the color red in spring question?

[slowride]

Why is there such an emphasis on throwing red/crawfish colored crankbaits/traps and jerkbaits in the spring? Is that the early color of crayfish at that time? Woudn't bass be more concerned with shad or baitfish, it just got me thinking. I know I do throw red or crawfish colored baits in early spring and have done very well, buts whats the deal with it? Are crayfish moving around that much and it gets more attention from the bass? Thanks!

[barkleyhawggitter]

hard to say, the people that make cajun fishing line say red disapears underwater but the folks that put it on hooks etc say fish think its prey is bleeding. i do well on red craw patterns in the spring some days and some days they dont work, i dont think anybody really knows why they work some days you just have to throw and see and if it dont work try sumpin else.

[walkeraviator]

Ive wondered this as well. Altough for me , i have better luck with gold colors like the crawdad color shad rap and teh baby carp color strike kings cranks.

[mhall]

I have a red crawfish crank pattern that has worked for me for years. It also has times when it's good in the winter as well. For some reason though it's VERY inconsistent in the warmer summer months.

[AndyG]

A lot of craws in Texas are red in the spring, thats where the red trap craze started, on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. Ive seen some of our craws in early march that are a reddish brown, almost rusty looking. Ive never seen a bright red one here though.

[Todd2]

Why is there such an emphasis on throwing red/crawfish colored crankbaits/traps and jerkbaits in the spring? Is that the early color of crayfish at that time? Woudn't bass be more concerned with shad or baitfish, it just got me thinking. I know I do throw red or crawfish colored baits in early spring and have done very well, buts whats the deal with it? Are crayfish moving around that much and it gets more attention from the bass? Thanks!

Lol, I hear ya. Already thinking about Spring, same here. I wish we could go straight from New Years Eve to March 1st. I've never seen a bright red craw here either as others have said but I've done ok on them. I was fishing down at Nolin back in Oct and found a live one down on the bank trying to keep up with the dropping water I guess. It was an dead match in color to Berkley's Green Pumpkin, but sometimes I think that "matching the hatch" is over rated.

[Dave Stewart]

Check it out...crayfish here in Ky...they come in all colors:

http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/speciesInfo/s...rt2=CommonName

But, green, olive, browns, seem to dominate but there are reds and many of the others have red and orange colors mixed in....anyway, I learned a long time ago not to argue with the fish...give what they want because if you argue with them, you will lose every arguement in the end

[Big T @ E.C.]

I agree 100%. Also, everyone needs to remember, colors, or, really the perception of color, changes with the water color. Just a slight muddy, or dingy water may make the red appear brown, or even orange. Just keep hurlin' 'til you start catchin'. Then stay with that color... Tr

[slowride]

I agree 100%. Also, everyone needs to remember, colors, or, really the perception of color, changes with the water color. Just a slight muddy, or dingy water may make the red appear brown, or even orange. Just keep hurlin' 'til you start catchin'. Then stay with that color... Tr

Well sounds like I'll keep chuckin and windin the red pattern in the spring and let the fish tell me if they want them or not. I've experienced allot with colors and I dont really think it matters much honestly. I mean if you shake a small dirty sock long enough in front of a bass he'll eventually eat it! Oportunistic lazy predator, yup thats the LMB. Its more about being in the right place, but thanks for the response.

[walkeraviator]

With all that said, what is your favorite "red craw" color? Does anyone use the Strike King Green Tomato color or do you do an all red presentation? I am especially interested in Dave's response to this question. I go to Kentucky Every spring and i read his reports and it always seems to include guys having luck on a variety of colors.... one of which being that Shad Rap in their copper looking craw color. I have good luck on that bait, but was going to get some deeper diving craw patterns and was looking for a little insight before spending money...

It seems that last year the bigger fish were still deeper and i had nothing to throw at them...