| This is a topic that comes up many times when | | | | bass to see under dark skies. When this |
| discussing bass lures, and the proper colors | | | | happens we use the same browns and blacks |
| to use. Biologists know that bass can see | | | | that we use in the muddier water, even if the |
| colors, and they probably can see red and | | | | water is clear, but it has become cloudy or |
| green better than a human. Bass also have | | | | very dark.Chartreuse is another excellent |
| better visual acuity, which helps them during | | | | color when its cloudy. We found that |
| daylight and the darker periods of the day | | | | Chartreuse is more effective on small lures |
| near dusk. Although there has been much | | | | such as grubs and small crankbaits. We just |
| written about how bass use their lateral line | | | | use it as a secondary color on the larger |
| and sense of smell when feeding, their eyes | | | | baits in these conditions. Just the right |
| are still their most vital sensory organ.LURE | | | | amount of a bright color such as orange or |
| COLOR AND WATER CLARITYThe clarity of the | | | | chartreuse can attract bass, just as too much |
| water is a key factor in determining what | | | | of a bright color can sometimes turn them |
| color lure to use. In slear water, that is | | | | off! The best thing to do as a rule is to add |
| les than five feet deep, bass can see colors | | | | bright colors to the baits a little at a time |
| extremely well. In thses conditions lures | | | | until you determine what the bass want. Once, |
| that mimic the baitfish available, such as | | | | in Virginia, the bass absolutely wouldn't hit |
| spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits, | | | | any lig you had unless it had a small fleck |
| should be used in silver and gold finishes. | | | | of Chartreuse on the trailer. Too much and |
| The silver and gold flashing more closely | | | | they ignored it.ADD FLASH WITH FLAKESThere |
| resembles a baitfish in this type of water, | | | | are many soft plastics that come with |
| and as they wobble, and flash, they attract | | | | different flakes built it. A Yamamoto "IKA" |
| bass from long distances.When you are using | | | | tube in smoke , is a good example. This |
| lures such as ligs, tubes, worms, or anything | | | | worked extremely well for us this year in all |
| that is designed to resemble a crawfish or an | | | | the rivers and lakes where there were a lot |
| eel, then the best colors would be a subtle | | | | of shad, and the"Sweet Beaver" worked well |
| breen or brown in the clear waters. In | | | | also, but seemed much better than the |
| stained water, which is what we have the most | | | | Kreature on several occassions when there |
| of here in the Northeast, that is water with | | | | were not as many shad but more crawfish in |
| a visibility of around one to three feet), | | | | the areas we sampled.Flake colors usually |
| different colors may come inti play. Brighter | | | | work best when it is sunny in clear to |
| colors such as firetiger, charteuse, citrus | | | | stained water. On cloudy days, or in muddy |
| shad are better producers here. In muddy | | | | water, try using different plastics with |
| water, (that is water that has a visibilty of | | | | black flakes, or pepper, mixed in for |
| one foot or less), dark colors produce the | | | | contrast. There are many other color |
| best. Bass will hit on crawfish patterned | | | | combinations that work well in various waters |
| crankbaits, brown jigs with orange trailers, | | | | all over the country, but if you learn these |
| black and blue plastics, etc.SKY CONDITIONS | | | | simple basic techniques for color matching |
| AND COLORMany people don't pay enough | | | | you can't go wrong.Steve vonBrandt |
| attention to the sky conditions during the | | | | |
| day.The changing conditions of the sky | | | | Sponsored by: GYCB (Yamamoto),Okuma, |
| dictate what color you should be using.When | | | | Delaware Tackle, TTI-Blakemore, and Ambush |
| fishing minnow type lures, keep in mind that | | | | Lures. is the owner of S&K Guide Service in |
| shiney colors like silver and gold loose | | | | Wilmington, Delaware, Anglers Radio in |
| their effectiveness under heavy cloud cover. | | | | Delaware and New Jersey, Reeltimeanglers, |
| In clear water, silver or gold can be | | | | Bass Lure Review, and Delaware Tackle in |
| rendered nearly invisible when the sun goes | | | | Delaware. He also is a tournament angler and |
| behind the clouds, because they reflect the | | | | freelance outdoor writer. He has over 40 |
| grayness around them instead of the sunlight. | | | | years of fishing experience in the Northeast, |
| When this happens we always switch to a bone | | | | 5 years exp. in California. He has fished |
| or a pearl-white color. Jigs, Creature baits, | | | | freshwater and saltwater since 1962, and has |
| and other bottom type lures can be hard for | | | | devoted to freshwater only since 1989. |