when throwing a topwater, say a spook or gunfish, whats the importance of color choice with different weather conditions? ive read several articles but its still a bit confusing. 

 

I keep it simple...clear or bone during day...black at nite

Weather conditions do not affect my topwater color selection to any noticeable degree. If the conditions allow me to throw a topwater I will be throwing one in a color dictated by water clarity and forage base. Shad don't turn purple because it's cloudy 

99% of my topwater fishing is done with a shad pattern of some sort, a bluegill pattern or clear.  Water clarity is the main factor, everything else being equal.

Top Water fishing in different weather conditions is more about the steady technique and reading the water than it is about nifty colors. I usually stick with a shad pattern, myself. IMO it is the single best pattern because it is a natural food color and Bass love shad especially during the spawning months and when they are schooling. I love to use poppers for top water myself, 

It don't matter too much. BUT the type of bait can, for example, some days a spook just won't get bit, but a popper will. If it were me, I would have a basic natural color, like shad or bluegill, but in a couple different styles of baits.

It don't matter too much. BUT the type of bait can, for example, some days a spook just won't get bit, but a popper will. If it were me, I would have a basic natural color, like shad or bluegill, but in a couple different styles of baits.

X2 The color is nowhere near as important as the action. Black or white will both work on both faster or slower moving  baits and a mirrored finish in either chrome or gold would be my second choices. 

Another observation I could pass along is to slow down when the water is calm and speed up when the wind does. Sometimes they want a slow presentation and sometimes they want it fast.  You can do both with a topwater on the same cast, then stick to the speed they seem to be responding to

Lure Colors? Topwater?

I been throwing the same BPS Topnocker in color #25 chartreuse for many years in and weather conditions, blue bird days, cloudy days, rainy days etc. I tend to stay with a proven lure that works rather than trying other colors and types.

One day my mom & pop local bait shop had two of those cheap "producers" topwater spooks in Orange and one in green/yellow. I put on the Orange one early in the morning and caught four bass back to back. These lures were $0.99 each. I was purchasing the larger spooks from a bait shop in Florida but he went out of business. I don't see the larger saltwater spooks anywhere like the ones he sold me. I did get another orange one from him too. But I did find some on clearance again.