Best conditions for white colors?

[Johnbt]

When does white work? Around here we've had a lot of success with white on the days when chartreuse or chartreuse/white works. That would be most days, but we fish a lot of heavily stained and frequently muddy shallow water.

 

I've been told that chartreuse looks like white to a bass most of the time, but the bass aren't talking.

[bulldog1935]

turbid water and bright sunlight

 

[The Bassman]

19 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

turbid water and bright sunlight

 

This reinforces what I've always thought. Color is mostly a confidence factor. I'm sure I'll get a lot of disagreement but I really believe that the best color is the one that I'm fishing with as long as my timing, location, and presentation are right.

[bulldog1935]

21 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

This reinforces what I've always thought. Color is mostly a confidence factor. I'm sure I'll get a lot of disagreement but I really believe that the best color is the one that I'm fishing with as long as my timing, location, and presentation are right.

There are no rules, only generalizations, and you'll find exceptions to all of them. 

My buddy fishes pink for everything and catches fish.  

Baitfish try to hide themselves, and there's a tradeoff between lures blending and being visible enough for the bass to find, vs. outrageously too obvious.  

Clear water bright sun is blend colors.  

Clear water and overcast is darker blend colors.  

Turbid water and bright sun is bright colors.  

Turbid water and overcast is dark colors like purple.  

Red is for low angle sunlight, early morning and late afternoon.  

Blue has always been my best night color.  

[Jigfishn10]

Some really good advice right there. Great post @bulldog1935!

[Munkin]

We have a saying for buzzbaits in the Upper Potomac= Any color works as long as it is white. 

 

Allen

[Team9nine]

Another way of thinking about it is to flip the question around and ask, “When does white not work?” It’s one of the most universal color patterns on baits, from bellies on crankbaits to entire shad profiles, similar to black. It goes way back in history too, from the old school color patterns; red head/white body cranks or the infamous original red/white pattern on the Dardevle spoon.

[gim]

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Blue has always been my best night color

I did some night fishing last season several times for the first time in years because of heavy boat traffic during the day and it was extremely productive. My best color was either a black, black/blue, or other dark color.

[bulldog1935]

I fish tandems with glow in front and blue in the back.  

Occasionally get doubles, but 90% of the fish are on blue.  

(my overnight 5 plus my partners - min is 15" - we were only keeping 17+", and all are schoolie males, which travel 25 mi/day to find food)

 

Same with white bass, bottom bouncing blue whistlers in the hour before first light will get a fish every cast.  We camp on gravel bars and get up when we hear fish splashing.  

I've been fishing in the dark 40 years.  

[J Francho]

SpeckFishingResource.com