Crank Bait Colors

edwonbass · February 27, 2018, 08:49:48 PM

Getting ready to stock up for spring and just wondering what color baits and types are working for you in this area. I will probably mostly fish Rocky Gorge with some trips to Mattawoman and Upper Chesapeake thrown in. Most of the time if I can't get anything going on a crankbait I just resort to a worm or Senko.
I want to try and expand my approach this year to include more hard bait fishing.

Kris · February 27, 2018, 09:23:02 PM

Hi Ed, I tend to use shad, bluegill and natural forage colors a lot. I also have a wide selection of firetiger, "woops"y shad and other off the norm that get used once in a while. Spinnerbaits and blade baits run the gambit from white to more natural forage colors.
Hope this helps.

Kris · February 28, 2018, 05:18:16 AM

When I used to fish the Potomac A LOT there was an old saying I was told. When in doubt, throw green. I had more Firetiger crankbaits and Motor Oil Culprit worms than any thing else in the boat. Not sure if they are still as popular with the fish today.

huh? · February 28, 2018, 06:28:37 AM

Lots of colors work but there is no magic color as far as I can tell, and I tried! Colors I like in the mix are white, green, chartreuse, black or brown. Gold highlights or subtle glitter at times. One color that has been a disappointment on RG is the Rapala Old School muted yellow. Another weird thing, a green/white senko never caught squat for me, but is a great crankbait color (e.g. got a 6lb moss green craw couple Summers ago)

TheLastRodBender · February 28, 2018, 06:34:39 AM

Quote from: Kris on February 28, 2018, 05:18:16 AM
When I used to fish the Potomac A LOT there was an old saying I was told. When in doubt, throw green. I had more Firetiger crankbaits and Motor Oil Culprit worms than any thing else in the boat. Not sure if they are still as popular with the fish today.

Still the saying!!! Firetiger has been a mainstay of mine on the Potomac... I don't throw them often, but when I do throw a crank, it's generally Firetiger or Shad.

acwatkins · February 28, 2018, 06:40:26 AM

Check out rapala's bluegill and shad patterns. Those are my go-to colors. I also know of people having great success with firetiger. Other brands with similar patterns would do fine too I imagine. A few tips for crank baits; no matter what pattern you throw it won't matter unless you are on the fish so make sure you're noting your electronics. If you don't have a FF then be sure to cover the entire water column until you develop a pattern. Make sure your Crankbait is always contacting cover, whether it's the lip knocking the bottom, rocks, or bouncing a squarebill off of lumber. Best of luck!

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coldfront · February 28, 2018, 06:44:02 AM

Quote from: edwonbass on February 27, 2018, 08:49:48 PM
Getting ready to stock up for spring and just wondering what color baits and types are working for you in this area. I will probably mostly fish Rocky Gorge with some trips to Mattawoman and Upper Chesapeake thrown in. Most of the time if I can't get anything going on a crankbait I just resort to a worm or Senko.
I want to try and expand my approach this year to include more hard bait fishing.

Backing up AC on this.
here on the TN river I've found the Rapala River Shad pattern extremely useful (threadfin forage base)

also the rapala real bluegill pattern crank is a favorite. throw a lot of the DT6's.

Love the Strike King 1.5 in real gill. dingy water, it's tough to beat yellow/black back.
Norman DLN in splatterback, Bad Dad get a lot of use.

oh, and fish really DO express preferences for certain colors in/on certain waters.

jyu87 · February 28, 2018, 08:28:04 AM

Honestly, you only need 3 colors.

A natural bait fish color (ie bluegill, shad), black/chartreuse for the dirty dirty, and maybe something like "woops"y "woops"y shad.

A majority of the time, that fish is going to react to the vibration first and reaction strike on that bait.

acwatkins · February 28, 2018, 09:54:26 AM

Quote from: jyu87 on February 28, 2018, 08:28:04 AM
Honestly, you only need 3 colors.

A natural bait fish color (ie bluegill, shad), black/chartreuse for the dirty dirty, and maybe something like "woops"y "woops"y shad.

A majority of the time, that fish is going to react to the vibration first and reaction strike on that bait.

What he said about the vibration and reaction is key. Bass are predators, it's much easier to make them react than it is to feed.

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edwonbass · February 28, 2018, 07:38:08 PM

Wow! I didn't expect so many responses so soon.
I have caught bass on just about everything but I'm just looking for consistency. I will base some of my new lure purchases on your suggestions. AC is right on about using the sonar to get your lure to where the fish are. And there lies the problem. Half the time I have no idea what I'm looking at.

I either need to work on my settings or get better units. Right now I'm stuck with my Garmin Striker 5 up front and my Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro at the console. I just bought a Motorguide Xi5 trolling motor so my better half has put a freeze on boat spending.

acwatkins · February 28, 2018, 07:41:36 PM

I don't know what I'm looking at either! But knowing depth and structure, despite what it is, are at least good starting points lol. One of my fishing goals this year is to get more proficient with my Lowrance.

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Kris · February 28, 2018, 08:10:27 PM

Quote from: edwonbass on February 28, 2018, 07:38:08 PM
Wow! I didn't expect so many responses so soon.
I have caught bass on just about everything but I'm just looking for consistency. I will base some of my new lure purchases on your suggestions. AC is right on about using the sonar to get your lure to where the fish are. And there lies the problem. Half the time I have no idea what I'm looking at. I either need to work on my settings or get better units. Right now I'm stuck with my Garmin Striker 5 up front and my Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro at the console. I just bought a Motorguide Xi5 trolling motor so my better half has put a freeze on boat spending.

I run a Lowrance Elite 5 HDI in the front of the boat, my seat, and a Raymarine Dragonfly 4dv at the back seat. The Dragonfly is only down vision and I have had comments from several other boat owners that they really like it and it is easier to see. I like the Lowrance and I am not an expert with it so I run split screen with sonar and down imaging. That is what works best for me.

jyu87 · February 28, 2018, 10:11:19 PM

Quote from: edwonbass on February 28, 2018, 07:38:08 PM
Wow! I didn't expect so many responses so soon.
I have caught bass on just about everything but I'm just looking for consistency. I will base some of my new lure purchases on your suggestions. AC is right on about using the sonar to get your lure to where the fish are. And there lies the problem. Half the time I have no idea what I'm looking at. I either need to work on my settings or get better units. Right now I'm stuck with my Garmin Striker 5 up front and my Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro at the console. I just bought a Motorguide Xi5 trolling motor so my better half has put a freeze on boat spending.

I'm no where near an expert at graph reading; however, I did make it a point for a whole season that I would study and learn as much as I could on the internet and putting it into practice on the water. It makes a hell of a difference. I'm running two Lowrance HDS GEN 3's (12 inch at the bow and 9 inch at the console.)

You'd be surprised how the learning curve is very user dependent, especially interpretation. It's a lot of studying of what things look like on the graph and interpretation of what they are in real life. There is also the aspect of using your imagination to map what you see on your graph in your mind so you can target your cast. I know that sounds odd but it really helps you when you're placing the bait. I'll tell you from first hand experience, people will throw 1000 times on a spot and never get a bite and then someone comes up right behind them and throws at a targeted spot they researched and catch all their fish. Even though it's a lure, it can put pressure on the fish and create adverse effects if not presented correctly.

Also, keep in mind. Fish Finders are tools. Some tools are better than others. All fish finders except Lowrance purchase the rights to use Navico's (ie Lowrance & SIMRAD) downscan technology in their units. Food for though for your next purchase... idk, but I am glad I am a Lowrance guy.

Long story short, fish finders won't catch you the fish but rather, put you that much closer to them.

You'll get it for sure.

Kris · March 01, 2018, 05:42:30 AM

Quote from: jyu87 on February 28, 2018, 10:11:19 PM
I'm no where near an expert at graph reading; however, I did make it a point for a whole season that I would study and learn as much as I could on the internet and putting it into practice on the water. It makes a hell of a difference. I'm running two Lowrance HDS GEN 3's (12 inch at the bow and 9 inch at the console.)

You'd be surprised how the learning curve is very user dependent, especially interpretation. It's a lot of studying of what things look like on the graph and interpretation of what they are in real life. There is also the aspect of using your imagination to map what you see on your graph in your mind so you can target your cast. I know that sounds odd but it really helps you when you're placing the bait. I'll tell you from first hand experience, people will throw 1000 times on a spot and never get a bite and then someone comes up right behind them and throws at a targeted spot they researched and catch all their fish. Even though it's a lure, it can put pressure on the fish and create adverse effects if not presented correctly.

Also, keep in mind. Fish Finders are tools. Some tools are better than others. All fish finders except Lowrance purchase the rights to use Navico's (ie Lowrance & SIMRAD) downscan technology in their units. Food for though for your next purchase... idk, but I am glad I am a Lowrance guy.

Long story short, fish finders won't catch you the fish but rather, put you that much closer to them.

You'll get it for sure.

Those are some nice units you're running. I admit that they would be a little big for my Puddle Jumper. I will probably upgrade the Elite 5 to a later screen SI unit sometime. I am not sure when I will be all to afford it but that is my hope. Thanks for the input.

jyu87 · March 01, 2018, 08:27:20 AM

Quote from: Kris on March 01, 2018, 05:42:30 AM
Those are some nice units you're running. I admit that they would be a little big for my Puddle Jumper. I will probably upgrade the Elite 5 to a later screen SI unit sometime. I am not sure when I will be all to afford it but that is my hope. Thanks for the input.

Kris

There is a huge market to pick up other folks used units, whether it be Craigslist or other forums. Especially the slightly older but still very efficient units. People always need the new bells and whistles.

Reservoir Runner · March 01, 2018, 02:52:50 PM

For early spring in the reservoirs, red craw works good, as the waters warm anything that "matches the hatch" usually does well- bluegill, gizzard shad, fire tiger, perch, silver/black, silver/gold.