what color spinnerbait to use in clear water

As mentioned above it is often best to use spinnerbaits in color schemes resembling the major types of bass forage present in the clear water lake or river you’re fishing. A numbering system starting from #00 (smallest) to #8 (largest) is used. When you think about how he was able to fool those fish in such calm, clear water by using an abstract lure like a spinnerbait, it's pretty amazing. But according to what he told Christian, if the fish had ample time to study those lures, they would lose interest. Clear water is where you find it and clear water spinnerbaits are whichever get bit best. So finding situations for the technique wasn't at all difficult. A few months later, I won the (FLW) Golden Blend Diamond Invitational using the same patterns. In that event, I targeted both largemouth and smallmouth. That, and having the right spinnerbait, will bring positive results. I believe the bass can see a bright color farther away, which causes a reaction strike when it is retrieved quickly. Most were made by jig makers, so they incorporated a typical jighead profile with an added wire frame to support the blades. Like any concept, there are individual components that make up the whole — parts and pieces that work together to complete the puzzle. For perch, green with a bit of black and a touch of red and white works. A few years after winning the Canadian Open, I became a columnist for Bassmaster Magazine. To this day, "The Blade" continues to outperform other spinnerbaits in ultra-clear water, particularly when grass is involved. Once it comes into the fish's visual range, then appears as if it's trying to escape, that's when strikes occur. On cloudy days or in dirty water I lean more towards darker colored baits such as black and blue. Just ask Rick Clunn! The spinnerbait pictured above is white and chartreuse with two willow leaf blades. 3. When Clunn first realized his clear-water technique, spinnerbaits were pretty basic in design. If fishing muddy or stained water stick with a chartreuse/white, all white or black/blue combination. Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear. Bait Choices: Booyah Moon Talker Spinnerbait, Hildebrandt Tin Roller, Luck E Strike Rick Clunn Trickster Spinnerbait. These blades are best used in clearer water. The water was clear and the bite was steady, so long as I maintained the right casting angles and rate of retrieve. Few, if any, had true lifelike attributes or the cosmetics to match live baitfish. In response, Mark Hildebrandt began experimenting with alternative metals. Flash is most important in clear water because in that situation, bass mostly use their vision to feed. For clear water or sunny days, I will typically use a white bait. It is a standard color for soft plastic lizards, finesse worms, and other worms. This action often triggers a massive feeding instinct because it resembles a school of baitfish. Instead of fighting it with the trolling motor, I use a downwind approach, relying more on a driftsock or my Power-Poles to maintain stealth through a controlled drift. Another great trailer option that you should consider adding to your spinnerbaits is a Zoom … If you feel the fish are less active and holding deeper within the cover, try making contact with the top of the grass. Black and blue is a very popular and effective muddy water color and is a great option for soft plastics, top water lures, spinnerbait and chatterbaits. Fluke. Is the top question on an angler’s mind. Other than the fish having more cover to hide in, everything else was essentially the same. In each issue I profiled a top touring pro with his best technique, and one of my featured anglers was Rick Clunn on — you guessed it — "Clear-Water Spinnerbaits.". Skirt colors are usually matched to the forage at the time of year and to the water conditions. Spinnerbait Buying Guide. As with isolated targets, keep the rate of retrieve brisk and above the fish. The Strike King KVD Spinnerbait is slightly undersized to attract finicky bass and features a flowing skirt that’s available in a variety of natural color patterns. In clear water, use natural colors like greens, browns or oranges to entice bass.� So how he was able to coax them into … Remember to keep an open mind. Next time we'll discuss how Clunn's concept applies to aquatic vegetation. Anatomy of a Clear-Water Spinnerbait. Intermittent contact can force bass to react. The other option for painted blades is a color pattern that imitates specific types of forage (like a Sexy Shad or Blue Back Herring pattern). When they're in the mood to feed — like on blustery, low-sky days — they'll often position themselves higher in the water column. Twin Willow style blades and a super-sharp hook round out the package. Once complete, my spinnerbait design finally entered production and was named "The Blade." Breaking them down by their key features can help you better distinguish them from other popular bass fishing lures. On sunny days or in clear water, I will most often use silver blades. Keep in mind that Lake Mead is a desert impoundment and visible cover is scarce, especially at low water levels. Another plus with wind is that it can give grass a grain, creating casting lanes in thicker areas — places that would otherwise be inaccessible, even for a spinnerbait. I based the color selection primarily on the forage fish bass chase most — shad, shiners, alewives and bluegill. When visibility is high, bass can see a long ways and get a good look at your crankbait as it works its way through the water column. That's when they put me in touch with their skirt supplier, Bubba Robinson at Rat Trap Bait Company. One day, by happenstance, a factory rep saw what I was working on and asked if he could show one of my prototypes to the people at Hildebrandt. I found the largemouth relating to isolated clumps of milfoil in the middle of a large, shallow bay. Sure, there were exceptions. Fish caught on a certain lure style or color encourages other anglers to try the same combination. “If you take a black and white photo of one, it basically looks grey-white or pearl-white.” He reasoned that when fished properly under low-light situations or early in the morning, a bass needs to view that spinnerbait as white. For that reason, the name of the game in clear water is matching the hatch. All you want them to see is flash and movement. But that was pretty much the norm. Then with stained water use something in-between. In clear water, fish are going to be feeding more by sight than any other sense. JOIN TODAY! This simple guideline is also what I follow when selecting blade colors. For instance, one of the clearest waters I ever fished was a sprawling meadow lake only six feet at its deepest, covered with aquatic grass that filtered and purified the sweet water. I want to dispel some of the controversy about bait color, not add to them. Once it became visible to the fish, he would then accelerate the retrieve — making the lure appear as if it were trying to escape. Kill it - Killing the spinnerbait and letting it fall a couple of feet next to bushes and boulders will sometimes draw strikes from fish that are reluctant to chase. It breaks up surface tension, which refracts light that can disorient baitfish — and it can create current, which in turn can position bass that are in the mood to feed. What color lure to use? In clear water use more natural subtle presentations and colors. thanks Why is wind so important? In order to be successful, his presentation had to be spot on. Either tandem-willowleaf or Colorado/willowleaf, in combinations of gold and/or silver. Clunn could see the bass relating to these isolated bushes, and in many cases, they could see him. Stick to colors such as green pumpkin, watermelon and root beer in clear water and change to a june-bug or black/blue combination in stained or dirty water. You see, when I began my career as a pro angler, spinnerbaits were considered tools for stained to muddy water conditions. My friend, Chris Christian, served as a press observer in that event and he told me how he was blown away by Clunn's ability to fool fish with such an abstract lure in water that clear — fish that were, at least in some instances, aware of his presence. My first real success using Clunn's concept came on the clear waters of Lake Ontario in 1990. So how he was able to coax them into biting a spinnerbait is nothing short of amazing. After learning of Clunn's exploits, I was eager to apply the concept to the lakes and rivers I was fishing. In Florida, we have tons of clear water. What Spinnerbait to Use When and Where July 25, 2019 As part of the Jason Christie designed Booyah Covert series spinnerbaits, they have come out with this chart to help anglers know what spinnerbaits to use, where to use them, and when to use … My series was called "Techniques Illustrated." If you've never seen Lake Mead, trust me, it is ultra clear. Size - What size of of spinnerbait to use will be determined by water color and the depth where bass are located. And Clunn's concept was no different. You can read the date on a coin in ten feet of water! 3/4 to 1 ounce and larger; stained or muddy water; fishing deep, 10-15' or greater; fishing at night; 3/8 ounce and smaller; clear water in daylight; shallow clear water during night; clear nights with bright moon; Color When the water has reduced visibility, it may be time to switch to a white or chartreuse colored bait. The darker the lure color the better, as they tend to stand out in water that has low visibility. Even though they couldn’t see it, through sonic vibrations they sensed its presence. One element that always seems to improve the pattern is wind. 4. To fool them, I had to use super-long casts and burn the spinnerbait right under the surface. And that's almost always a good thing! (Photo: wired2fish.com) Although bass fishing with spinnerbaits is often considered most operative throughout the spring and fall, the effectiveness doesn’t stop there. Ten-plus pounds — the double-digit — is what most would call the ­undisputed benchmark of a trophy largemouth. And that's what set them up for its appearance. Knowing Hildebrandt's reputation for quality, I eagerly accepted. We tried several, but nothing could compete with tin. Factoring this, I always try to make the wind work to my advantage. After learning of Clunn's exploits, I spent months applying his strategies on my home waters in Florida, eventually building confidence in his approach. Spinnerbaits. anyone know what color spinnerbait wouold work in crystal clear water i mean 30 feet + almost or if they would even work??? When the spinnerbait would finally come into view, then zip away elusively at a high rate of speed, they would chase it down nearly every time. Two spinnerbaits for waking Strike King The Burner It was so cool watching those big brown missiles sky upward to crash the bait. Each bass spinnerbait setup has a silicone or rubber skirt. These variables affect my selection of blade syle/color, the number of blades, skirt color, and the weight. So long as the water is clear and the bass are holding on isolated targets, a spinnerbait has a good chance of working. Canada's best also showed up. Bass seem to love the color, and it looks natural in the water. On most spinnerbaits you can switch blades to achieve different combinations of size, color, flash, vibration, and depth. Another great option in clear water is a white or white/chartreuse spinnerbait with willow leaf blades that is burned with a 6 or 7 to 1 gear ratio baitcaster just below the surface. Most were made by jig makers, so they incorporated a typical jighead profile with an added wire frame to support the blades. For crayfish, browns and greens are good, as well as reds and oranges. Another approach to water clarity is using fluorescent and bright colored baits for muddy water and switching to lighter colors in clear, warm water. Combining a natural color with a bait with more movement can be a deadly combination. By keeping the bait high in the water column at a brisk rate of speed, I could force those fish to reveal themselves. Anything that looked like it could hold a fish, I threw at it. Often a local preference develops due to watercolor, predominant forage, or angler use. Lures for Fishing in Clear Water: Tip: Use natural, light colored lures for clear water or sunny days. Keep in mind that Lake Mead is a desert impoundment and visible cover is scarce, especially at low water levels. In fact there were more than twenty Bassmaster Classic qualifiers there, including Denny Brauer, Joe Thomas, Randall Romig, Tom Mann Jr., Rick Lillegard, Jerry Rhyne and others. Clunn did try other lures. The spinnerbait was the boyd duckett from the May Lucky Tackle Box. Plus, we'll take a closer look at spinnerbaits and how combining the right blade configuration with lifelike cosmetics will work to your advantage. Black and blue is one of my all-time favorite color combinations to use in muddy water. Although more costly and difficult to work with, we knew it was the answer. JOIN TODAY! I wanted a fish-head profile with eyes and pronounced gills and one that was slender, so that it would pass through grass more easily. Few, if any, had true lifelike attributes or the cosmetics to match live baitfish. After some deliberation, I agreed. Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear. Anytime it blows, my success rate jumps exponentially. The Pepper Baits Clear Water Elite Spinnerbait is a new deep water, small profile bait with a Double Willow Blade combination for maximum flash. Color Patterns That Work. Hopefully this information will help you next time you're on the water. Track the lure well above them, slowing the retrieve speed only until you connect with the first fish. These isolated bushes, and a touch of red and white works making with. That is, a # 3 willow leaf blades a # 3 willow leaf blades was the answer Lucky... Large contingency of American anglers had entered the event vibrations they sensed its presence ( smallest ) to 8... And Wayne Izumi, Big Jim McLaughlin, Rocky Crawford and the Viola brothers stained water stick a! Bass spinnerbait setup has a good chance of working baits that push and create more movement can be deadly. 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