Best Bait & Lure Colors for Crappie Fishing (Complete Guide)

Knowing how crappie view colors and which color baits to select given the conditions can make a difference in whether you catch fish or get skunked. So what are the best bait colors for crappie fishing.

The best bait colors for crappie are natural color like ghost, clear, browns, and olives in clear water and sunny conditions. Under overcast skies or muddy water, focus on bright colors like whites, chartreuses, and reds.

In this article, we will break down the best colors to choose for each light, water clarity, and time of day condition you will face when crappie fishing.

Seasonal Breakdown: Bait Colors

Winter

In winter, crappie tend to be less active and can be more selective in their feeding habits. To increase your chances of success, consider using natural baitfish colors like silver, gold, and shad patterns in clear water, and darker colors like black, blue, and purple in stained water.

The Bobby Garland Mo’Glo Baby Shad in silver, gold, or pearl colors, and the Bobby Garland Slab Slay’r in black and blue color patterns are good options to consider. It’s also worth trying brighter colors like chartreuse, pink, and orange in low-light conditions, such as the Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in chartreuse or pink colors.

When selecting the size of your bait, smaller jigs like the Southern Pro Hot Grub in 1/16 or 1/32 ounce sizes tend to work better in winter.

Spring

In spring, crappie tend to become more active and feed more aggressively as water temperatures begin to warm up. For crappie fishing in the spring, bright and flashy colors tend to work well. T

ry using chartreuse or fluorescent green lures like the Strike King Mr. Crappie Slab Slasher Jighead with a chartreuse or fluorescent green Bobby Garland Baby Shad bait. Other effective colors to consider include white, pink, and yellow. When it comes to size, 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jigs tend to work well in the spring.

Summer

In summer, crappie tend to be more active and can be found in deeper water. When selecting bait colors for crappie in summer, consider using natural colors that mimic the local baitfish. The Bobby Garland Baby Shad in blue ice or pearl color patterns can be a good choice, as well as the Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in blue ice or smoke colors.

Additionally, bright and flashy colors like chartreuse and pink can also work well in summer, especially in low-light conditions. For size, 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs tend to be effective in deeper water.

Fall

In fall, crappie tend to feed heavily to prepare for the winter months. Natural baitfish colors like silver, gold, and shad patterns tend to work well in clear water conditions, while darker colors like black, blue, and purple are effective in stained water.

The Bobby Garland Mo’Glo Baby Shad in silver or pearl colors, and the Bobby Garland Slab Slay’r in black and blue color patterns can be good options to consider.

Brighter colors like chartreuse and pink can also be effective in low-light conditions, such as the Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in chartreuse or pink colors. For size, 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs tend to be effective in fall.

Crappie Color Guidelines

In crappie fishing, selecting visible baits depending on water clarity is crucial because it helps the bait stand out and attract the attention of crappie. Clear water requires a more natural and subtle presentation, while murky or stained water conditions may require brighter and more visible colors.

Understanding the importance of water clarity in bait selection can greatly increase an angler’s chances of catching crappie.

Water Clarity & Bait Colors

Selecting visible baits depending on water clarity is crucial because it helps the bait stand out and attract the attention of crappie. Clear water requires a more natural and subtle presentation, while murky or stained water conditions may require brighter and more visible colors.

Clear Water Crappie Fishing: Color Selection

In clear water, natural colors such as green, brown, and black are typically more effective for crappie fishing as they provide a more subtle presentation. Anglers can also consider using lighter shades of these colors or white to mimic natural prey.

Muddy Water Crappie Fishing: Color Selection

In muddy water, brighter and more visible colors such as chartreuse, pink, and fluorescent colors tend to be more effective for crappie fishing. These colors can help the bait stand out and attract the attention of crappie in murky water conditions.

Using larger jigs or soft plastic baits with contrasting colors can also increase the visibility and effectiveness of the lure in muddy water.

Light Conditions & Bait Colors

The importance of bait colors in crappie fishing is directly related to light conditions. Different colors are more visible or attractive to crappie under different lighting conditions, so it’s important to choose the right color based on the time of day and water clarity.

Clear, Sunny Crappie Fishing: Color Selection

For bright, sunny day crappie fishing, natural colors such as green, brown, and black are typically more effective as they provide a more subtle presentation. Anglers can also consider using a slow and steady retrieve and fishing near areas of cover or structure where crappie may be feeding.

Cloudy/Overcast Crappie Fishing: Color Selection

For cloudy or overcast crappie fishing conditions, bright colors such as chartreuse, pink, and orange tend to be more effective. These colors can help attract the attention of crappie in low-light conditions and make it easier for anglers to detect bites. Fishing near areas of cover or structure can also be effective during these conditions.

Night Crappie Fishing: Color Selection

For nighttime crappie fishing, glow-in-the-dark or fluorescent colors such as green, chartreuse, and white can be effective. These colors can help attract crappie in low-light conditions and make it easier for anglers to detect bites.

Using slower retrieves and fishing near areas of structure or cover can also be effective for targeting crappie at night.

Crappie Behavior & Bait Colors

During peak crappie fishing daily windows, a combination of natural and bright colors can be effective, depending on water clarity and lighting conditions. Natural colors such as green, brown, and black are effective for clear water, while brighter colors such as chartreuse, pink, and orange are effective for murky or low-light conditions.

Best Colors for Active Feeding Times (early mornings & late afternoons)

During active feeding times such as early mornings and late afternoons, brighter colors such as chartreuse, pink, and orange tend to be more effective for crappie fishing.

These colors can help attract the attention of crappie and trigger more aggressive feeding behaviors. Using faster retrieves and fishing in open water areas can also be effective during these active feeding times.

Best Colors for Slow Feeding Times (middle of the day & early afternoons)

For less active crappie during daily windows, natural colors such as green, brown, and black tend to be more effective as they offer a subtle presentation. Using smaller jigs or soft plastic baits can also help increase the effectiveness of the lure.

Slow and subtle retrieves around areas of cover or structure are also effective techniques for targeting less active crappie.

Natural Colors for Crappie

Natural colors can be effective for crappie fishing, particularly in clear water or bright, sunny conditions where more subtle presentations may be necessary.

Some of the best natural colors for crappie fishing include shades of green, brown, and black, which mimic the appearance of small minnows and other prey species.

To use natural colors effectively for crappie, anglers should consider using a slow, subtle retrieve and focusing on areas of cover or structure where crappie are likely to be feeding.

Bright/Bold Colors for Crappie

Some of the best bright colors for crappie fishing include chartreuse, pink, and orange, which are particularly effective in stained or murky water or low-light conditions.

To use bright colors effectively for crappie, anglers should consider using a slow, steady retrieve and focusing on areas of cover or structure where crappie are likely to be hiding.

Additionally, using small jigs or soft plastic baits in bright colors can help increase the effectiveness of the lure. Finally, fishing at different depths and varying the speed of the retrieve can also be effective for triggering strikes from crappie.

UV Colors for Crappie

Crappie are able to detect UV light and may be attracted to lures with UV coatings or patterns. Some of the best UV colors for crappie fishing include chartreuse, white, and pink, which are particularly effective in murky water or low-light conditions.

To use UV colors effectively for crappie, anglers should consider using a slow, steady retrieve and focusing on areas of cover or structure where crappie are likely to be hiding. Additionally, using a light or ultralight rod and reel setup can help increase sensitivity and improve the angler’s ability to detect bites.

21 Bait Color Selection Tips for Crappie

In clear water conditions, try using natural baitfish colors like silver, gold, and shad patterns. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Mo’Glo Baby Shad in silver, gold, or pearl colors.
In stained water, darker colors like black, blue, and purple tend to work well. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Slab Slay’r in black and blue color patterns.
Brighter colors like chartreuse, pink, and orange can be effective in low-light conditions. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in chartreuse or pink colors.
In spring, try bright and flashy colors. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Slab Slasher Jighead with a chartreuse or fluorescent green Bobby Garland Baby Shad bait.
White, pink, and yellow can also be effective in spring. Recommended bait: Southern Pro Stinger Shad in white or pink colors.
In summer, natural colors that mimic the local baitfish tend to work well. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Baby Shad in blue ice or pearl color patterns.
Bright and flashy colors like chartreuse and pink can work well in summer, especially in low-light conditions. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in blue ice or smoke colors.
In fall, natural baitfish colors are effective in clear water conditions. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Mo’Glo Baby Shad in silver or pearl colors.
Darker colors like black, blue, and purple are effective in fall in stained water conditions. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Slab Slay’r in black and blue color patterns.
Brighter colors like chartreuse and pink can also be effective in fall. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in chartreuse or pink colors.
Red and pink are effective colors to try when the water is slightly muddy. Recommended bait: Road Runner Crappie Thunder in pink or red colors.
Blue and green can be effective in clear water. Recommended bait: Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company Crappie Grubs in blue or green colors.
In winter, natural baitfish colors tend to work well. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Mo’Glo Baby Shad in silver or gold colors.
Darker colors like black and blue can also be effective in winter. Recommended bait: Bobby Garland Slab Slay’r in black and blue color patterns.
Brighter colors like chartreuse and pink can work well in winter in low-light conditions. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Joker in chartreuse or pink colors.
Pearl white is a good color to try in clear water. Recommended bait: Southern Pro Hot Grub in pearl white.
Orange can be effective in stained water conditions. Recommended bait: Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company Crappie Grubs in orange.
Black and chartreuse can be effective in deeper water. Recommended bait: Johnson Beetle Spin in black and chartreuse.
Red and white can be effective in shallow water. Recommended bait: Strike King Mr. Crappie Thunder in red and white.
Fluorescent green and yellow can work well in low-light conditions. Recommended bait: Johnson Beetle Spin in fluorescent green and yellow.
Chartreuse and black can work well in overcast conditions. Recommended bait: Road Runner Crappie Thunder in chartreuse and black.

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