I have been told that a red rattletrap or crankbait is best to use pre-spawn but have never tried one. Since I have accumulated a bunch through trades or buying large lots I want to try them out. So when is the best time to use red?

 

Allen

I use them all year. On the Mississippi, craw patten squarebills/lipless cranks with bright red and/or orange seem to shine during the spring after winter run off in muddy water.

Most people will tell you pre-spawn to spawn is the best time for red. I haven't noticed if that is the case, my 'normal' colors seem to work just as well as people claim red does... Where I have had great success with red is when night fishing. I don't know why, but one night my buddy and I started tossing red traps at night and they work. If I am night fishing I will throw a red rattletrap first thing, they produce.

I lean toward red for traps and other cranks when water is off-color.

I use red cranks all year round with great luck. Clear/stained/dirty water it doesn't seem to matter I catch them during all of the above. I never realized so many guys looked at red lures as only prespawn lures, but i'm glad I never had that mentality. I catch way to many fish during the summer and fall as well to put them away. 

I tend to favor red cranks in cold, pre spawn situations and will migrate to orange bellies as the fish start spending more time in the shallows. Once the females are off the beds, I'll start leaning toward more normal colors, both crawfish and baitfish. Although I don't use completely red lures the rest of the year, all my shallow running and daytime top-water baits have a splash of red on the forward underside and a red treble hook on the belly.

Spring and early summer.

I don't.

I believe the red craze started in Texas where suposedly early craws are that color.

I use red cranks and traps year round, especially in stained to dirty water.