Two issues--What color, and depth?

[Whatever]

I understand that the choice of color in plastics can be critical to success, so I have a question regarding that--When tying flies, I have run the gamut of white, olives, browns, tans, and black for materials. So what other primary colors are most effective at enticing bass? Red, yellow, purple, orange, hot orange or whatever else is available? Does it vary from day to day, and water body, or are some colors universally preferable?

On that issue, color fades with depth, so does your watermelon look like crawfish orange at 30 foot? I think red lasts the longest (deepest), so when fishing at 20 or 30 feet, does it matter? Do some colors work better in deeper water than others?

[Luke Barnes]

I watched a video with Edwin Evers and he said after about 15 feet deep colors become less and less important so that deep and deeper he uses all white or all black. That he has noticed zero difference between using multi colors or different colors. So white or black is all he uses. 

[Mobasser]

I tend to go with shades of grape, purple, and blue in soft plastic baits, mostly always fished on the bottom. These are my confidence colors.

[galyonj]

2 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I watched a video with Edwin Evers and he said after about 15 feet deep colors become less and less important so that deep and deeper he uses all white or all black. That he has noticed zero difference between using multi colors or different colors. So white or black is all he uses. 

Was it the latest Project E video with the guy from Berkley?

 

I thought that was a fairly illuminating video. To the OP's question, apparently the deeper you go, the more any color becomes simply a shade of grey.

[Dens228]

Black/Blue

Watermelon

Watermelon/Red Flake

 

Sometimes I add a chartreuse accent..........

There's my full list of plastics colors.  Not counting paddletails. 

[Luke Barnes]

6 hours ago, galyonj said:

Was it the latest Project E video with the guy from Berkley?

 

I thought that was a fairly illuminating video. To the OP's question, apparently the deeper you go, the more any color becomes simply a shade of grey.

No it was about his top January baits. He was talking about underspins and that he fishes them deep this time of year, so if its there is any bit of clarity to the water he goes with white or pearl white down deep. 

 

He lives within an hour of me so what he suggests works for where I fish. 

[galyonj]

Right on. I haven't seen that one. I don't catch his stuff super often.

[Armtx77]

12 hours ago, Dens228 said:

Black/Blue

Watermelon

Watermelon/Red Flake

 

Sometimes I add a chartreuse accent..........

There's my full list of plastics colors.  Not counting paddletails. 

I find that I am buying more and more, in the colors you described for my soft plastics.

 

I got some sppinerbaits in from TW today and there are more whites, white w/ a darker color and "bluegill" colors. A couple of the Booyah ones have me excited.

 

If I can figure out how to take smaller pics. I will post them up in the Bait Monkey thread.

[papajoe222]

 

FYI, red is the first color to washout as your lure sinks or the water gets murkier.

That being said, red and orange have been thought to be bass strike triggering colors for decades. Whether or not that is an actual fact is up for debate, but almost all the hard baits I throw have a splash of one or the other on their underside.

[scaleface]

According to this chart  the clarity of thr water makes a difference on which colors fade quickest . Heres a link to the article . Might be true might not be , I dont know .https://www.fatguppyfishing.com/single-post/2016/1/7/Selecting-Lure-Colors-for-Successful-Fishing

[Spankey]

I fish a lot of soft plastics like y’all. My productive patterns I’m sure fall right in line with what you guys are using. 
 

But over the years I’ve struggled big time with the colors Red Shad and a blue that is similar to an electric blue. No confidence built what so ever in them. I gave them an honest effort at one time. Felt I was wasting my time. 
 

I’m not sure how important color is. I would normally say not that important but maybe it is. Confidence? Between the shoulder problem?

 

I’m sure even the pros have confidence issue with some patterns and stay away from them. 

[Dens228]

11 hours ago, Armtx77 said:

I find that I am buying more and more, in the colors you described for my soft plastics.

 

I got some sppinerbaits in from TW today and there are more whites, white w/ a darker color and "bluegill" colors. A couple of the Booyah ones have me excited.

 

If I can figure out how to take smaller pics. I will post them up in the Bait Monkey thread.

For quicker moving baits that require a trailer like chatters, swim jigs, spinnerbaits really go crazy with colors.........lol

Something mainly green or watermelon

Something lighter along shad lines

 

And again, sometimes I add a chartreuse accent. 

[Jigfishn10]

I like to fish lures that contrasting colors. Something that has 2 or 3 colors in it. Besides colors washing out now you have to deal with colors of the water as the season progresses.

By having multiple colors, you increase you chances of you lure/fly being seen.

[TnRiver46]

Can’t go wrong with purple 20 feet down . All year 

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Can’t go wrong with purple 20 feet down . All year 

I just bought a pack of Powerbait General stick baits in Ike's custom color called Grimace. 2 colors of purple with flakes. I keep hearing here to use purple so going to give it a shot