How to Determine the Best Crankbait Based on Conditions?

I have been wondering this for a long time now. How do you determine the best crankbait or lure based on the conditions?

Ex.
- Would a brighter colour be better in cloudy waters?
- Would you want a deeper diving lure when the surface temperatures are high?
- How does the light affect your colour choice?

If everyone could give me some input on this topic that would be awesome!

Thanks!

See the below topic on colour issues.

http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/topic/23600-how-fish-see-colour-under-water-interesting-videos/#entry301773

I typically use darker colours for early morning and nite fall also with murky water conditions. Bright colours for clear and sunny conditons. I have tried the opposite but have found going this way is far more effective that being dark for dark light for light..

Deep diving when it is warmer and the bass are off the shelf ( deeper water ) also when they are not typically "hitting". Also remeber when it is colder to slow down your retrive. And bump them off some structure to bring attention to your lures..

this is just the tip of the iceberg but hope it helps a little.

Awesome! Thank you so much! If anyone else has any input, I would love to hear it!

Here is another interseting article for you , not really about colour , etc..etc.. but interesting none the less.

Also if you dont mind me asking what are you trying to catch?


http://www.ontariofishingforums.com/forum/topic/23442-crankbaits/

Dark colors for cloudy water or over cast fishing days. Bright colors for sunny clear water. Fish see dark colors better then bright believe it or not.

When in doubt user a white Big O!!!

Bright day =bright colour dark day =dark colour this goes for jigs soft plastics spinners everything... An orange and white belly will help if its lipless or a suspending crankbait if digging in the mud doesnt matter. Small crank baits 1-20ft+ large crankbaits 8-20 ft+ squarebill on clear water around docks and structure is killer, round bill on weed lines and bottom.

There are so so many variables my friend. You can formulate all kind of theories on how to approach crankbaits, but what has always worked best for me are a couple simple rules:

- Try to pitch smaller cranks and plastics around structure of some sort. (dams, logs, docks, etc)

- Try your larger baits in more open waters, and try use an erratic retrieve, (slow, fast, pause, jerk, pause) *dont be shy to pause* I've caught some great northerns using this approach. Look into suspending baits rather than sinkers for this approach. Sinkers might just snag on you unless your familiar with bouncing.

^^^This is simply what works for me for where/when I fish^^^ so dont judge me for it B)

- Experiment, experiment, experiment!!! Colours and depths can be intimidating. Go through your box and basically see what works. I mean, your not only fishing for just 20 minutes right?

For example, people say deep runners on hot days, but I cant tell you from experience that sometimes a nice popper presentation is enough to bring that lunker out of hiding :mrgreen:

Best advice: EXPERIMENT!

Here's what works for me:

Clear, sunny days, gin clear water: Natural patterns. Matt finished live targets work really well, or whatever natural patterns you got.

Sunny days/variable, or slightly coloured/stained water: chrome finishes, subltle or natural patterns

Dark/cloudy/overcast, any clear to stained water: yellow, chartreuse, white, or any combination of.

Mucky water: pink! (experts recommend black and blue, but I say pink is better...)

When in doubt, fish something with blue! It seems to be my best fail safe.

I usually use surface temps as a guage to where to how far off shore to look, but yes, they will seek deeper, cooler hiding places in the summer and that is when you can bust out your diving lips.

Just my two bits.

cptpronin said:

Here's what works for me:

Clear, sunny days, gin clear water: Natural patterns. Matt finished live targets work really well, or whatever natural patterns you got.

Sunny days/variable, or slightly coloured/stained water: chrome finishes, subltle or natural patterns

Dark/cloudy/overcast, any clear to stained water: yellow, chartreuse, white, or any combination of.

Mucky water: pink! (experts recommend black and blue, but I say pink is better...)

When in doubt, fish something with blue! It seems to be my best fail safe.

I usually use surface temps as a guage to where to how far off shore to look, but yes, they will seek deeper, cooler hiding places in the summer and that is when you can bust out your diving lips.

Just my two bits.

Click to expand...

Good point on the pink, I also have had success with pink in "chocolate" water.

a white cotton cordell square bill for shallow water and grinding into rock/docks. black chartreuse for going deep. I always try to get a deeper running lure than the water I'm fishing to make sure that I touch bottom. Stirs up the bottom and the fish to get them active. This is how I fish for bass

cptpronin said:

Here's what works for me:

Clear, sunny days, gin clear water: Natural patterns. Matt finished live targets work really well, or whatever natural patterns you got.

Sunny days/variable, or slightly coloured/stained water: chrome finishes, subltle or natural patterns

Dark/cloudy/overcast, any clear to stained water: yellow, chartreuse, white, or any combination of.

Mucky water: pink! (experts recommend black and blue, but I say pink is better...)

When in doubt, fish something with blue! It seems to be my best fail safe.

I usually use surface temps as a guage to where to how far off shore to look, but yes, they will seek deeper, cooler hiding places in the summer and that is when you can bust out your diving lips.

Just my two bits.

Click to expand...

This^

Blue is the most visible color to fish