For murkier water I usually use a darker bait that has a chartreuse tail such as the TTF killer flats minnow in Texas Roach. For clearer water I use a lighter color such as blue moon chartreuse, but the brand of the bait isn't a big problem. Some of my favorite brands are TTF and Saltwater Assasin.

 

Used to use the saltw assasins alot, but found the Mirrolure 5" provoker to be a tougher plastic=more fish/lure. plum/chart, pumpkin/chart, bone/silver are my big 3.

 

Just curious baitfish dont change color due to lighting and water conditions so why the need for various colors? Most baitfish are silver/white/black combination. Baitfish seem to seek cover to hide not change color. So are natural colors all that is really needed with a good action to the bait?

 

Yes, natural colors will work, but you want to have a variety of baits in your tacklebox.

 

I only throw three. Plum chart. tail, glow chart.tail, and red white tail.

 

build confidence in a few colors depending on water conditions and you will be good...Its a funny thing...if you don't have confidence in what your throwing it won't mater.

my .02 cents

 

build confidence in a few colors depending on water conditions and you will be good...Its a funny thing...if you don't have confidence in what your throwing it won't mater.

my .02 cents

And the funny converse of that is 'If you have confidence in what you are throwing, then it won't matter" ie...you'll still catch fish.

I say pick 2 favorite lite colors off Tal's (TTF) chart and 2 favorite dark colors and stick with those. Try different brands till you find the brand you like.

 

Plum or even darker color. East Beast/Chicken on a Chain (pretty much the same mix) and Salt and Pepper.

If their tails are chart or green that's okay with me.

I throw East Beast/Chicken on a Chain 99% of the time. Shows up dark enough in cloudy water, not too loud in clearer.

 

Plum/chart, red/white, chicken on a chain, salt n pepper/chart tail, pumpkinseed/chart tail, morning glory, glow/chart tail, opening night, texas roach
All good starter colors. My go-tos are chicken on a chain, glow/chartreuse and plum/chartreuse

http://www.fishingscout.com/scouts/SmackDaddy

 

Timing>location>lure category>color

In my experience, lure color is the least important of factors that affect your success.

Pick one paddletail you like, one jerkbait, get each in dark, natural and bright color and youre set.

Knowing when to choose a soft plastic, and then when to use a paddletail vs jerkbait, is far more important than worrying about the color.

 

Timing>location>lure category>color

In my experience, lure color is the least important of factors that affect your success.

Pick one paddletail you like, one jerkbait, get each in dark, natural and bright color and youre set.

Knowing when to choose a soft plastic, and then when to use a paddletail vs jerkbait, is far more important than worrying about the color.

Amen.

 

http://texastacklefactory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=111

Here's a link we created for color selection....hope it helps out a little.

TTF

 

That link is NICE!

 

:texasflag

I was fishing most of the times with grubs 2",3",4" from BASS ASSASSIN and GULP catching a lot of nice fish.
I was catching more fish with chartreuse silver glitter,limetreuse ,pearl ,red ,pink.

 

The TTF color chart is helpful. So the advice to choose a natural, bright and dark sounds like good advice when it comes to color selection. That narrows it down. But finding where the fish are and knowing how to work the bait to get fish to react is most important.

 

Can't go wrong with natural baits. But also take into consideration that baitfish are not only white, black, and silver; they are also very shimmery. They flash in the light, and fish are attracted to that flash.

I use a very natural looking cocahoe minnow most of the time in the bay. The shape, and color works really well over shell, mud, and grass. I have so much confidence in that lure; I know I'll catch something on it. Also mr twister 3in sassy shads in black back glitter belly work great during spring when the shad are running.

On the other hand I also use a limetreuse bass assassin paddle tail bc it is bright and has a ton of action. It stands out really well in murky water. I've caught many trout, reds, and flounder using this jig in the bays.

Now for shallow flats, and marsh chasing reds I use a KFM in Mumpy glo. Bc of the shape a durability of this plastic it's easy to rig weedless, and will last through multiple reds.
I'll also use a white assassin curl tail that can be rigged weedless for chasing reds, and flounder on the flats.

In the surf, sand eel jrs are my go-to. Margarita, and black magic have produced really well, probably bc that's all I throw as far as plastic in the surf.


I've tried many plastics and have my few that serve their purpose.