Color Selection

[fishinTexas]

I am looking to perfecting more than just soft plastics. When it comes to crank baits, husky jerks, spinners, and buzzbaits. Is there any hard and fast rules when it comes to color that I need to apply? I just see so many color selections that I find myself sitting in front of the Rapala aisle at Gander Mountain for half an hour w/ no idea on what to select. I usually walk away afraid that I will be wasting my money.

[Grey Wolf]

Keep it simple........spinnerbaits and buzzbaits(white, chartruese/white ,and black for night). For cranks use shad colors , firetiger colors , cray fish colors. As they say try to match the hatch for the lakes or rivers you are fishing. I hope this gives you an idea on what to start with.                                                  

[Nick]

I agree with the Brat. Keep it simple. In soft plastics, green pumpkin  catches fish in just about every condition.  Red shad is very good for stained waters.  Black and blue jig is pretty universal also. For cranks get a few in crawadad colors reds, oranges, browns for early spring, and switch to shad patterns in the postspawn thru winter.  For dirty water stay with the chartreuse, and firetigers.  Spinnerbaits: small silver willows with a clear to firecracker or silver  skirt for clear, and move to whites and chartruese skirts with larger blades in silver and gold combinations for dirtier water. Real murky go with painted blades in chartreuse , black,  and even orange.  These are general guidelines, so exceptions do arise.

[senko_77]

shad colored, and chartreuse

[Raul]

Colors that always work: silver & black, gold & black, silver & blue, shad, firetiger, baby bass, crawfish.

[albiechaser]

It can drive you nuts, each lake has a different make up.  once you find a few colors that work for that lake, don't change much. 2 colors maybe all you'll need for your lake  but until you find the right color it could take 10 colors before you hit what they like that day.  location location location is the key.

next time you see folks with fish at your lake ask em what color they used.

have a great day.

[CJHooker]

I agree with Nick green pumkin rules on my lake.Rootbeer has been a good color crankbait!I have posted it before about a shortcut.When I usually find a good color of crankbait,soft plastic,or almost any lure,I go to the bait stores to find them sold out.It gave me the idea those were colors that must be working.So, look for those empty hangers and see if there is a tag   on it that shows the color that was there then go to other shops to see if they might have that color in stock.

[Guest avid]

I like the tip about looking for the empty J hook at the tackle shop.  ;D  This is actually something I do at the walmart.  At tackle shops is just alot easier and more reliable to ask the guy behind the counter. They will try to sell you something else if the most popular is sold out but they will tell you what colors work best. I always like to buy something from someone at a tackle shop who is giving me info.

[Will]

Clear Water Bright Day: White, chrome, clear, or metal looking colors that have flash

Clear Water Cloudy Day: Black, Charteuse, Blue or other solid colors

Muddy Water Bright Day Gold and copper

Muddy Water Cloudy Day: Orange and Chartreuse