Ok so i've been reading all day and I'm gonna go pick up one of each of these tomorrow...lol, can only afford two for now...anyway...now i am reading that american shad and chartreuse shad are doing well for quite a few of you, i want to get one sammy and one moonsault, how do i know which color to pick for each one?  I'll be fishing Lake Arlington here in TX which is semi clear, slightly murky water...thanks in advance...

I 'd go with American Shad on both, I believe that the reflective surfaces that form the "scale" pattern found in that finish are good for any kind of water because they give away a lot of flash.

would the chartreuse shad be better for murky or stained water then?

I have Char. Shad, Am. Shad, and Aurora Black in both 100 and 115, and the Aurora Black 115 has outproduced them all in green water, tannin stained water, muddy water, and clear water.  But that's just my anecdotal experience.  There have been times when Am. or Char. Shad got bit, and my "lucky" Sammy did not.  As far as not having anough $$$ for the full line, I'd rather have a wide selection of different TW baits in a few colors each.

If it were me personally- I'd go with Ghost minnow and swap out for red hooks- that combo on any LC bait has been dynamite- any water clarity

would the chartreuse shad be better for murky or stained water then?

I use chartreuse shad and ghost minnow type colors in clearer, less stained water. If I were you I would get them both in american shad. Its a good all-around color that works in almost any water clarity.

This is crazy but I bought 4 Sammy's.  Probably a year and a half ago.  American Shad, Aurora Black, Ghost Minnow and a crazy lime green, yellow spotted thing.  

Tried the American Shad first and started catching fish.  Haven't touched the other 3 in a year and a half.  The American shad has teeth marks and chips all over it, but it still catches fish like that first day.  Color has little to do with it I believe.  The bass sees a wounded fish struggling to stay alive and is going to eat it come he!! or high water.