When you begin to fish with crankbaits, you will discover that choosing the proper color for your bait can be a difficult process. There are many different colors available for crankbaits, but it is possible that you will not know which color should be used in the water in which you are fishing for bass. Bomber lures come in many different color pattern, and many different type of water in which bass live has tested each of these color patterns.
Pay attention to these color patterns because they are the color patterns that have been proven to work when fishing with these crankbaits. Color is one of the more important factors to consider when you are fishing with crankbaits, but it isnt the most important factor. Factors like the depth of the water, the speed with which you retrieve your bait, and the model of the crankbait are more important than the color of the bait.
Pick the Right Color for Your Crankbait
Select these factors first, and use the color of the bait as an adjustment to these other factors. While it is possible that you will experience a successful day of fishing with a crankbait whose color appears to be something that the bass in your area are expecting to see, you may experience a frustrating day of fishing if the color of your bait does not appear to belong to the area in which you are fishing for bass. Not all models of Bomber crankbaits is created the same.
Each model of Bomber crankbait is designed for specific fishing situations. Therefore, you must match the color of the bait to the specific model of the Bomber crankbait that you are using. For instance, a slender minnow-style Bomber crankbait is best used with a straight retrieve or light twitches in which the finish of the bait will flash on the move.
A round-bodied Bomber crankbait is meant to crash into cover in the water, so the colors used with these models need to be visible to the bass when the round-bodied crankbaits are pausing in their movement. Lastly, a lipless Bomber crankbait will rattle and sink quick into the water column, so the color of the bait should be bright to aid in the bass in locating the lipless Bomber crankbaits. Each model of Bomber crankbait does certain things in the water, so be sure that you understand each of these features before you begin to match each model with the proper color.
The main variable that is recognized as changing the color of the crankbaits that are used is the water clarity. The clarity of the water will dictate which colors will be effective with the crankbaits. For instance, lakes that are clear will allow for the bass to get a closer look at the crankbaits that you are using, so the colors of those baits should be realistic and translucent.
However, if the water is stained, you will need to use colors for your crankbaits that provide visibility in the water, since the stained water makes it more difficult for the bass to properly sight the bait. When using muddy water, use the brightest and loudest color patterns because that is how bass hunt in muddy water. Many anglers use the same color for clear, stained, and muddy water.
Using the same color in all types of water is a mistake because the color might not match the muddy water clarity. Light conditions impact color effectiveness in much the same way that water clarity impacts color effectiveness. With bright sunlight, bass will be forced to move to deeper water.
With bright sunlight, chrome and natural colors are effective. On days with overcast skies and less light in the water, white, pearl, and chartreuse colors are more visible for the bass. During the dawn and dusk hours, the sun will warm the water.
Using orange and red colors will allow anglors to take advantage of the warm light during these hours. Therefore, anglors should carry various colors in the fishing tackle box because the color that works for bass during the height of the day might not provide success two hours later. With the changing of the seasons, bass will eat various food items.
In the spring, when the crawfish are most abundant, the bass will eat them while also spawning so earthy colors work best. During the summer, the favorite food of bass is shad so realistic colors of the baitfish are most effective. Fall is the most productive time of the year for bass as they will feed more aggressively before the winter months so using big and aggressive colors will elicit more strikes from the bass.
Winter time, on the other hand, the bass will feed slowly so using the most natural colors possible will work best for anglors. The chart provided displays different variables and their connection to the different Bomber models and the different signature colors of these bass fishing lures. Each variable has a color that will work best in that condition.
The anglor can reference this chart before heading out to the water to fish. However, attention should also be paid to the fish while fishing. Many anglors have too many colors but do not have enough proven colors to work effectively with the bass.
Using a limited number of colors that will work in clear, stained, and low light waters will allow anglors to add more colors for specific lakes or specific seasons to work best with the bass fish. This strategy will allow anglors to not second guess their choice of fishing colors and ensure that they make the correct color changes when the fish behavior change.