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