The 3 Best Z-Man MinnowZ Colors
The MinnowZ swimbait is Z-Man’s best selling bait and with that popularity comes a bunch of color options.
Z-Man offers 62 different colors for the MinnowZ swimbait, so it can be very overwhelming or confusing trying to pick out the right color bait for you.
But to be honest, you don’t need the vast, vast majority of those colors for your fishing. In my opinion, you really only need 3. So here are the 3 best Z-Man MinnowZ colors.
1. Natural Shad | Z-Man Name: “Bad Shad”
The MinnowZ swimbait, along with every swimbait, imitates baitfish. And the primary baitfish that you will be imitation will be some sort of shad, shiner, or herring.
These baitfish all pretty much look the same. They look very silver, grey, and shiny. So some sort of natural shad/shiner color is the most realistic color swimbait for mimicking those forages.
And although Z-Man has a few different natural shad color options, “Bad Shad” is my favorite and has produced extremely well for me.
So if I had to recommend one specific option out of the 62 different ones that Z-Man offers, “Bad Shad” is my choice for a natural shad imitation.
- Clear Water
- Imitating Shad/Shiner/Herring/Mullet
2. Green Pumpkin | Z-Man Name: “EZ Money”
Green Pumpkin is kind of THE staple color for most soft plastic baits. And when we are talking about swimbaits, green pumpkin is going to be used to imitate baitfish such as bluegill, perch, baby bass, goby, and others.
The baitfish forage that have some sort of green or brown coloration on their body. Green pumpkin is the most universal and natural color option for those types of forage.
And again, Z-Man offers a few different variations of green pumpkin colors, but “EZ Money” is just the classic version of the color.
“EZ Money” is just the classic dark green with black flakes. So it doesn’t have any fancy sparkles or additional flake colors.
So “EZ Money” is the most time tested and proven swimbait color option that Z-Man offers to imitate your greenish/brownish baitfish.
- Imitating Greenish, Brownish Baitfish
- Great for Pond Fishing (lots of ponds don’t have shad or shiner, and those other baitfish are the primary forage)
3. Pearl White | Z-Man Name: “Opening Night”
The pearl white or bright white color is going to be your shad/shiner/herring imitation (same as the natural shad), except for when you are fishing either muddy water or overcast days.
The brighter white colors are better for imitating that bass forage when the water clarity or weather conditions reduce the underwater visibility.
The muddy water and overcast days make it harder for fish to see underwater, and the brighter white swimbaits stand out a lot better than the natural shad colors.
The “Opening Night” color from Z-Man is my favorite version of a pearl white because the belly is a clear/sparkle design.
So I feel like “Opening Night” still gives you the benefit of the brighter white reflection in the darker water, but it still looks a bit more natural than a 100% pearl white because of the translucent and sparkly belly.
- Muddy Water or Overcast Days
- Imitating Shad/Shiner/Herring/Mullet
Freshwater vs Saltwater Colors
For the most part, the colors won’t actually change much from freshwater to saltwater. For the natural shad and white colors, they imitate things like shad in fresh water and things like mullet in saltwater.
And for the most part, those types of baitfish have the same colorations whether they are freshwater baitfish or saltwater baitfish.
So those two colors will remain the same. Green pumpkin will definitely be more freshwater focused, but there are still some saltwater forage options that have greenish or brownish colors. So it will still work in both fresh and saltwater as well.
Z-Man MinnowZ Rigging Tips
The Z-Man MinnowZ (typically the 3-inch model) is a versatile soft plastic that can be rigged in a few effective ways, depending on where and what you are fishing.
1. Standard Jig Head Rigging (Most Common)
This is the most popular way to fish the MinnowZ, giving it a classic swimbait presentation.
- Recommended Jig Heads: Look for jig heads specifically designed for ElaZtech baits, as the material is very tough and needs a good keeper to stay in place.
- Z-Man HeadlockZ, Trout Eye, or Finesse EyeZ Jigheads are excellent choices due to their wire or molded keepers that securely hold the ElaZtech without tearing.
- Weight Selection:
- Shallow Water (0-4 ft): 1/8 oz is a great starting point, often preferred for a slower, more natural fall.
- Medium Depth (4-10 ft) or Moving Water: 3/16 oz or 1/4 oz provide better casting distance and sinking speed.
- Deeper Water or Heavy Current: 3/8 oz or heavier, as needed.
- How to Rig: Thread the jig head straight into the center of the bait’s nose and out the belly, making sure the plastic is straight and flush against the jig head to ensure proper swimming action.
2. Weedless Rigging
If you’re fishing in grass, thick cover, or over oyster beds, a weedless rig is essential.
- Recommended Hooks:
- Z-Man Texas Eye Jigheads: These have a weighted, articulating head and a wide-gap hook that’s designed for weedless rigging.
- Weighted Swimbait Hooks (e.g., Z-Man EZ KeeperZ or ZWG Weighted Swimbait Hooks): These hooks have a weighted shank and a keeper, allowing you to Texas rig the bait.
- How to Rig (Texas Style):
- Insert the hook point into the nose of the MinnowZ and push it out the bottom after about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch.
- Slide the plastic up to the hook’s keeper.
- Measure where the hook point needs to exit the plastic so that the bait hangs straight.
- Insert the hook point through the belly and just barely skin-hook it into the top of the bait’s back (or tuck the hook point entirely for maximum weedless protection).
Important Note for ElaZtech Material
Z-Man’s ElaZtech is extremely durable, but it can be more challenging to rig than standard soft plastics.
- Super Glue: For a permanent and more tear-resistant bond on a jig head, many anglers add a drop of super glue (like Z-Man’s Pro Cure Super Glue) to the jig head collar before sliding the MinnowZ over it.
- Rigging Tip: When sliding the tough plastic over a jig head keeper, it often helps to firmly grab the plastic near the head and pull it straight up and over the keeper, rather than trying to push it on.
Also Read: Best Z-Man Soft Plastic Baits
Reeling this In
While Z-Man offers a staggering 62 different colors for their popular MinnowZ swimbait, you certainly don’t need to empty your wallet to be successful.
By focusing on the three essential colors—Bad Shad (natural shad), EZ Money (green pumpkin), and Opening Night (pearl white)—you’ll be prepared to imitate all the primary baitfish in nearly any water clarity or light condition, whether you’re in freshwater or saltwater.
Remember to rig your MinnowZ properly—using a Z-Man specific jig head for open water or a weedless hook like the Texas Eye for heavy cover—and you’ll be set to take advantage of this incredibly versatile and durable bait.
Simplifying your color selection allows you to spend less time digging through your tackle box and more time fishing!
