Lure Colors- cutting through the confusion

[Shadcranker]

I have been at this bass fishing stuff for around 15 years now, and I have come up with a "system" of sorts to try and keep the bait monkey at bay, and to not have to carry so much crap in my boat.

Most Plastics: Four basic colors (obviously some variations, but these are the basics):

Green pumpkin, watermelon / red flake, junebug, and red shad. Two light and two dark colors that cover 99% of the water conditions. Carry a collection of worm dyes with you to customize as needed.

Flukes and grubs (often trying to imitate shad): pearl, chartreuse pepper, and one green shade (watermelon).

Crankbaits: Three basic colors-

TN Shad, Chartreuse with blue back, and craw patterns. I usually only buy the craw patterns in baits that run 2-10 ft, as I mostly use them on the flats and shallow points in spring. I buy TN Shad and the Chart / Blue ones for deeper cranking in Summer and Fall.

Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits: Buy basic white and chart / white colors, and buy some extra skirts to customize as needed.

[Branuss04]

Thanks for the post.  When I first started bass fishing, I got very confused by all the color choices out there, but with posts like this, it helps people sort out the mess a little bit.  

[Sam]

I think the colors are for us, the fishermen.

A shad color is a shad color even though there are many shad colors.

And many variations of the other colors depending on the manufacturer.

But I agree, we all have too many colors which can confuse the daylights out of us.

The only winner in the color game is the Bait Monkey! ;D

[David P]

I stay with 2-3 colors for almost 90% of my plastics.

Purple and Watermelon are my two favorite colors, but the watermelon I like with different flakes.

[roadwarrior]

I don't disagree in general, but we all know there are times when one VERY SPECIFIC color is key. Not just a shade, but that EXACT color outfished everything else. I was fishing Bull Shoals at night, when you would think color would be even less important, throwing a black & silver Rogue. My partner, an experienced lake guide, told me the lure HAD TO HAVE an orange splash on the bottom. That's what he fished and he spanked me UNTIL I changed to that EXACT color combination. Coincidence? I don't think so.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I don't disagree completely. Most of my crankbaits/jerkbaits are some variation of shad color.(American, Threadfin, Tenn., Shad) However I do have some colors that only produce in certain parts of Lake St. Clair where the water typically is a different color. I can fish for hours with those colors and not catch one fish, then I'll go to the certain parts of the lake and that same lure will catch fish.

So, I think there are some conditions when color does matter.

Falcon

[TournyFish001]

no matter the color- you will always have better success if you match the color of what they eat or see as a threat during spawning/guarding fry- you may be limiting yourself using only colors that you have- especially when you fish multiple fisheries.  For example- KVD he loves spinnerbaits but do see him only using white/chartruse? Nope he carries many spare parts/colors and matches the baitfish as best as possible-

[Shadcranker]

I understand that KVD carries as much stuff as his 21 ft Nitro will hold.

Two major differences between KVD and myself:

1. His livelyhood depends on perfection

2. All his stuff is free

Just trying to make a basic point that if you simplify colors, you can cover most fishing situations, and for most weekend anglers the color thing is a never ending pursuit of Mr Bait Monkey.

Also, you think KVD's sponsors (i.e. Strike King) want him just throwing chart and white or straight watermelon 3X finesse worms? Marketing is a wonderful thing, and I'm sure KVD's sponsors appreciate you paying attention to all the detail and purchasing opportunities that are presented on The Bass Pros and other shows.

I think it's great to customize and tinker, but at least for the beginner it can be a bit intimidating trying to have it all.

[TournyFish001]

I understand that KVD carries as much stuff as his 21 ft Nitro will hold.

Two major differences between KVD and myself:

1. His livelyhood depends on perfection

2. All his stuff is free

Just trying to make a basic point that if you simplify colors, you can cover most fishing situations, and for most weekend anglers the color thing is a never ending pursuit of Mr Bait Monkey.

Also, you think KVD's sponsors (i.e. Strike King) want him just throwing chart and white or straight watermelon 3X finesse worms? Marketing is a wonderful thing, and I'm sure KVD's sponsors appreciate you paying attention to all the detail and purchasing opportunities that are presented on The Bass Pros and other shows.

I think it's great to customize and tinker, but at least for the beginner it can be a bit intimidating trying to have it all.

Well stick with what you know and are confident with .  You will never catch me with only 4 colors of plastics.  3 crankbait colors and  a white/chartruse spinnerbait-

[Shadcranker]

Heck no I can't catch that 300 HP motor you're running.

I actually have tons of colors and boxes of extra platics in the garage from 15 yr of buying every shape, color, and size known to man.

Problem is, I can only fit about 1/10th of it in my boat storeage, and it just confuses me on the lake.

Just trying to pass along a lesson learned on colors.

Heck if it helps you having more colors, go for it.

[dman]

I fish only a few basic colors myself...I try out lots of different shapes though.  but ,  basicailly i've dwindled it down to the colors that produce for me.  And thats trying to immitate the color of the forage, im not saying nothing else will work,  but just not as good for me and my 4 colors  

[Catt]

I keep it extremely simple 80% of the time

Texas Rigged Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage).

Oldham's Lures Trailer Hitch Jig, 3/8 oz Black/Blue, Gene Larew Salty Hawg Craws in 6 with 1 ½ cut off the tail

Bill Lewis ½ oz Rat-L-Trap Gold/Black Back/Orange Belly or Red Chrome

Stanley Wedge Plus Spinner Bait ½ oz white skirt with gold double willow leaf

Original RB1200 Smithwick Rattlin' Rogue, Gold, Black Back, Orange Belly

Rebel Pop-R, Bone

Hart Throb Buzz Bait white skirt gold blade

[TournyFish001]

Heck no I can't catch that 300 HP motor you're running.

I actually have tons of colors and boxes of extra platics in the garage from 15 yr of buying every shape, color, and size known to man.

Problem is, I can only fit about 1/10th of it in my boat storeage, and it just confuses me on the lake.

Just trying to pass along a lesson learned on colors.

Heck if it helps you having more colors, go for it.

Hey I hear ya- true that!  I try and limit the confusion depending on the area I am fishing not everything comes with me that is for sure!!!

[tyrius.]

I'd mainly change the shad crankbait colors to bluegill or bass and the spinnerbait away from white to more yellows/greens/blues.

There aren't any shad in the waters that I fish so I need to match to the forage of the water I fish.

I would say that for cranks you need to match the dominate forage and then have a bright color too, same with the spinnerbaits.

[RoLo]

I think the colors are for us, the fishermen.

The only winner in the color game is the Bait Monkey! ;D

Sam, I think you nailed it!

The zero-sum game has the lowest margin for error  ;D

Roger

[George Welcome]

"Green pumpkin, watermelon / red flake, junebug, and red shad. Two light and two dark colors that cover 99% of the water conditions."

Those are all dark colors - Light colors consist of the white, bubblegum, banana, clears, silvers, etc.

Some of the combination colors: white/green as an example can be killers.

[Shadcranker]

George:

By light, I mean translucent (will let light through).

Junebug and red shad appear dark b/c they aren't translucent. Watermelon and Green Pumpkin are more natural, neutral colors that mimick craw and worm hues, plus in clearer water, they are more subtle.

I generally throw lighter colored baits in clear water and the two darker ones in stained to muddy.

I consider white, bubblegum, etc, to be bright colors. The white and shad colored baits resemble bait fish, and the sherbert, yellow, etc colors, are primarily to allow the fisherman to see the bait when bed fishing, floating worm fishing,  or for muddy conditions.