Colors and Topwater

[Stick in Mud]

A friend and I are having a debate on the importance of color when selecting a topwater. It is my contention that color is much less important than almost all the other factors--profile, sound, size, retrive rate, type of retrieve, etc etc. Furthermore, I rarely find that color makes a difference when using topwaters, since I can't remember a time when I've changed colors and immediately found success. And it seems to me that a lure, seen from underneath and profiled against the sky/sun, is going to look dark no matter what color it is. AND almost all baits are white on the belly, anyways, so it seems that the pretty colors, far from catching more fish, are for catching more fisherman.

He says that color is always an important consideration, and that the same baits in different colors will have vastly different catch rates. I've never found this to be so.

Can someone please adjudicate?

[bassNspear]

There is alot of different ways that you can lok at this. People are always going to say that color is a big deal, cuase in all aspects, it really is.

As far as top water, color might not be that big of a issue, comparing it to something else like a tube. I for myself, have always had the white buzzy rolling, but the guys that i fish with, are always fishing black. I believe that there is a bit of difference that the color can help a bit, but when you look at the big picture, is all about how you work the bait.

You both have a argument that is worth talking about. The facts show that there is alot of different ways to look at it, just a matter of what you believe in.

[Stick in Mud]

Ah. We didn't even think of including buzzbaits in our discussion. Doh!

[Bobby Bass]

I don't think color is so important in a moving bait that by movement provokes a hit. But.. if it is a popper or a chugger where the bait needs to be work slowly or not at all then color can play a big part. If a fish has a chance to look it over I think he will. Having said that I also am a big believer that color catches more fishermen the fish

[ocf1]

well, in my opinion 80% of the time it doesn't matter, but every once in a while the bass surface next to it to see what it is, im not sure but i think that is what theyare doing.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

When I pick a topwater like a popper or spook I only care what color the bottom is. Usually Ill stick with white, black or orange. With plastic hollow bodied baits That I fish real slow I like to have a variety of colors. Ive had several trips where one color will outfish others 3-4 to 1 with these baits. I dont have a ton of buzzbaits but of the ones I have they are either white or black.

[bronzeback01]

Color does play a role, just not to the extent the bait manufacturers would like us to believe it does. I mean, a fish is looking up at the bait how on earth can he tell the difference between a green or grey back on a bait. I think belly color is the key. I use black or grey most of the time, unless I think they are targeting bait fish, then I use silver, white if they are busting shad.

And I have always had better luck with black buzzbaits.

[Fishing_High]

I do think color plays a role but when using topwater color is a little less important then with other types of baits.

[river rat316]

Placement, action, profile then way down the list is color for me. jmho

[RobertELee]

The only time color come into factor is low light I use dark colors, bright light I use light colors, I even like to use a clear spook on sunny days on clear water for smallies, they see the commotion on the surface and usually hit it pretty hard.

[st.crioxfishin]

For me its more of a confidence thing. I use black a lot because I have confidence in it. Last year I lost my last black frog while fishing up north, confidence went down in my ability to catch them. However I put on a green and white one after this and caught my biggest fish of the day...

[slipperybob]

If we can accept that color is not an issue of success, then we have to look at the conditions of the environment that which one fishes and the time of day.

Would it be easier to see a plain bone white lure in stained muddy water over that of other colors? How about during twilight? In clear moonlight, would it be easier to see the profile of a back lure in fairly clear water? During high noon?

Bass mood: Aggressive fishes normally don't care so much about color but prefer action. Sometimes it's the color that triggers the aggressiveness, but is miniscule in comparison to action.

Lookers/followers are more interested in colors and probably a specific action of those colors. Again action is key important to trigger the strike, but here the colors play the role. Storm chug bugs when motionless, sits, tail down and head up. The color on it's back and sides have a key role here. Zara spooks twitches side to side on it's side. The color on the side triggers the strike.

Appearance of shiny metal-like reflection vs non-reflective colors. Sometimes a topwater with a foil like reflection set's it apart from other baits of exact nature. I have no idea if a bass can see the glimmer on it's top, but whatever glimmer is on it seems to trigger that strike, especially on the very lightest of twitch.

What makes me want to buy a lure with pretty colors? I'm confident that it will increase my odds. It's that confidence that makes me the fisherman, work my bait harder and more selectively. It's the subtle action from my confidence that often makes the difference from a getting a strike to none at all.

I think the sell point is: Catch more fish! with _________.

[Ray Esboldt]

I'll agree with RiverRat. Putting the right bait in the right place is far more important than color in my book. And, that's with any bait. With that being said, if you looked through my tackle box, the majority of the baits I have are black, blue, brown, or green.

[Bullwinkle]

I will almost exclusively pick a dark colored topwater bait because the dark body sticks out more pronounced against the sky background. It is still my opinion though that speed and action on the retrieve our definately more important than color when fishing a topwater bait. I have fished the same exact topwater (color and lure)as the person I am fishing with and out fished them 5 to 1 simply because I either have a different speed or tempo to my retrieve.

[TNFL]

I like a white belly, top color doesn't matter too much. My theory is frog & fish bellies are white. But then again mouse bellies are not.

[katoguy]

Paint the top of your rat/frog white for your own visibility. It is easier to see when it disappears.

[RK]

Hiya -

I sort of vary on this depending on water clarity. In dark water, or when it's a little windy, I'll go for contrast - dark bellied baits. In clear water though, especially if it's calm, I do just the opposite. RobertELee mentioned clear topwaters like clear spooks. I really like them when it's calm in clear water.

In clear water, I want topwaters to be a somewhat indistinct target - just a surface-swimming something or other that they can't see in any detail. So I tend to use clear baits, or white-bellied baits a lot. Chartreuse can be good as well, especially for smallies. To me topwaters are highly suggestive, and colors that blend in somewhat rather than stand out help with the illusion aspect.

Of course, I could just be a crackpot...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[slipperybob]

Crackpot you are!

Ah yes! I'd forgot about clear lures, colorless, ghost-like appearance. Bass that homes into the action, mainly the surface break, then they attack much more violently because they cannot clearly see the lure. Bass swipe the water hard and wide, to ensure that whatever is making that little commotion is surely engulfed.