It is known that bass are able to see colors and it is felt that they have better vision for the colors of red and green than humans. Vision is the most vital sense that bass have. Their excellent visual acuity is better than that of humans. This is advantageous for the bass both during the daylight hours and near dusk as the level of light diminishes. 

The clarity of the water has a very large effect upon how color impacts bass fishing. In clear shallow water, artificial bait which mimics the silver and gold color of the bass’s natural baitfish food sources work well. The flash of these colors as artificial bait passes through the water is very effective in attracting bass. If your bait is designed to resemble crawfish it should display colors that are similar to the natural coloration of the crawfish. The best colors in this situation would be shades of green and brown. 

As visibility is reduced (1-3 feet) brighter colors such as chartreuse, and the shades of red and orange that display “neon” qualities become more effective. With further reductions of visibility(less than 1foot such as in muddy water) then the best colors to use are dark colors such as dark reds, browns; blues, grays and black. 

You should also consider the amount of sunlight present when selecting the color for you chosen bait. On bright sunny days colors should be chosen as outlined above in the discussion of visibility. As the intensity of sunlight is reduced as occurs on cloudy days you should shift to the bait colors recommended for reduced visibility. 

Will baits of solid colors or those including flakes of additional color attract more fish? Again the visibility factor will be the determining factor. In bright sunny conditions in clear water flakes of silver and gold will increase the “flashy “appearance that may grab a fish’s attention. As the visibility is reduced either by reduced sunlight or increased water murkiness, this effectiveness of the silver and gold flakes will be reduced and lures with small area or flakes of darker colors will begin to work better. 

While there is no hard and fast rule for color effectiveness, you will be able to improve you bass fishing skills by using the principles outlined in this article to adapt to the conditions you face as you head out onto the water in search of “the big one”.