We all know that color selection can make a huge difference when it comes to fishing.
The color of your lure can decide whether you catch tons of smallies, or don’t get a single bite.
There are literally infinite colors and pattern combinations out there, so I’ll make it simple for you.
These are the best lure colors for smallmouth bass.
When talking about lure color for smallmouth bass, we first need to understand what water conditions you will likely be facing.
Smallmouth bass will typically live in clearer water. Smallmouth bass don’t tend to live in small ponds that get real muddy and dark.
Instead, they live in big lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that have much clearer water.
Of course, cloudy, overcast weather conditions will reduce the water visibility.
But for the most part, if you are fishing for smallmouths, the water is going to be fairly clear.
When fishing clear water, you should be thinking natural.
Especially in shallow water where bass can see everything in the very bright water.
These are the best natural lure colors for smallies.
The color red is always going to be mimicking crawfish. Since red is relatively bright, it is best to be fished in either deep water or on overcast days.
In both of these conditions, water visibility will be lowered. Red, crayfish patterns give a realistic color presentation while still being highly visible.
My two favorite times of year to fish red colors are pre-spawn and late fall.
During these two seasons, bass are in deeper, colder water. They are in the same location and behaving very similar.
The only difference is that pre-spawn bass are moving shallower, and late fall bass are moving deeper.
The smallmouth bass in both seasons are heavily feeding on crawfish. Making red the perfect color to throw.
Brown is another crawfish imitation color. But brown is more versatile because it can also mimic bluegill, goby, baby smallmouth, and other forage.
Most crawfish aren’t blood red all the time. In reality, crawfish are usually more of a brown color.
One down side of brown is that it is a very low visibility color and blends into just about everything.
For this reason, it is best to use brown colors in very clear water.
Brown can be used all year round since it imitates many different forage. But the summer and winter are my favorite times to use it.
The summer has very bright days which increases water visibility. And it doesn’t rain much in winter, which increases water visibility.
White is going to be your shad color. Spinnerbaits, flukes, crankbaits, and jerkbaits are my favorite white lures to use for smallmouth.
The nice thing about white is that it is both natural and bright. Smallmouth can find it very easily and not be scared off by the color.
Smallmouth are always feeding on shad, so white is a year round lure color. Overcast days are really where it shines, but the time of year isn’t as important.
Sometimes, it is best to use bright, highly visible colors to get the bass’s attention.
A few such situations are overcast days, deep water, muddy water, and when the smallmouth are very aggressive.
The Clown color pattern is not very commonly used for other species of fish.
For some reason, smallmouth bass love this color presentation. It clearly isn’t realistic in any way.
But the red / chartreuse combination is incredible. I especially like to use the Clown pattern when fishing jerkbaits and prop baits.
The Clown color seems to perform best in the extremes. This being the hottest times of year and the coldest times of year.
I can’t explain why, but the summer and winter are the best times to throw the clown color.
Not only is pink a great winter lure color, but it is also a terrific color for smallmouth bass all year round.
I really fish pink with soft plastic lures. Occasionally, I will throw a pink jerkbait, but for the most part, I stick to the soft plastics.
Pink performs best in deep water or overcast conditions. I don’t know if the pink looks like a bright crawfish or if it just catches smallmouth’s attention. But it flat out works.
Pink is an all year kind of color. If I had to pick one season, I would say the winter time, but it really does work all year long.
Fire Tiger is essentially a very bright perch pattern. So the general color scheme and pattern is actually quite realistic.
The difference of course is that fire tiger is very bright and visible in the water.
Fire Tiger is most popular for pike and walleye, but it is also a great color for smallmouth bass.
Most smallmouth fisheries will also have perch. Meaning fire tiger is both a bright and natural color pattern.
Fire tiger really seems to work best during the hot summer months. Fishing fast lures like crankbaits and swimbaits can get lots of aggressive smallmouth to bite in the warm summer water.
I didn’t include these on the list because these two colors are super universal.
Whether it is largemouth, smallmouth, pike, crappie, or whatever you might be fishing for, these colors are going to work.
So I didn’t put them on the smallmouth list. But they certainly work great.
You can’t really go wrong with black. It is great for muddy water because of the high contrast and visibility it has.
And it’s also great in clear water because it kind of looks like everything and isn’t bright and intimidating.
Everyone throws green pumpkin. It imitates crawfish, bluegill, baby bass, goby, and pretty much everything except shad.
Green pumpkin is the favorite color of many anglers, and I can’t deny how well it works. The only down side is that it works best with soft plastic baits and jigs.
Also Read: Best Smallmouth Bass Jigs
Yes, the color red or a red/brown pattern is one of smallmouth bass’s favorite colors.
Smallies love crawfish and gobies, and red does a great job of imitating these.
Yes, but yellow works best in muddier water. Yellow reflects lots of light which helps it stand out in darker water.
Yellow also makes great highlights on lures. A yellow stripe or patch on a lure can add great value.
Consider water clarity, lighting conditions, and fish behavior when choosing lure colors.
Natural colors are suitable for clear water, while bright colors can attract fish in low visibility or aggressive conditions.
Smallmouth bass are some of the prettiest and fun fish you can catch. Now that you know the best colors to use for smallmouths, pair them with the best lures, and get out on the water.
Fishing is tuff. Conditions and fish behavior are constantly changing. But when you are armed with the proper knowledge, you can maximize success in any fishing scenario.
Feel free to check out all the articles we have to learn and prepare yourself as much as possible.
