I've had good luck with gold colored crankbaits on few lakes I fish. They seem to work best in lower light conditions and stained water. Depth and size hasn't really been a factor, action has made a difference.  Despite my luck, any time I look for a hot, new crankbait, gold is the last color in stock. Why is that? What do you guys think? 

I like the gold foil Rapala Fat Raps. They are no longer available but they still sell the perch pattern with the gold foil belly.  

Gold, black back, orange belly is an standard color. Kinda like bone with an orange belly topwater.

 

My #1 Rat-L-Trap color

 

I can’t say I really throw gold but I’m not against it? I throw what I think looks good.

I don't try to buy gold crankbaits.  I've heard they're good for partly cloudy days.  But for whatever reason, I don't generally gravitate towards them.  Perhaps because they're neither natural, nor high contrast.  But I do have a few.  And they seem to work as well as any other color.  Size, running depth, noise (or lack there of), and of course, action seem to be what matters most.  Color isn't usually a big concern of mine with crankbaits. 

 

Though I have noticed that I find a lot of gold colored crankbaits at antique stores.  So I guess that was a popular color in the past.  Either that, or no one else wants them.  

I throw a Bill Lewis Echo 1.75 in gold....looks like a native shiner.....

We throw gold blades on spinnerbaits/gold jig skirts/gold flakes in soft plastic - gold hard baits work great.

 

Gold and Chartreuse are both very natural 'bold' colors that work well for LMB.

 

There isn't really a water clarity for gold.  It just works.

I throw them. I found a gold H20X Squarebill, tied it on, and started catching fish. That's all it took for me. I keep one in my box all the time now. 

 

Gold w/ black back is still and has been a long time favorite of mine. I love throwing a Rat-L-Trap, have productive patterns but for river smallies I really only need to throw a chrome w/ black back, chrome w/ blue back, gold w/ black back and a firetiger. I still fish ones that the chrome is beat to heck and still are very productive. It’s funny on some days you’ll have an old beat up one on and they hit the heck out of it than on other days the seem to want one with a better chrome finish on them. 
I think you are correct on light condition. Great color, good luck. 

 I don't but I probably should. I remember my dad using the gold/black rapala and big o back in the day.

Thanks for the reminder.

One lure that I like a lot in that color is the Yo-Zuri Hardcore Shad 60F.

Gold, black back, orange belly Rattlin' Rogue

I had one time that a gold H2O squarebill was magic for me in muddy water and have carried one ever since. Not sure I've ever caught a fish with it since that day. 

I’ve always have a gold with black back jointed Rapala in my tackle.

You’re right, seems weird we all have gold lures but they are the last ones left on the shelf. 

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I had one time that a gold H2O squarebill was magic for me in muddy water and have carried one ever since. Not sure I've ever caught a fish with it since that day. 

I have a few of the h2O 1.5's reserved for muddy/low-vis conditions.  LOUD knocker type rattle in those.