I’m trying to decide on the color for a shallow Squarebill crankbait and a topwater walking bait. Neither have rattles. I want to use them in both clear and stained water. What colors should I pick?

 

(The ponds I fish have bluegill, perch, some Shad and some trout.)

Anything opaque

Rule of thumb,,,,

Simple for clear water conditions it's natural colors, smaller sized baits, fished faster.  For Stained water conditions depending on how bad it's stained it's a mix of natural colors and brighter colors for slightly stained and brighter colors medium sized baits fished slower. For muddy water conditions it's the brighter colored, largest sized baits fished the slowest.

 

With all said when in doubt on a slow day throw chartreuse.

 

why not rattles it can be a plus like ringing a dinner bell for the bass? Using all the basses senses like sight, vibration, sound plus a scent you have it all covered.

Firetiger, why ? Because I like firetiger.

White because in clean water, it looks like the flash of a bait fish. In stained water, it stands out with the bright white color. 

Unfortunately I never buy 1 color of any lure, usually 2 colors; white/silvery Shad color and darker brown/red or black crawdad colors.

Underwater lures are more color specific then top water lures, in any water clarity.

Buy both light and dark colors and use both light and dark colors and let the bass decide which for you.

Tom

Rule of thumb!

 

Buy it, throw it, bass will tell you if the like it!

Chrome/Blue cranks work for me in both. I don't throw top water enough to answer that one.

White or black, they are what I refer to as universal colors. What I mean by that is they are natural enough to use in clear water but still show up well in dirty water. Look at something like Sexy Shad or Threadfin Shad, those will work in just about every water clarity.