Thread: Changing bait colors????

My rule of thumb is i use more opaque or natural looking baits in clear water, and darker baits (black/chartreuse or black/pink) in muddy water. I also tend to downsize in clear water and then I'll use a bigger bait in muddy water. I like to use baits with reflective glitter on sunny days if the water is fairly clear and more solid colors on cloudy days. During the spawn I'll use the biggest baits I have. I kind of follow this pattern and don't change colors very often. If I'm not catching fish that I can see on the graph, I usually attribute it to inactive fish or something that I'm doing wrong (fishing too far above or below the fish, presentation, ...etc) and not the color of my bait.

Originally Posted by crapAlicous

My rule of thumb is i use more opaque or natural looking baits in clear water, and darker baits (black/chartreuse or black/pink) in muddy water. I also tend to downsize in clear water and then I'll use a bigger bait in muddy water. I like to use baits with reflective glitter on sunny days if the water is fairly clear and more solid colors on cloudy days. During the spawn I'll use the biggest baits I have. I kind of follow this pattern and don't change colors very often. If I'm not catching fish that I can see on the graph, I usually attribute it to inactive fish or something that I'm doing wrong (fishing too far above or below the fish, presentation, ...etc) and not the color of my bait.

So you don't change your bait colors either?

Most of the time, presentation is the key, so if they're not biting, I change the presentation. Whether dock fishing or tubing, I'll try swinging side to side with or without a short drop/return of the rod tip, holding in place with the same rod tip action, a very slow upward retrieve with the same action, casting out and letting the bait swing slowly in to a vertical position, a slow drop, or just deadsticking. If that doesn't work, I'll change colors until one works. I'll also switch from hair jigs, feather jigs, plastic, or ice spoons. When all other colors fail, motor oil plastic always seems to work, but it seems to work ONLY when the others don't.