I ordered a few swimbait blanks from Avid that I want to paint. What colors work best? Also where, when, and how are the best ways to fish them? The lakes I fish usually have 1-5' visibility and have shad, bluegill, perch, golden shiners for forage.

You will have to experimentwith colors. Trout patterns are good. Perch, etc. There is no magic color. Your visibility is ok. Not the best for swimbaits (clearer the better). Slow rolling them on the bottom works. Depends on the fish's mood. If active, it may not matter. 

7 minutes ago, BassB8Caster said:

You will have to experimentwith colors. Trout patterns are good. Perch, etc. There is no magic color. Your visibility is ok. Not the best for swimbaits (clearer the better). Slow rolling them on the bottom works. Depends on the fish's mood. If active, it may not matter. 

I also have a couple lakes that are slightly bigger (100-350 acres) that are clear(7-12' visibility). One gets stocked with trout in spring. The other has very little weeds and its hard to catch anything over 12" there. I did get my PB there though so there has to be some bigger fish. Theyre just pretty scarce. I don't fish these much because it seems there aren't as many fish in here.

Do some reading about fishing with swimbaits.  I havent gotten into the big ones (over 6") but will once i can upgrade my gear. Expect to have days without bites. The bigger fish are less numerous. These are the ones we are after. They don't always eat. What works one day may not again for weeks. Keep throwing them and grinding it out. Just because you think there are less fish, dont think you shouldn't fish there. It could be possible that that area belongs to a big momma. Big fish will eat big baits (small ones will to....they dont know how big they are). Check out tactical bassin on youtube. Matt allen is big into swimbaits

Bone has been my most productive color for swimbaits, followed by a gizzard shad.

My preference's are shad patterns.  I like to slow roll them over drop offs and swim them parallel to grass edges.

39 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Bone has been my most productive color for swimbaits, followed by a gizzard shad.

Do you prefer an orange belly with the bone color? I was thinking a bone color with orange belly would show up in the murky water.

29 minutes ago, Troy1985s said:

My preference's are shad patterns.  I like to slow roll them over drop offs and swim them parallel to grass edges.

Do you always slow roll or does a stop and go retrieve work better at times?

1 hour ago, BassB8Caster said:

Do some reading about fishing with swimbaits.  I havent gotten into the big ones (over 6") but will once i can upgrade my gear. Expect to have days without bites. The bigger fish are less numerous. These are the ones we are after. They don't always eat. What works one day may not again for weeks. Keep throwing them and grinding it out. Just because you think there are less fish, dont think you shouldn't fish there. It could be possible that that area belongs to a big momma. Big fish will eat big baits (small ones will to....they dont know how big they are). Check out tactical bassin on youtube. Matt allen is big into swimbaits

Yes, I'll try to check Matt Allen out. The ones I ordered are 4.75".

We have a cabin on the lake and theres almost no fishing pressure since it doesn't have a public access. Theres some big smallmouth in there but the largemouth are overall pretty small. I think I caught 3 keeper bass in the 3 years I've been fishing there, but the one was 5.5 lb and I heard of a 6 lb caught there too.

12 minutes ago, nighthawk25 said:

Do you prefer an orange belly with the bone color? I was thinking a bone color with orange belly would show up in the murky water.

Do you always slow roll or does a stop and go retrieve work better at times?

Yes, I'll try to check Matt Allen out. The ones I ordered are 4.75".

We have a cabin on the lake and theres almost no fishing pressure since it doesn't have a public access. Theres some big smallmouth in there but the largemouth are overall pretty small. I think I caught 3 keeper bass in the 3 years I've been fishing there, but the one was 5.5 lb and I heard of a 6 lb caught there too.

I like solid white all over. Almost glows no matter water color.

Usually I slow roll...as best as I can haha...I tend to fish fast, I've been working on forcing myself to slow down.  There are several trips I can remember from this past early spring(prespawn) when the stop and go was way more effective tho.

Trout, trout,and trout. Those are my favorite colors