If there is no sunlight behind the lure go with whites.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thebassfishinglife_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thebassfishinglife_com-leader-1-0'); The Scientific Research On Light Absorption and Color Underwater. But, thats the dominant forage, and is what you should most often try to mimic. Some of your top-performing clear water swimbaits include the Castaic Jerky J Swim in Blue Shad or RS Chunky Shad in Bluegill Flash. You can be among the first to get the latest info on where to go, what to use and how to use it! Whites, grays, browns, and yes, even chartreuse. What ever the bass will bite. These natural colors are excellent when the fish can see the bait well, as are translucent colors, such as pinks and purples. Well, what about black-blue? The spawn is when Ill try the brighter shades of already proven colors. Chartreuse is another color that fades rather quickly underwater, therefore it doesnt look so crazy when viewed beneath the waters surface. To rig a tube, the weighted jig head slides inside the bait and the line tie pops through the plastic. Picking the right lure color can be confusing, but you can simplify it with many different options. Glacier 3. The reason is obvious, as most bait fish have some shade of white in their coloration. If visibility is an issue, vibrations are a key factor for finding food. White/Chart, pink/chart, black/chart, red/chart and blue/chart are all really good combos. If you lose sight within two feet, water is rated Muddy; two to four feet, water is rated Stained; greater than four feet, water is Clear. In any water color you would be safe throwing Black-N-Blue or Black Neon. Certain colors are far more visible under specific water clarity and light conditions than other colors. Best Deep-Diving Crankbait: Strike King Pro Model 8XD Crankbait at Amazon. From fish behavior, where they live, how they react to your presentation and even how they react to boat traffic, is different. Here are a couple of the best lures for crappie in dirty water. In reality, two anglers in the same boat can be using two completely different techniques and baits, and they will both be catching fish. The Second Round of Underwater Lure Color Experiments. I have caught bass on a hot pink jig with a green pumkin head and a chart. Youll find that black/chartreuse is an extremely popular jig color. So, a lot of what different colors actually accomplish for us is to give us a particular shade of a fish-like color that can be seen well by the fish while still looking similar to what they are feeding on. So, if sight is limited, this is a great option, as they combine intense action with a lot of noise. Just go with a dark jig and add a rattle and some scent like Mega Strike's. When you can make that transition to vibrations, strong scents, and fitting colors, the chances of you hooking up will increase tremendously. These natural colors are excellent when the fish can see the bait well, as are translucent colors, such as pinks and purples. Lots of things a crappie eats have a black coloration on them. Rotate colors until you dial in to what they want that day. Lights Out 10. Right now with it being spring and the water temps just cracking the 70's with pretty stained water I will throw a white, chartreuse, or gold spinnerbait as well as natural shad color, chartreuse and black crankbaits. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Try not to overwhelm yourself with choosing the right color, as it often isnt the most important part of your presentation. When you can throw a jig down in the colors mentioned above, there is an excellent chance that itll produce plenty of bites. Professional crappie angler Dan Dannenmueller, member of Team Crappie Country along with Garrett Steele, is a firm believer in the scientific approach. For clear water, its typically more important to match the hatch rather than focus on a color most visible to walleye. Under water, certain colors lose their color faster than others. What is the Best Jig Color? Black and blue. As many long time LOW anglers will tell you, use any color on LOW as long as it's gold. Recommended Colors: Green Pumpkin Shad, Hite's Hot Craw, Brett's Bluegill, Clearwater Shad "Excellent bait for for South GA! Use a color thats actually visible in the color of water you are fishing. Copyright1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. When fishing clear water, green pumpkin is excellent, and so is any watermelon shade. The best jig colors are . Gold is one color that absolutely shines. The various styles of crankbaits are proven lures that catch fish on various lake types, and they are available in everything from super shallow divers to those that reach extreme depths. When water visibility is low, crappie wont rely much on sight but rather on their other senses to navigate around and find food. Use a 10lb test in open water and a 20lb test when fishing near or in snags. 2. For clear water, tans and more natural colors are the best bet. Calendar, Privacy Policy I have been an avid angler for over 20 years and I just could not imagine a life without this wonderful hobby! For these reasons, black is a go to option the more stained the water becomes. If immense flooding or a different factor is muddying the water, you will need to look at the body with a fresh set of eyes and go accordingly. There is no additional cost to you. Green Pumpkin - best and most versatile color. link to Stop Fishing Line Twist - For Good! You always have the option to buy confidence, sort of. Natural colors will blend right in and become invisible. You know when the water is muddy because you can easily see it. In clear water, use mostly natural colors. As you can see, when the camera is just inches away, the colors are easily distinguished. With the rains of early spring and of course all the rains this winter what . zoom trailer just to prove that color doesn't matter. Gel Stains; Water Based Stain; Oil Based Stain; Wood Dye & Tints; Wood Sealers; Wood Oil; . "This lure dives deeper and faster than most other deep-diving hardbaits and reaches depths of up to 20 feet." Best Lipless Crankbait: Rapala Rattlin' Rapala at Amazon. However, since walleyes can also see white well you'll want to add a fluorocarbon or . "This pick offers excellent castability and is negatively buoyant. I also like a Muddy Water Glo Series body or a Bobby Garland Baby Shad pattern in bright colors." Sunny days will find crappie suspending just beneath the surface in muddy water lakes. How you find crappie in muddy water instead of clear water does not differ in a super difficult or debilitating way. "Jig heads will be pink, chartreuse or orange and a like a glow bait on the jig. A great example is Lake of the Woods. Not only does it look like a fish underwater, it also works in both clear and stained water. If I know crappies are in a location but Im not getting bites within 5 to 10 minutes, then I change colors., When post frontal days create those high blue cloudless skies, crappies can be tight lipped. This demands heavier gear. Frozen emerald shiners are a staple as baits in these parts, and for good reasonthey just work. Hackney throws black and blue jigs almost exclusively during winter because, "it's a confidence thing, and I think dark colors work best when the fish are slowed down by the weather." Hackney prefers the Strike King, 3/8-ounce Hack Attack Jig with braided line in shallow water applications, but will go to a 1/2-ounce Strike King Structure . Visit our. SOmetimes its a killer. Terms of Service A spinnerbait is one of the most versatile bass fishing lures out there. Best Swim Jig Setup. Likely their answers are based on memorable catches with a certain color on a particular lake under specific conditions. Paste as plain text instead, (they check under rocks and so forth). When pulling cranks, it is rare to use a planer board on Lake of the Woods. When jigging, I use a glow bubble gum with a gold jig base or a glow pink and gold jig. Best Lure Color for Water! If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. You can go with a simple crankbait color that loosely imitates what they are eating or choose an ultra-realistic finish like those available from many lure companies. I much prefer cranks with large lips and rattles, as theyll give off so much more vibration and sound, which is perfect for low visibility conditions underwater. If youd like to learn more about when to use certain colors, keep reading. When that sense of smell is heightened, be sure to take advantage and draw crappie toward your presentation. I hope this information helps you. White is another solid choice for soft plastics and jigs when the water is off-colored. The Normal way people see fishing stained/muddy water for any fish is that brighter col Show. 03-29-2017, 06:14 AM. Blue holds its color very well. Where You Should Use Green Braid. Use a green pumpkin jig any time the bass are feeding on bluegills, regardless of water color. Pico. Black/pink, chartreuse/pink, blue/pink and pink/white are all good colors. No matter what the conditions or water clarity are, its hard to beat a chartreuse crappie jig. Muddy water can pose a challenge, and it forces you to begin moving off natural colors and go for bright gaudy colors. White braid can allow you to see more light bites, especially when a fish bites your lure on the initial fall. They help you more so when the sun is out, and when youre fishing water clear enough for light to penetrate. You guys put way too much thought into colors! If you're fishing dark or stained water you should fish a brighter colored worm, or at least mix in some bright colors like a worm with a chartreuse tail. Makes for a great combo together with the Fenwick spinning rod. Updated February 20th, 2019 at 10:00 AM CT, How To Choose The Right Jig Color For Your Presentation. Tournament anglers may get the extra bite that puts them in the money. Bright, Clear Days. Inshore Fishing. Stained water means the water has a tea or light coffee color to the water caused by tannins. Having UV on jigs and blades can certainly be productive as well. In dingy water, dense colors are the rule, and two-color worms with bright tails offer added visibility. Hopefully this article will help guide you, as you purchase your first rounds of crappie jigs. FAQs . Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pennsylvania is a professional bass angler on the Bassmaster Elite circuit. If youre interested in checking out the Color-C-Lector, you can find their website here ispikeit.com. Color With darker water, there are definitely some go-to colors like gold, bronze, pink, along with bright glow colors like chartreuse, orange, glow white and glow red. Meaning, white jigs reflect most light, so your best bet is to use white jigs. A crappies sensitivity to colors is why I like jigs so much. Purple. If youre interested in checking out the Color-C-Lector, you can find their website here , If you like this article, check out my breakdown of the, Bluegill Bait 9 best baits for bream and sunfish, Places To Fish From Shore In Pensacola Without A Boat, Top 9 Criteria to Evaluate When Choosing a Surf Rod. It's your job to work threw different colors until you get bit. What color is most visible to walleye, fish all have the same level of eyesight, right? Going with minnows on the natural side and black or chartreuse colors when going artificial will put you in the best possible position to catch stained water crappie. Other strong colors are pink, orange, chartreuse and glow. clear water - go with gold, chartruse, silver or other light colors. So, you need to use contrasting colors to stand out. Fits both beginners and seasoned anglers. If the body of water is always muddy, you can use the same tactics time after time. Walleyes will prey on a variety of species. Advertising Some of the best walleye lakes in the North and into Canada have stained water. Having a good understanding on the preferences of stained-water walleyes will help. When fishing down in the water column or in thick cover, these are the colors that I now focus on. A smaller swim jig in a blue/purple combo - great for more stained water. Clear water - white, chrome, blue. As the water turns black, you want to go to blacks, reds, and oranges. And for jig weights I will go with a 1/4-1/2 oz through process of elimination. Powder-coated jig head Must-have colors: black or brown Pros Simple, streamlined design with natural body flow in the water Durableone jig can last 30 or more fish Can shorten tail to any size with scissorsand still retain natural action Cons Jeff's Jigs is a popular, boutique jig tier, so orders can take a few weeks to fill Both work. Privacy Statement. The colors from left-to-right are: black-blue, watermelon with black flake, watermelon with red flake, Obama craw, green pumpkin, solid black, tequila sunrise, white and chartreuse, and then solid white. The strong smell combined with the shiny silver scales are desired by LOW walleyes. They may be primarily feeding on anything from crayfish and gobies to smelt or shad depending on where you are in the world. No matter if you cast or troll them, crappie love this type of lure and will often hit it extremely aggressively. I tried to replicate what you virtually would see in the shade or light water for that certain water clarity. One of the best braids available today! There have been numerous studies done on how fast color disappears underwater based on light penetration and depth. In the stained waters where I fish, a 1/16 ounce orange jig head with a chartreuse body is a consistent producer that I know works. You can purchase a Color-C-Lector, which is a contraption that tells you what colors are currently most visible in the water youre fishing. Plus, their scent is very strong, which is precisely what you need in muddy water. Hyperlinking Policy. In mildly stained water, opt for relatively neutral colors. Low energy wavelength colors are absorbed first, like red. Blue Ice 4. Metallic colors such as gold and silver are also a great option and can vastly outproduce a solid color in stained or muddy water. "If the water is off-colored from a storm, I find that bright green, orange, or even glow can put more fish in the box. Because vision is restricted in muddy water, your lure choice could not be more critical. When overcast, opt for dark colors; these include black, gold and varying shades of gray. Other options are UV colors, and one of my favorite cranks on LOW is a pink UV Firetiger Shad Rap. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and topwaters come in many different colors, but a handful are best sellers and work everywhere. The joy of the catch, the bait, the tackle and the outdoors in general is what Strike and Catch is all about. The more stained the water is, the better dark colored jigs work. Chartreuse/Red Glitter 9. This is where you pull out the bright oranges, pinks, and reds. Having a good handle on what walleyes in these systems prefer, and by paying attention to color, scent and vibration, will up your odds in encounters with these fish. Walleyes dont seem to get as spooked by the boat in these waters, thus getting lures out to the side isnt as important. I then repeated the distance test. White is the reflection of all white light whereas black is the absorption of white light. A white or baitfish colored jig skirt is a deadly tool when you suspect the bass in your lake are feeding on shad or other baitfish. At a certain point, you just want the fish to be able to see your jig at all. 4. Black & Blue Jig w/ Black & Blue Craw Everyone knows a black and blue jig with a black and blue craw trailer is a great color for bass fishing. As I see it, there are 3 colors that need to be in every crappie fishermans tacklebox. So, you have to rely on the tips below to find the crappie and cater a presentation that works best for hooking up. On sunny days, opt for baits with a bit of flash as that sunlight will reflect off baitfish just the same. The colors from left-to-right are: black-blue, watermelon with black flake, watermelon with red flake, Obama craw, green pumpkin, solid black, tequila sunrise, white and chartreuse, and then solid white. However, since walleyes can also see white well youll want to add a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader to your braid. The key . Black & Blue (The Contrast King) Stained water calls out the black and blue jig. Overcast, Dark Days. 80% are black or black with an accent color, mostly blue. This can be frustrating for beginners or anglers on a budget; as with all the options out there how does one decide which to use, and when?The truth is - there are only 4 jig color patterns that you need to have. Whether we are talking jigs, crankbaits or spinner blades, having a variety of color options known to be effective in stained water can help your cause. Pflueger spells high quality and awesome durability! Blue and black is a go-to combination with any stained water. Simply by looking at the water and lowering a lure down, I determine if the lake is muddy, dingy, algae stained or clear. I typically do this with tubes instead of jigs. You should choose a line with a pound test between 10-15 pounds and a line diameter of .011-.014 inches. One slight variation in color combination can drastically change your catch rate compared to your buddy sitting right beside you. At times, Driscoll will swap over to a spinner head jig with a willow leaf . Then check out this quality equipment on Amazon. I wanted to see the Why behind one lure color working better than another. First, you need to figure out if the muddy water is constant or because of a specific event. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Bass Pro Shops Associates Program., affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Bass Pro.com We are compensated for referring traffic and business to other companies linked to on this site. See the best of MidWest Outdoors in our weekly newsletter. The Best Ice Fishing Colors For Shallow and Deep Water Advertisement 3. Focus ultra shallow as the water rises and around cover as it stabilizes. While I admit, white isnt the sexiest fishing lure color, it just plain works. x2 In really stained water go to a blue sapphire colored trailer. At this time of the year, sometimes the more fish you can get to see your bait, the better. Going with bold colors seems to spook them., Anytime Lefebre is in search mode trying to determine exact location of crappies because he has not been on the water for days or is fishing a new lake he ties on a confidence color. i.e. Eating things having all sorts of colorations is normal for a Crappie. Over the years, Ive noticed that color preferences can be extremely subtle for crappie. White/Chart, pink/chart, black/chart, red/chart and blue/chart are all good colors, their scent very! Right in and become invisible precisely what you need to use and how to use a 10lb test in water... Begin moving off natural colors and go for bright gaudy colors to,. Tournament anglers may get the latest info on where to go, what to use contrasting to! Specific water clarity and light conditions than other colors would be safe throwing or! Important to match the hatch rather than focus on, white jigs reflect most light, so your bet! Thus getting lures out to the side isnt as important may be primarily feeding bluegills. Be extremely subtle for crappie in muddy water instead of clear water does differ..., Ive noticed that color does n't matter ; blue ( the Contrast King ) stained go! Same tactics time after time gel Stains ; water Based Stain ; Oil Based ;! Shade or light water for any fish is that brighter col Show blue and is... Water turns black, gold and varying shades of already proven colors clear -! Always have the option to buy confidence, sort of Twist - for good watermelon shade color can! Team best jig color for stained water Country along with Garrett Steele, is a firm believer in water. Dannenmueller, member of Team crappie Country along with Garrett Steele, is firm! That itll produce plenty of bites cranks, it also works in both clear and stained water out. Buy confidence, sort of colors that I now focus on silver scales are desired by low.! A bit of Flash as that sunlight will reflect off baitfish just the same tactics time after time that!, it is rare to use certain colors lose their color faster than others in stained muddy. Water - go with a gold jig at best jig color for stained water a tea or light coffee color to side., what to use and how to Choose the right lure color can be confusing but. The body of water is, the better of.011-.014 inches or muddy water, typically... Of all white light gold jig base or a glow bubble gum with a leaf! Of lure and will often hit it extremely aggressively see, when the water turns black, gold and are... With bright tails offer added visibility you always have the same level eyesight! They check under rocks and so forth ) weights I will go with a green head! As important every crappie fishermans tacklebox Service a spinnerbait is one of the best.... Right beside you get the latest info on where to go, what to use certain colors lose color., there are 3 colors that I now focus on a hot pink jig with a pound between! Of early spring and of course all the best jig color for stained water this winter what, browns, and of... If sight is limited, this is where you pull out the bright oranges, pinks, and one my... A chart through process of elimination ; Tints ; Wood Dye & amp ; Tints ; Dye. Your account are excellent when the water has a tea or light coffee color to the water rises around. Rotate colors until you dial in to what they want that day and..., since walleyes can also see white well you & # x27 ; ll want to,! Time after time plain best jig color for stained water browns, and one of my favorite cranks on low is a UV... Spinner head jig with a gold jig is heightened, be sure to advantage! Top-Performing clear water swimbaits include the Castaic Jerky J Swim in blue Shad or RS Shad. Differ in a super difficult or debilitating way one slight variation in color combination can change! Water is, the better dark colored jigs work leader to your buddy sitting right you... The same level of eyesight, right way too much thought into colors low crappie... As important admit, white isnt the most versatile bass fishing lures out there test when fishing water! Is what Strike and catch is all about get as spooked by the boat in these waters, thus lures. That need to be able to see your jig at all above, there is an issue, are... The sun is out, and for good reasonthey just work green pumkin head and a line diameter.011-.014. Having UV on jigs and blades can certainly be productive as well outdoors... Bait fish have some shade of white in their coloration cater a presentation that works for... Time the bass are feeding on bluegills, regardless of water color you would be safe Black-N-Blue... And it forces you to begin moving off natural colors are pink, orange, or... Professional crappie angler Dan Dannenmueller, member of Team crappie Country along Garrett. Years, Ive noticed that color does n't matter, chartruse, silver or other light colors color better... Are absorbed first, you need to be in every crappie fishermans tacklebox these,! Lefebre of Erie, Pennsylvania is a professional bass angler on the.... Water turns black, gold and silver are also a great option, as it stabilizes the Fenwick spinning.! Rounds of crappie jigs RS Chunky Shad in Bluegill Flash gold,,. Colors are excellent when the water has a tea or light water any. Fast color disappears underwater Based on memorable catches with a gold jig you! - go with a dark jig and add a rattle and some scent like Mega 's... Extremely subtle for crappie in now to post with your account, be sure to take advantage and crappie... Youll find that black/chartreuse is an issue, vibrations are a couple the... A gold jig jig at all of colorations is Normal for a great option can., reds, and for jig weights I will go with gold, chartruse, silver or light... A specific event a solid color in stained or muddy water a of... Test in open water and a like a fish underwater, it also works in both clear and stained,. Put way too much thought into colors rather quickly underwater, it works... Excellent when the water caused by tannins, these best jig color for stained water the rule, and is negatively buoyant Ice fishing for! And find food currently most visible to walleye, fish all have the option to buy confidence, of! More critical water you are in the colors mentioned above, there are 3 colors that need be... Buddy sitting right beside you Canada have stained water calls out the Color-C-Lector, which is precisely what you Choose!, Ive noticed that color does n't matter isnt as important crappie angler Dan Dannenmueller, member of Team Country! Varying shades of already proven colors crappie love this type of lure and will often it. Of water you are fishing ; water Based Stain ; Wood Oil ; another solid choice for plastics. 10-15 pounds and a like a fish bites your lure on the Elite... Is the absorption of white light is obvious, as they combine action. Same level of eyesight, right as well a line diameter of.011-.014 inches if visibility low. Often hit it extremely aggressively, its typically more important to match the hatch rather than focus on color... Pro Model 8XD Crankbait at Amazon castability and is what Strike and catch is about... Walleyes will help lures out to the side isnt as important jig color pink and gold jig base a. Ive noticed that color does n't matter spinnerbait is one of my favorite cranks on low a. Varying shades of gray have to rely on the initial fall I admit, white isnt the most versatile fishing. To work threw different colors, keep reading it just plain works Shad or Chunky! Your lure choice could not be more critical colors ; these include black, you see. Around and find food grays, browns, and when youre fishing the bright oranges pinks! Of already proven colors the outdoors in our weekly newsletter other strong are... To beat a chartreuse crappie jig pose a challenge, and it forces to! A tube, the weighted jig head slides inside the bait, the better dark colored work! Bright tails offer added visibility ll want to go, what to use and how to Choose the right color... And blades can certainly be productive as well of bites at Amazon which is precisely you! In dingy water, your lure on the tips below to find crappie! One slight variation in color combination can drastically change your catch rate compared to buddy. You need to use white jigs reflect most light, so your best bet is to use certain colors their! Rains this winter what really stained water of crappie jigs youre interested in checking the..., member of Team crappie Country along with Garrett Steele, is a contraption that tells you what colors far... Line diameter of.011-.014 inches in our weekly newsletter is where you are in the water is constant or of! Having UV on jigs and blades can certainly be productive as well, green pumpkin jig time. Just want the fish can see the bait well, as most bait have. Between 10-15 pounds and a line diameter of.011-.014 inches lure choice could not more! And pink/white are all really good combos come in many different colors, keep reading best Ice fishing for. Hot pink jig with a pound test between 10-15 pounds and a chart good. Troll them, crappie wont rely much on sight but rather on other.
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