I've heard that Yellow and Red are the 1st 2 colors to lose it's color. I know Black will out last all of the Colors. What color is 2nd to Black that will last longer in deep/dark water?

Blue

Colors disappear underwater in the same fashion as the rainbow (ROY G BIV). 

 

Yellow and red are actually the first colors to go. Black, blue, purple are you best colors for dirty/dark water.

Blues and then greens.

 

It depends on what’s in the water.  Algae blooms, tannic stain, turbidity, etc. all have different effects on the transmission/absorption of different wavelengths, so blue is not always the last color to “disappear.”

 

Blue lures are so often recommended for deep water with low light conditions because presumably the lighting down there is mostly blue, and other colors would fade to dull blue or black.  By that same logic, wouldn’t white also be a good choice?  Think about what a black/white jig looks like in a dim environment with only blue light, vs a black/blue jig.  Now take the same jigs in deep water with an algae bloom, where mostly green light remains, or dark brown stained water.  For ultimate contrast in the visible spectrum (if that’s the goal), a black/white jig works in all lighting conditions – but how many of us ever fish that color?

 

Further, ‘black’ is recommended for dark water because it presents a strong silhouette, absorbing any available visible light (opposite to the reason blue is recommended).  But if we’re really fishing in situations where all visible light except particular colors is absent, then many of the darker opaque colors in our box are effectively ‘black,’ right?  What does a blood red jig look like in water with only blue light? 

For dark stained water I use Junebug. I don't think I've ever used a black soft plastic and have no complaints.

Frogs yes, plastics no.

 

 

 

 

Mike

Depends on the color of the water and amount of light penetrating. Most people go with Black and blue, Black and red, or any dark colors with flake. Green Pumpkin with Red flake or blue flake is also a good color, and lots of guys like to add some chart dye to baits.

 

I would say Black and Blue or Junebug (Dark Purple with Green) are almost always a good choice from my experiences. If you are not catching them on those 2 colors, then I would always try something in Green Pumpkin, and then contrasting colors with flake, laminates, swirls can work at times. Red Shad seems to work for me in most water stained or clear.

 

As for what fish can see in Deep water without light, I think Fluorecent colors are the last to change to grey scale, I think that is why Pinks and Chartruese are so popular for deeper salt water fishing. I would say in deep water Bass Fishing (Something I rarely do anymore) a black worm with a chart tail would probably always be a good choice, but solid colors will work, just add a bead or rattle to add sound maybe?

 

I always like to have some "Flash" in stained water since baitfish will have some silver or gold when swimming, or chartruese tint, so any color with silver or gold in it may help.