Color Selection For Bass
By Ron Kurucz
Catching bass on artificial lures is usually not by chance. In fact, an assortment of variables must be considered in selecting the right lure.
One of these is which color or shade of a particular lure will be most effective under prevailing conditions.
Water Clarity:
To professional anglers, water clarity is the most fundamental guide in choosing the right lure color. Selection is determined by whether the water they are fishing is clear or dirty. In clear water use clearer, lightly colored worms, shad colored crankbaits and white spinnerbaits. In dingy water, use more chartreuse, more spinnerbaits with hammered blades, brighter chartreuse crankbaits and purple or black worms. For stained or muddy water, throw some sort of dark or bright colored lure. A plastic worm or crankbait in purple, black, brown or chartreuse usually presents a better silhouette for bass to notice in dirty water. In contrast, lures in lighter shades such as white, yellow, gray or silver typically draw more strikes in clearer water.
A couple of incidences got me thinking about an approach I often use when heading out to my favorite bass haunts throughout the spring season…