Choosing Lure Colors Is Anything but an Exact Science

You might even call it a crapshoot, without being too far off the mark--at least, that's my opinion. Here's why I say that.

The last time I was on the water, it was a dark day, with murky to muddy water, so I had an array of topwater/shallow-running baits tied on in a mixture of darker and bright colors. Unfortunately, none of these baits were producing.

As I neared the end of a long stretch of shoreline I had been fishing, I decided it was time to try something new. Since dark and brightly colored lures didn't seem to be the answer, I opted for a wakebait with a white belly and gray top. Almost immediately, I had a fish slam the bait.

Wanting to find cleaner water, I decided to run to another spot, rather than go back over the same stretch I just had covered. Upon arriving at the new spot, I picked up the rod with the bait I had caught the fish on a few minutes earlier and began catching fish in no time. Then it occurred to me this might be a good time to do a little experimenting.

I started throwing several different colors of the only bait (in the same size) that had worked for me a little earlier. Once again, all the bites stopped. After several minutes had passed, I went back to the bait with the white belly and gray top, and bingo, the action resumed.

The only thing I proved with that experiment is that, on certain days, at least, color does seem to matter, but picking a successful color may not always follow any generally accepted rule of thumb.

"For example," says Wade Bourne, one of America's best known outdoor writers and broadcasters, "the most fundamental rule is to fish brightly colored baits in dingy or muddy water and light, subtle colors in clear water. The logic here, say the experts, is that a bass' visibility is hampered by silt, and colors like chartreuse, yellow and orange are easier to see than bone, pumpkinseed and smoke. On the other hand, when water is clear and the fish can get an unobstructed look at the bait, it's best to go with softer, more natural colors.

"When water clarity is poor (visibility of a foot or less), many pros use spinnerbaits with chartreuse or yellow skirts or crankbaits in a fire-tiger pattern (orange belly, chartreuse sides, dark green back). In clear water, those same pros favor white or white/blue spinnerbaits. Their color choices in crankbaits are chrome, bone and various natural finishes (crawfish, shad, sunfish, etc.).

"Besides water clarity, time of year and preferred forage also should be considered in choosing lure colors. For instance, crawfish are a main menu item on many Southern lakes in the pre-spawn, and unless the water is muddy, a crawfish-pattern crankbait or a brown/brown jig-and-pig emulates this natural prey. In the post-spawn, when many bass feed on small bluegills, sunfish-colored lures are effective. When bass are schooling in summer or chasing shad in bays in the fall, a chrome or shad-colored lure is a logical choice.

"Two particular fishing situations call for special color considerations: night fishing and topwater fishing. Most expert night fishermen use black or dark blue lures. Their theory is that these colors provide a more distinct profile when silhouetted against the lighter background of the water's surface. Thus, a dark lure is easier for bass to see and strike accurately at night.

"Most topwater specialists prefer dark-colored baits early and late in the day when visibility is poor, while light-colored baits get the nod during bright periods. They are quick to note, however, that a surface lure's action and noise are far more important in triggering strikes than its color.

"In conclusion, there are no hard-and-fast rules in selecting lure colors, and confidence may be the most important factor in this process. Beginning bass anglers perhaps should follow the basic guidelines presented here but, at the same time, be willing to experiment with different colors and combinations until they find what works best in their home waters. Then," concluded Bourne, "they would be well-served to stock their tackleboxes with a few basic colors and just forget about all the ones they don't have."

Beyond color discrimination, however, is the issue of whether some colors act as visual signals. In theory, some color patterns might excite bass. A splash of red on the throat of a crankbait, for example, might signify blood and, hence, a wounded, easy meal. On the other hand, red on a lure might be more like waving a red flag in the face of a bull, instinctively driving the bass crazy.

Evidence gathered from the field and lab tests, however, suggests otherwise. For one thing, if a color or color pattern evoked strong instinctive aggression, those lures consistently would yield higher-than-average catch rates. Yet, despite the myriad anglers pounding the water day after day, no such color ever has been discovered.

Bass anglers typically have individual favorites, but there is no consensus to support the idea that one color reliably is better than others all the time. If bass have a favorite color, they're keeping it a secret.