the shade of bluegill. It could be that the bass hone in on one portion of a bluegill. I've thought about adding dull orange to the bottom of soft plastics for this reason also.

[jimmyjoe]

   Man, how 250 miles can make a difference!  For several years, I've noticed that blue/green lures get me almost nothing. Nada. Zip. In the river or in lakes, including one with a large bluegill population.... zero. But what @Mobasser said hit the nail on the head; bluish-purple has been deadly. And to me, the hue is not at all the same; the bluegill blue is much brighter, and the purple blue is much darker.

   Go figure.       ???      jj

 

   p.s. - I'm judging color in the water, not in the sunshine.

[Shimano_1]

47 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

For some reason this season soft plastics that are green and blue have been killing it for me. Specifically, baits that have a green portion and a blue portion (rather than something like green pumpkin with blue flakes throughout). This has included Moon Juice in the Strike King products, Bream in Yum Dingers, and Nirvana in the 6th Sense shaky head worms. I've had success on this color in multiple locations, different types of water, and it seems like it carries over a wide range of water clarity.  Also seems like I've been seeing more of the YouTubers I watch using baits similarly colored.

 

I was looking at pictures of bluegill online last night--originally I started because I wanted to give some thought to more often using a little chartreuse or orange Spike It on my green/blue baits to really copy bluegill. But after looking at the pics I have a theory--bluegill have that light blue or grayish blue patch at the bottom of their gill plate (thus the name "bluegill," thanks Captain Obvious). I'm wondering if bass get conditioned to strike at that blue patch because they have to swallow bluegill head first, and therefore aim for the head. This would make the addition of a larger patch or swatch of that light blue color to a green pumpkin bait something that triggers the "aim for the head" strike response, over and above just a plain green pumpkin bait.

 

Who knows, maybe I'm way overthinking this. 

I've had a lot of success locally on these colors myself.  Everyone swears by regular green pumpkin but ive had way more success and caught a lot more big fish with moon juice etc. Never really gave it this much thought but honestly I'd say you are exactly right. Definitely makes a lot of sense to me. 

[plawren53202]

17 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Man, how 250 miles can make a difference!  For several years, I've noticed that blue/green lures get me almost nothing. Nada. Zip. In the river or in lakes, including one with a large bluegill population.... zero. But what @Mobasser said hit the nail on the head; bluish-purple has been deadly. And to me, the hue is not at all the same; the bluegill blue is much brighter, and the purple blue is much darker.

   Go figure.       ???      jj

 

   p.s. - I'm judging color in the water, not in the sunshine.

Bluegill do vary in color by location or even water clarity, it seems like in general the ones that I have caught in southern states tend to be a lot darker than the ones around me here, which seem to be a little paler. I can easily see bluish-purple working well in places that have the darker bluegill.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, plawren53202 said:

Who knows, maybe I'm way overthinking this. 

My vote is for this ^^  lol.

 

Of course, you could start fishing green worms with blue tails and see how many bass you start missing/losing because they go for what they think is the head, but in reality are short striking at the tail of your bait. Maybe you won't even get any bites because they'll be so confused, wondering why the bait/bluegill is swimming backwards, not knowing whether to hit the head of the moving plastic or the head of the backward swimming "bluegill" (which is the tail of the bait since that's where the blue is).

 

Yes, I've already done the experiment above  

 

 

[Mobasser]

Still thinking on this one. I have used grape and purple worms with success for many years in lakes where bluegill are the main forage. I never really thought about. exactly" where " a bass might strike them. But, I've also caught on these colors in lakes that have large shad populations too. I think I've caught the most fish with purple/grape worms because I have the most confidence in them.

[Tennessee Boy]

I always ask myself a question when I start catching a lot of fish on a particular color.   Am I catching these fish because they like the color or because I like the color and it's what I fish the most?  Only you can answer that question.  There are also multiple scientific studies going back decades that have found that largemouth have difficulty seeing the color blue.  I believe this research so I would question why a fish would aim for a color that they have a hard time seeing?

[Black Hawk Basser]

Berkley Havoc plastics in 'Bama Bug' have been great for me.  That is kind of a green pumpkin/blue mixture.  I don't do very well around here on solid green pumpkin.  Take it for what you will..

[Spankey]

If you get a chance go through the RoboWorm colors. Pretty sure that variation exists. 

[Lobocito]

My color of the year right now is black/blue with some green pumpkin thrown in. Black blue jig w/ green pumpkin trailer, jig w/ both colors in the skirt, black jig head with green bait... doesn't matter. 

 

The bluegill in my waters are ridiculously dark. I can't find a picture on google that is even close to how dark these gills are, but they are basically black and purple with the very lightest bit of green on the belly. So I think thats a big part of why that color combo is working for me.

[lo n slo]

go get you some unpainted bullet weights and some blue enamel model car paint. get some toothpicks and drill some tiny holes in a block of wood. get to painting those bad boys and then go slay the bass. yer welcome ?

[Todd2]

Every time I declare victory over the Micropterus salmoides and think I've solved the magic color issue, the next time out I'm humbled on that color. Having said that...lol.. Pumpkinseed and tail dipped in Chartreuse killed it last time out. 

 

In general I think we all over think colors but if green/blue gives you confidence..stick with it. You'll fish it better.

[plawren53202]

37 minutes ago, lo n slo said:

go get you some unpainted bullet weights and some blue enamel model car paint. get some toothpicks and drill some tiny holes in a block of wood. get to painting those bad boys and then go slay the bass. yer welcome ?

I'm going to give this a shot. Thanks for the suggestion, I would have never thought of it, or using model car paint.

[Angry John]

The only thing less important than color is scent.  Your overthinking the small factors and taking the bigger ones for granted.

[Todd2]

4 hours ago, Mobasser said:

 I think I've caught the most fish with purple/grape worms because I have the most confidence in them.

I found this gem in my 1980 Best of Bassmaster that my older brother gave me years ago.?

[RoLo]

 

FINALLY, I've discovered a color combination that makes the distinction between Good days & Bad days

And the Winner IS:  my Green shirt with Orange flecks.    And, it's totally unaffected by lure color      

 

Roger

 

[MGF]

I've done very well on so many colors. I prefer white spinner baits, green pumpkin tubes and stick baits, black jigs and yellow jigs, purple worms...

 

I'm pretty sure that I don't know what any of it means..

[Luke Barnes]

I've been using moon juice in the rage craw and rage menace and really like it. They get but and make excellent color combos as trailers. So versatile. 

[Spankey]

I don't think you are overthinking anything. I'd stick with it. See what other mfg. out there offer that have the working combinations of colors for you. I like that idea of playing around and painting those jig heads also. Find that exact blue you are looking for. Ride the confidence that you worked on. Rubber worms and crankbaits are not that expensive. Try one slightly different.

 

I'm not setting the world on fire yet with my soft plastics. Mostly because of lack of throwing them. Doing it on crankbaits so far. Bluegill and shiner shad variations have been getting it done. I do not throw real image cranks, they just don't work. At least for me. Good luck.

[5/0]

29 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

I found this gem in my 1980 Best of Bassmaster that my older brother gave me years ago.?

For Bill Dance it was blue.

[scaleface]

A buddy and I fished together a lot . We both used plastic worms . His color was blue mine was purple .We both caught bass.The color   made no difference . A couple of years ago I found a great buy on 8 inch Manns blueberry Jelly worms and bought 200 . I've been using them a bunch and catching a lot  .  Are bass mistaking them for bluegill,? thats a lot of speculation . I think it just looks alive .

[RoLo]

2 hours ago, Todd2 said:

I found this gem in my 1980 Best of Bassmaster that my older brother gave me years ago.?

 

During his heyday, Roland Martin's favorite color was 'Blue'

Today of course, it's a green-pumpkin SINKO (That's not how it's spelled, that's how he says it)    

 

Roger

[NavyVet1204]

10 hours ago, plawren53202 said:

For some reason this season soft plastics that are green and blue have been killing it for me. Specifically, baits that have a green portion and a blue portion (rather than something like green pumpkin with blue flakes throughout). This has included Moon Juice in the Strike King products, Bream in Yum Dingers, and Nirvana in the 6th Sense shaky head worms. I've had success on this color in multiple locations, different types of water, and it seems like it carries over a wide range of water clarity.  Also seems like I've been seeing more of the YouTubers I watch using baits similarly colored.

 

I was looking at pictures of bluegill online last night--originally I started because I wanted to give some thought to more often using a little chartreuse or orange Spike It on my green/blue baits to really copy bluegill. But after looking at the pics I have a theory--bluegill have that light blue or grayish blue patch at the bottom of their gill plate (thus the name "bluegill," thanks Captain Obvious). I'm wondering if bass get conditioned to strike at that blue patch because they have to swallow bluegill head first, and therefore aim for the head. This would make the addition of a larger patch or swatch of that light blue color to a green pumpkin bait something that triggers the "aim for the head" strike response, over and above just a plain green pumpkin bait.

 

Who knows, maybe I'm way overthinking this. 

Those color combinations have been doing damage here in Alabama for me as well in both river and lake. Googan baits has their crackin kraws that I’ve been using them in and they are awesome on a jig and t-rig setup.

[Shimano_1]

Its all speculation as is most things in fishing.  If it works for you and you have confidence in it fish it. One person is gonna say yes its color while the next is gonnq say color doesn't matter.  I think at times color makes no difference but ive seen too many times that small nuances in color made all the difference.