Seasonal Bait Color Choices

[JustBassinThru]

Watched a video yesterday that was talking about using Red colored hardbaits during Pre-Spawn. I was curious if anyone has any bait color choices they are more likely to use strictly based on the season.

[FishinBuck07]

Spring I tend to use craw patterns more, but will fish bluegill and shad patterns.  Summer I fish more bluegill patterns and some shad, and fall I fish more shad patterns and some craw patterns!  Don't know why that is just the way I have done it, feel like in the spring crawfish are the main forage they are eating, the summer I believe they eat more bluegill and the fall more shad.  I may be completely out of my mind but it usually works for me.

[Bankbeater]

I use red and orange baits year round. It’s more about the water clarity than the time of year for me. 

[Spankey]

Good post. Reds were brought up a few weeks back. Myself I have no love affair for it. I do not do well with it. I have no self-confidence in it. I can do something with a Rapala Red Craw, fried green tomato and Redfire Craw but I'm not convinced the red in the baits draws the attention. I don't know. But if I were to use something like demon, delta red, chili craw, and baits that are predominantly red in color they are a bust. Head game I guess. I generally would say color is not important.

 

I was really surprised in that last post as to the amount of guy who do not do well with it. I didn't expect to see it. Very popular in every crankbait line there is. 

[PressuredFishing]

1 hour ago, JustBassinThru said:

Watched a video yesterday that was talking about using Red colored hardbaits during Pre-Spawn. I was curious if anyone has any bait color choices they are more likely to use strictly based on the season.

I am not sure to be completely honest with you, I am going to be trying some red hardbaits and put quite a bit of time into them this season, although my hopes are not super high... we will see, if anything the red will help stand out early spring from the mucked up water... that's my theory at least

[gim]

I don’t have much for red lures either. A red chatterbait and a red lipless crank bait is about it. I have caught fish on red lures all season.

[tander]

I throw about 4 crankbait colors and 2 worm colors for the most part, don't care what season it is.

[DitchPanda]

Last summer I started throwing big red worms..namely redbug...because guys rave about them. They did not disappoint...but I'm not so sure they wouldn't work all the time. I've tried the red lipless thing for years with marginal success...had much better luck during that time frame on gold black back.

[papajoe222]

I throw a lot of red craw patterns early in the season along with orange belly ones.  I actually carry an early spring Plano and other than some blade baits and jigs, the majority are one or the other. 

[Catt]

Chrome Red Rat-L-Trap accounted for a 12.5# Hawg & many in the 6-9# class.

 

 

[smalljaw67]

Late fall/early winter is where a seasonal color is dominant in my waters. When the water temp falls into the low to mid 40s it has an effect on minnow forage. They get what we call "thermal shock" and will show hues of blue/green or purple. Smoke purple, smoke purple chartreuse and smoke purple copper are all effective during this time. 

[scaleface]

I havent jumped on the red  band wagon yet . When the early spring  water gets muddy a chartreuse lure gets used a lot .

[Deleted account]

I do tailor colors to time of year sometimes, but water clarity, light level, matching forage, and weather conditions take precedent. I do find that in some places where I fish a bright accent, be it red, orange, chart. or pink, will make a difference in the pre spawn.

[gim]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Chrome Red Rat-L-Trap accounted for a 12.5# Hawg & many in the 6-9# class.

 

 

No hooks?

[ChrisD46]

Winter soft plastic colors (shaky head) : Black & Blue flake , Junebug get the nod for cold water bottom fishing . A dark green pumpkin (like ZMan makes) is a close 3rd.  

[JustBassinThru]

On 1/28/2022 at 5:03 PM, Spankey said:

Good post. Reds were brought up a few weeks back. Myself I have no love affair for it. I do not do well with it. I have no self-confidence in it. I can do something with a Rapala Red Craw, fried green tomato and Redfire Craw but I'm not convinced the red in the baits draws the attention. I don't know. But if I were to use something like demon, delta red, chili craw, and baits that are predominantly red in color they are a bust. Head game I guess. I generally would say color is not important.

 

I was really surprised in that last post as to the amount of guy who do not do well with it. I didn't expect to see it. Very popular in every crankbait line there is. 

I do remember the post about the Red bait posted earlier now that u mention it. I have never thrown much for Red baits and the video I mentioned just made me more curious how popular of a color choice it is. It especially talked about the Firecraw Jackhammer. Thanks everyone for their feedback. 

[Boomstick]

My only real seasonal color preferences are I like silver crankbaits and jerkbaits in the spring and fall.

[Catt]

Bagley Balsa B Tennessee Shad Orange Belly

 

Been kicking spring bass since the 70s!

 

 

[Spankey]

10 hours ago, JustBassinThru said:

I do remember the post about the Red bait posted earlier now that u mention it. I have never thrown much for Red baits and the video I mentioned just made me more curious how popular of a color choice it is. It especially talked about the Firecraw Jackhammer. Thanks everyone for their feedback. 

I recently put together a “pink” care package (I’ll post a pic in my post about pink) curious how well it will go. 40+ years of bass fishing I’ve never thrown a pink bait for Smallies or Greenies. A few pink cranks, worms and flukes. I’ll try not to get frustrated with them. I did only buy baits that are proven in different patterns for me. 
 

I’m not familiar with that particular Jackhammer. The Rapala Red Firecraw has a chartreuse that runs through it. That color and the fact that it’s a Shad Rap is the reason to me that it works. 
 

I should take some outings and throw nothing but reds. Throw nothing else. Should do the same when I start throwing that pink. Force myself to make it work. Don’t even bring certain crutch baits to fall back and use. 
 

 

[cyclops2]

I always " Match the hatch. "

[roadwarrior]

2 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

I always " Match the hatch. "

 That is a phrase coined for trout, not bass.

[cyclops2]

It works equally well on both.  Minnow & shad patterns catch both fish in N Y.

 

Forgot the best lure pattern. Yellow perch. Everything eats them & gobies.  Small lures are now made & colored to match them. Very effective. As bellies of bass are full of them when filleted out.

[roadwarrior]

Yellow works around here too, but we don't have yellow perch or gobies.

[GoneFishingLTN]

On 1/30/2022 at 6:59 AM, Catt said:

Bagley Balsa B Tennessee Shad Orange Belly

 

Been kicking spring bass since the 70s!

 

 

Curious does this offer anything different from the current square bills? I have pro blue jerkbaits packed but was wondering for spring if I should go pro blue 2 which has a orange belly

[Catt]

6 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

should go pro blue 2 which has a orange belly

 

Does it look like the one in the picture?