Selecting the right colors for a bass jig will determine if the bass will bite on the jig. Many anglers have much different colors of bass jigs, yet when they go into the water, they struggles to find the most best color for there bass jig. When choosing a color for a bass jig, a person has to consider the color that the bass use to see there environment.
The color of the bass jig has to provide an appropriate contrast and silhouette for the bass to see the jig. One of the first factors to consider when choosing the color of the bass jig is the water clarity in the area where the bass are being target. In cases where the water is clear, people can see a long distance into the water.
How to Choose the Right Color for a Bass Jig
In these cases, the natural colors of the baitfish will work more best for the bass. Green pumpkin, watermelon, and smoke colors work best in water that is clear because they will attract bass as they look like the natural prey for the bass. However, in cases where the water is muddy or stained, the visibility of the natural colors will struggle to attract the bass attention.
In these cases, use dark colors such as black, blue, or purple for the bass jig. If the water is extremely muddy, use colors that provide high contrast to the murky water such as chartreuse or bright white to attract the attention of the bass. The second determining factor in choosing the color for the bass jig is the light condition in the water.
If the light conditions for the water are when the sun is low in the sky, such as during the dawn or dusk hours, the colors will appear flat in the water. In these situations, use colors that is dark for the bass jigs such as purple and black. During the daylight hours, the water is bright and the dark colors on the bass jigs will look like black holes in the water.
In these situations, use colors that is subtlely such as green or brown to the bass jig. If the light conditions for the water are overcast days, the light will be flat in the water and there will be less contrast in the water. Use bright colors for the bass jigs in these situations for the colors to stand out in the water even without direct sunlight.
Bass jig color change with the seasons. In the spring, use brown or red-orange jigs because the bass eat crawfish. In the summer, use green pumpkin or watermelon jigs because the bass stays near vegetation.
In the fall, use white or chartreuse jigs because the bass eat shad. In the winter, use darker colors with low contrast because the bass are less aggressively and often more selective with what bait they use. The composition of the bottom influence the color of the bass jig you should use.
If the bottom is rocky, use orange or brown jigs to mimic the color of the crawfish that lives in those areas. If the bottom is covered in weeds, use green pumpkin or watermelon jigs to match the color of the vegetation. If the bottom is muddy or silty, use black and blue or white jigs to allow for better visibility in the murky water.
If the bottom is sandy, use light and neutral colors for the bass jig because these color will not look out of place on the bottom. If you are not getting bites with the color of bait you are currently using, it is time to change the color of your bass jig. Many angler will use one color of bass jig for thirty minutes.
If there are no bass seen within that time period, a different color should be used for the jig. The color of the trailer should match the color of the jig skirt to maintain the profile of the jig. On lakes where many bass have been caught, the fish may be used to the bold colors of the jigs.
Therefore, subtle color should be used on these pressured lakes. It is not necessary to have every color of bass jig, but it is necessary to understand how each factor will influence the color choice for bass jigs.