Fishermen love using a “secret” color. It’s a color not popular with most fishermen, yet one that fish quickly jump on. There are situations when one color, or more likely a color combination, triggers bites when fish snub their noses at other colors.

Experts say that there are times when a big crappie wants a different color than small- and average-size fish. Trying different colors is the only way to learn if such a situation is happening. Forward-facing sonar makes this learning much easier.

Colors can make a difference in the number of fish caught, too. The color looks like food or is one they can see. However, sometimes the fish are just extremely hungry and would hit any color. Therefore, the most important key is that you put a bait where a fish is located, then have the right color to trigger a bite.

The basics

The rule-of-thumb is to use dark colors in dark conditions and bright colors in bright conditions. Dark conditions include dark or stained water, dawn, dusk, cloudy skies, and night. A dark color is easier for a fish to see because, when it looks up, a darker jig creates a better outline than a light-colored jig. It’s probably more about a crappie seeing the jig than the actual jig color.

Colors can be complicated. It’s like us holding a jig up and looking at it in the moonlight. If the bait is too clear, we can’t see it. If it is too dark, it doesn’t look real. It’s important to find the right color for the clarity of the water and the light penetration, so the bait looks real to the fish.

Light colors are usually best in clear water, or in stained waters during bright sunlight. A crappie can see a jig in clear water, so shape and color are critical. Whites, shad, pinks, light blue and other soft colors are good.

Slight- to moderately stained waters have enough light penetration that bright and mid-range colors work well. Bright conditions mean bright sunlight.

Summary: Use dark colors in dark conditions. Use light colors in light conditions.

More than black and white

Ron Stallings has been associated with baits all his life. He grew up working at his father’s bait shop. He has decades working with foreign markets, designing, and marketing with TTI-Blakemore—the RoadRunner company—and colors are a critical part of his business.

“Catching fish is about colors, but it’s also about passing or blocking light. In dark waters, it’s best to use a dark color like Junebug or black. Use opaque colors that block light and create a bait shadow fish can see in dark water. Dark conditions are usually stained water, overcast sky, and before sunrise and after sunset.”

“It’s the opposite in clear water. A semi-transparent bait color, like Monkey Milk, will work in most clearer waters and often in stained waters. It’s a more natural-looking bait because of the color and having some light going through it.”

Summary: Use opaque colors in dark water; and semi-transparent in clear.

Which color?

Chartreuse is on everyone’s list. Since nothing in the lake is chartreuse in color, it proves that getting a bite is more about seeing a bait than looking natural. Chartreuse is the number one color, and it can be opaque, glow or transparent. Black-chartreuse is a popular color anywhere in the country and will catch fish in most waters.

Monkey milk is a milky, sparkly bait that’s a proven fish-catcher. It works in most lakes and is especially important in clear to lightly stained waters. A shad body in Monkey Milk accounts for lots of crappies every year. Other good light colors include light blue/white, white/chartreuse and pink/white.

Natural colors include pumpkinseed-colored baits. They are good around vegetation including grass, weeds and lily pads. Using a bright or an extremely dark color can spook crappies, but a natural color fits into the surroundings.

Experts agree that very dingy or muddy water requires glow colors in orange, black, yellow, and chartreuse. These colors help draw attention to a bait in low-visibility waters. A black/chartreuse body with an orange head is a good color combination to try.

A good all-around bait for many waters is green/chartreuse glow. The color is an attention-getter without spooking the fish if the water isn’t too clear.

Summary: Having a good variety of colors is important. Use the proper color for conditions but switch as necessary.

Final tips

Every lake has a best color: something that seems to catch more fish than anything else.

For example, crappies in Truman Lake, Missouri, like junebug-chartreuse. Other colors may work better on a particular day, but junebug-chartreuse is a good go-to color. Fishermen use an orange-chartreuse at Kentucky Lake while Florida fishermen use greens. Try the lake favorite but adjust colors as necessary.

Color options are endless, with every color having a situation when it will work. Classic Champ Travis Bunting, owner of Muddy Water Baits, says, “Different colors are important. However, a fisherman needs to have confidence in the color he is using, especially when fishing gets tough. He must believe the color will work. If not, he will be changing colors and worrying about baits more than getting a jig into the right spots with a good presentation.”

For more fishing insight from the pros who know, check out the next issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.