Color crank baits

**rayzor65** · 04-21-2016, 03:39 PM

So I've been saving to by crank baits for the last couple years and finally have enough to buy a couple (kidding). I have a couple in my box and have trolled with them with some success. I like the Bandits they troll nice straight out of the box and to be honest the Arkie line of cranks does good also. I've used the Pink or a version of pink and Fire tiger and caught fish, I have also used the cray fish color and caught mostly bass or cat fish. What are some other colors that work, I'm going to be buying around 20 - 30 both Arkie and Bandits in the 200 and 300 series. I don't want to load up with a bunch of colors that aren't going to put fish on the line. Hopefully I won't be decorating the the bottoms of the lake...to much.

Thanks for the input!

Ray

**trypman1** · 04-21-2016, 03:49 PM

I love the blacks, chrome and black, and any natural colors.

**Erin Brewer** · 04-21-2016, 04:06 PM

I have had good luck with brighter colors on cloudy days or early morning, pink orange red, and once the sun gets up and the water is clear chrome with black or blue. and it never hurts to have some solid blacks in there.

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**M R Dux** · 04-21-2016, 05:28 PM

Get you a decent airbrush and paint your own. I have colors that are proven killers that no bait company would ever consider putting out for public consumption.

Regardless of color, going deep, deeper and deepest is a huge mistake much of the time. Use your electronics and let the fish tell you where the bait should be. There are lots of good cranks out there that are not marketed as "Crappie cranks" that are as effective and the fish don't get used to seeing them.

**Clint** · 04-21-2016, 05:34 PM

^^^ What mrdux said - and go to WLure.com (not a CC sponsor) and order your blank (clear) crankbait bodies for between 75¢ and $1.00 apiece - delivered directly form China. Add split rings and trebles and you are in business for less than $2 a bait.

**crp4570** · 04-21-2016, 05:39 PM

Really I've caught fish on every color at one time or other. Mad cow, mistake, crawdad, and shad colors are always regular producers. However, the color to have will be the one you only have one of and half way into the day it will be broke off on a submerged stump. The next day you will buy six of that color only to have the fish ignore it for a month. Go figure.

**Cray** · 04-21-2016, 05:39 PM

Half and half baits work good, black/chartruse black/pink, black/orange. Sardis gold, blue or black chrome, chrome clown. Go thru grizzly jig for your Arkies much cheaper.

**CRAPPIECON** · 04-21-2016, 11:24 PM

havent been cranking long but pinks, oranges, chart., colors all work well, sunny days the shiny baits seem to do good (anything chrome looking). like cray mentioned ive had alot of lucky with half and half baits with pink and black prob being the best. we use tiny swivels to make chaniging baits super quick and efficient. if u were to look into my crank box tho id say you would prob see alot of pink in various forms. also lots of shiny baits

**BIGBADDAD** · 04-22-2016, 06:23 AM

I throw the whole kitchen sink at them to start the day and let the fish pick my colors for me. I have been having success with the Arkies and they are less expensive than bandits. I also would suggest chartreuse/black, orange/black and pink mixes.

**rayzor65** · 04-22-2016, 08:15 AM

The blacks and shiny were not on my list I'm glad I asked, at some point I would like to get into painting my own, ave watched a couple videos on painting but would like to sit you mrdux to see first hand the process and how to use an air brush.

Thanks for the input!

Ray

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