Sunny = colorful, Overcast = dark ?

[bdorman]

Sunny = colorful, Overcast = dark colors

That's the rule I've been told applies to soft plastics. Do you follow the same rule for your hand-ties?

If so, I've got way too many sunny-day ties.

[jusanothajoe]

I always let the fish tell me what to use.

[skiptomylu]

Not always and same with soft plastics! Also the water clarity make a big difference.

[Tracker123]

Also the water clarity make a big difference

X2 especially with crankbaits.

[TreednNC]

I always let the fish tell me what to use.

Not always and same with soft plastics! Also the water clarity make a big difference.

Same here.

I almost always start with the same colors when I go out, because clarity really doesnt vary a ton here.

[skeetbum]

I have some standards that I go to first, then go thru the bag of tricks if they're being picky. That's a good starting point, but I've blown it apart more than once.

[Redman]

bdorman I keep a journal of what I catch and what jig works best where at what time of year. Compare it year to year. This time of year its all dark colors for me. Very shortly my journal says to start using all silver color shad patterns. then to go to Rootbeer jigs and then all black. I was out last week and fished with some of the other guys in the neighborhood who were out and they have the been using dark color jigs and found that this was about all the crappies have been hitting on. They also said that they would be switching to the lighter shad patterns in a few weeks as soon as the spawn begins.

This will vary from lake to lake and river to river. Guess what I am trying to tell you is to keep records or journals and that will be a good guide to you for figuring out what will work best from year to year. I now have six years of data on the lake that I am fishing and can pretty much relie on this data as being good.But as others have told you the fish will pretty much tell you what they want to eat and when. A journal will be your guide as to that has worked in the past.

Redman

[Gator Bait]

OK...color was brought up so.... Here in the bayou there are too many places to fish! I truly believe a person could fish 3 times a week...cover 3 or 4 miles of brush covered bank each time...start at 21 yrs old and NEVER in a lifetime fish every spot in Louisiana...probably not even the south half! So people like me that have only been in the state a couple of years could never hope to amass a good set of notes...if they explored the area at all.

That being said, I've always been told in the bayou you fish black/chartreuse...if they don't bite try blue/white...then go back to black/chartreuse. So.....my question is...do you think the fish get tired of seeing the same two color combinations? Wouldn't something totally different get them to bite? That is if you can find them in the first place.

You see...I've been having a heck of a time trying to catch crappie. I try...get frustrated...and go back to bass fishing, and catch several. There's got to be fish in all those nice lay downs, but you just got to wonder....."now when you grow up don't eat anything black and chartreuse".

[yellowjacket]

Black and char ever day

[bdorman]

Thanks for the advice guys. Redman, I think I will start keeping a journal (as much as a "science project" as anything else). Date, temp, barometric pressure, wind direction and cloud cover. Then location, depth, lure; anything else? I don't have GPS so I won't know my speed.

But one thing is clear: As a beginner in jig tying, I made the mistake of only buying light, bright colors (except for some black marabou and chenille). I can see I need to expand my color pallet to include some darker colors.