Color selection

Just curious. When you folks pull up to the lake, get in the boat and pull up on your fishing spot. What determines what color jig or jigs you guys throw. Is there a fool proof rule of thumb? Do you just make a good estimated guess by what you feel confident in?. This is not one of my strong points I know. I know what I usually catch them on and that is what I usually throw. I do alot of fishing from the bank under the bridges here on the big G. Any info or wisdom is greatly appreciated. God bless!

I am by no means, an expert at this - but I do kinda have a pattern. I use the color and surface temp of the water to decide where to start. The more stained it is, the brighter colors I start with. Clear water, and I would start with a minnow wannabe of some sort - dark stained, and I'll start out with pinks and chartreuses. The next factor for me is depth and speed of reel in - if it's cold on top, I expect to fish deeper and reel slower, which means even brighter colors in heavily stained water.

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I will start out with the colors that have most confidents in. If u don't have confidents in the bait and color might as well not to throw it.
LittleJohn

It's hard to go wrong with a jig that has at least some chartreuse in it.

I would always start with chartreuse unless the water was very clear. In that case, I'd start with white.

You can go to bass pro and pick up a pack of every style and ever color and they all will catch fish if presented the correct way. Do you need that? Absolutely not. If you have a few bright colored, a few dark, and a few natural colored baits...that's is all you need. The size of the bait and the fall rate are far more important in my opinion. There are days when fish are picky, and an array of baits may put a few more fish in the boat. But if you are using electronics to find active fish, they will bite.

Black/Chartreuse Sparkle
Red/Chartreuse Sparkle
Hot Pink/White
Blue/White

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Probably the most universal colors would be purple/chartreuse, blue/chartreuse, black/chartreuse or white/chartreuse. That would likely be my starting colors unless I got some good local Intel of something different.

You can't ever be too far off base if you use something in the 2" neighborhood with chartreuse on it. Don't ever be scared to try total chartreuse.

Fair but difficult question to give you an answer. There is no catch-all for all waters and conditions. I believe you have some solid thoughts and recommendations above. For instance, chartreuse is known to be a solid go-to color. My recommendation is going to be a bit different. I recommend you spend some time reading reports from your local waters and see what others are using, and what weight jig. Color and weight can vary depending on the conditions, but this gives you a good start point. Since you are from Guntersville, there are many who provide detailed reports. Color and jig weight alone will not catch you fish. Locating fish and presentation will also be important.
Having said all of this, I will give you some colors that have worked well for me on both Guntersville and Wheeler. They are the following Bobby Garland colors: Monkey Milk, Crystal, Blue Ice, Blue Thunder, Patriot, Glacier, Red-chartreuse and bleeding shad. I do also use 1/16 and 1/32 maribou jigs in both white and green. My go-to jig weight is 1/24oz. Depending on current, I will adjust to either a 1/16th or 1/32nd. Do not be afraid to experiment. Hope this helps.

Find the honest guy or two in your area that work at tackle shops,and the few guys who have time to fish a lot on your waters and are pretty good at it and talk to them. The tackle guys even if they are just clerks can tell you what sells the best day in and day out.Also watch for the hooks that are always low or empty a lot...

Build up a supply of those and some of your own choosing.When you fish alternate a little between the ones you picked and the ones recommended.You will build over time a selection of prime baits for your waters. If you enjoy the experimentation you will never stop trying new things.For some people that's half or more of the fun.

A lot of the baits that people pointed out to me are ones I would have never chosen myself...and some I found on my own I turned other fisherman on to and they caught a lot of fish on. How many things in life are like that....we usually learn our craft ,art , or profession by things we learn... and things we learn from others.

Baits and techniques do have "hot" runs at times and then cool off.

I remember a few times over the years I met a few guys who said " when I go fishing I just use one of these three or four baits and if they don't bite they ain't biting".

Maybe you will be one of them...maybe not???? But it will be fun finding out.

That is funny you say what you do. All the colors you have mentioned above I have in my tackle bag, I try my best to keep up with the report. I fish approx 4 times a week whether it be in the afternoon or the morning. My go to weight is 1/24. On a cold calm day I like a 1/32. I guess I am not far from where I should be. I just thought maybe you folks that have a few years of experience on me might have some "rule of thumb". I usually bring some fish home to put in the freezer when I go. I am just always looking for a way to get better. Thanks for the input.

Start with Chartreuse and black. And go from there. Chartreuse & something color will normally get it done.

Color is overrated. Personally I won't use a painted jig because it adds to the lure's visual size or may be distract from the lure, IMO. In fact, jig weight is more important than color. Fish bite lures for different reason mostly having to do with lure action and design as seen by fish on a slow retrieve; depth and cover are as important - neither of which dictate color preference.

In fact, IMO, fish don't prefer this or that color, but do respond far less to certain colors such as black. Getting fish to respond to a lure is #1, the rest just a matter of finding a few colors you have confidence in. I like an assortment of bright or medium colors meaning: bright white or pearl and clear or a light green pumpkin tint or smoke with colored glitter. There is no proof that one of a hundred lure colors I can hand pour are any better than any other within that group.

Color should enhance a lures action visually, adding to its strike provocation value. To suggest fish must be convinced a lure is one prey animal or another, is absurd IMO. Lure action always speaks louder than words. All of the lures shown in those colors will catch many fish species anytime I locate fish with those lures.


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It is pretty basic for me. If the water is clear or fairly clear, I use white, purple, or black. If the water is stained or dirty, I use orange or white. That's it for me. It seems to work so I stick with it.