Color of Crawfish in March

[basslover12345]

How would you describe the color of spawning crawfish in the early spring?

[River Rat316]

Depends on the area, it could be one of about 100 different combinations of Greens oranges, blacks, reds, blues, and yellows.

[basslover12345]

I'm fishing the Potomac river...........

[Hot Rod]

Only way to know for sure is to go flip some rocks in the shallows and have a look at 'em 

[WRB]

Spring craw sometimes refer to molts; crawdads that are shedding their shell. These are also known soft shells, whatever you call them bass love them.

The new shells have less color until they harden and most are light green or blue brown.

There are dozens of varieties of crawdads in every region and color very widely.

Tom

[Catt]

Molting is the periodic shedding of the old exoskeleton (shell) and takes place with each increase in size which can be 4-6 times a year; once the crawfish reaches maturity the molting process stops

Each individual crawfish will vary in color before, during, & after molting

[VolFan]

Look at your bottom composition whereever you are fishing.  Crawfish tend to match that, with some variation by species.  Setting crawfish traps (where legal) is another good way to get a look, and some tasty snacks  .

[Fish Chris]

I don't think Crawdads "spawn" in the early Spring, but rather, make babies all the way from late Spring, until Fall. As has been mentioned, their are many species of Crawdads, all across the country, each with varying colors. They will also vary between male and females, or freshly molted, or with an old shell, which is about to be molted.

For the common species in my area, this is my favorite color (small to medium female, with smaller claws and thinner shell)

Well, that one might be a little darker than perfect....

Or say, about like this Huddlebug....

Peace,

Fish

[WRB]

I used to think that crawdads hibernated in the winter cold water period, they don't. However they do burrow onto clay banks and slow way down during winter. When water warms to about 50+ degrees, craws come out of the burrows, migrate to warmer water and tend to molt in large numbers during that time of year.

Bass feed on crawdads during the staging/pre-spawn; high protein and available in large numbers in a confined area.

Tom

[Catt]

Color expression in crawfish is regulated largely by special pigment containing cells (chromatophores) located beneath the exoskeleton, and color is normally a function of two factors, developmental stage and the environment. Most crawfish species are generally greenish or brownish as immature animals and begin to take on the characteristic colors as the approach maturity. Color manifestations is intensified in sexually mature individuals. The aquatic environment and diet also influence color.

Individual specimens of crawfish vary in color from the normal population. Color variants are almost endless with respect to degree and/or pattern of expression.

[Raul]

Individual specimens of crawfish vary in color from the normal population. Color variants are almost endless with respect to degree and/or pattern of expression.

In other words, it won 't help you much knowing the color.

[basslover12345]

I'm having the following jigs made to imitate craw fish to use in the rocky banks in Occoquan:

1/2 Football Jigs

1- Red / Light Brown (Red Head)

1- Red / Orange (Red Head)

1- Brown / Orange (Brown Head)

1- Black / Orange (Black Head)

1- Green Pumpkin / Watermelon / Orange (Rattles)

1-Solid red jig

Any other colors you would reccomend to imitate the spawning craw dads?

[Munkin]

I'm having the following jigs made to imitate craw fish to use in the rocky banks in Occoquan:

1/2 Football Jigs

1- Red / Light Brown (Red Head)

1- Red / Orange (Red Head)

1- Brown / Orange (Brown Head)

1- Black / Orange (Black Head)

1- Green Pumpkin / Watermelon / Orange (Rattles)

1-Solid red jig

Any other colors you would reccomend to imitate the spawning craw dads?

I fish the Potomac both Upper and Tidal and can tell you I use 4 jig colors:

Solid black

Green Pumkin

Brown

Shadish (swimming jig)

These work for me everywhere and if I want to change or contrast the color I just use a different trailer color. Do not overthink it and make it out to be more than it is.

Allen

[CJ From Dinwiddie,VA]

I'm fishing the Potomac river...........

   well, if ur in clear water id go with the most natural color you can find. green usually works well but if u can find a place where theres run off and theres a mud line. id throw a black and blue or a dark brown and orange. but a light orange. not a Super bright orange. and try to have black speckles in the whole thing.  good luck

[brushhoggin]

fish with black and blue. its like the blue jeans of lure colors. it produces in most shades of water clarity regardless of the actual color of the local craw

[Hot Rod]

Any color is good as long as it is black with blue. 

That is an over simplification but like other said don't over complicate color either.

I'd stick with two jig colors:

- Black or black w/blue

- Brown or green pumpkin

For trailers I'd suggest black, blue, green pumpkin and pumpkin.  I use a die pen or dippin' dye to add chart, red or orange accents to the green pumpkin and pumpkin trailers as needed.

JM.02 thats what works for me.  I tend to follow the K.I.S.S. principal finally after years of buying too many different colors I didn't need/use. 

[basslover12345]

In terms of jigs, are thicker or thinner skirts best and are glass rattles best on crawfish imitating jigs

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

In the NE part of the country, I usually see gray, tan, brown, blackish, and red. They can also be mixes of any of those colors. Like others stated above, there's only one way to tell... find some...

[BASSINATORBIGJOE]

Around my house they are bright red after they come out of that boiling water...................Mike 8-)