Every Bass Angler Needs to Consider This

[@562handsomemike]

Thx!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@rocketsurgeon1746]

You are quickly becoming one of my top 3 bass channels. Love the science :)

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I find it so interesting.

[@Rooster0529]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors and…now you’re a scientist 😉

[@cmb9238]

Accusing my French or any other language you f-- n are perfect! And spot on!!!

[@cmb9238]

Sorry excuse

[@chrischrist7982]

Awesome thanks

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@andersjohansson3866]

Color is interesting.. but in reality baitfish do not changes colors.. 😊 Grate channel!

[@Nate_Higgins]

Man. That's a great question.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I will definitely keep experimenting this season and see what happens.

[@chrisshelton3314]

Great video steve i am in fla will try that

[@kevinharrigan2727]

I’ve noticed in my local pond that Texas rigged white trick worms absolutely crushes. From my experience I think it just contrasts more from the vegetation on the bottom, whereas for example green pumpkin looks camouflaged in the water. I think white might be one of the most underrated colors out there, it just straight up works. I’ve started replacing some of my green pumpkin with brighter lures cuz it puts in the work!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Love it!

[@adrianthayer4591]

I'm fishing a lake on the south coast of Oregon. A couple of days ago it was sunny and a bit breezy in the late afternoon. Real good water clarity. I caught a large mouth with the Yum Dinger in that pink bubblegum sparkle or whatever it is. Texas rigged with a 1/8oz bullet wt

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Nice! Thanks for sharing that. I appreciate it.

[@cg-keuka]

It’s nice to see that you’re wearing a PFD. Good for you. Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I do my best to try and remember.

[@cg-keuka]

First time watching your channel and it’s really nice that you respond to all of your followers. Reading the responses are as good as the videos.

[@cherokeelakeguy2386]

Summer craw color is an awesome mix! When I want a little of both!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is a great color! Thank you for adding this for everyone. I appreciate it.

[@garyhanna2388]

Going to try it

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Good luck!

[@gospideygo8781]

We were at a lake recently fishing spawners. They were up in the trees that had a good spawning bottom. Visibility was about 6 to 8 feet. Wind was light and full sun. Largemouths were hammering Yamamoto Goby colored weightless wacky worm. Got 1 on a 3/8oz PB&J football jig with a Big TRD PB&J as a trailer. We tried white other stuff - Big TRD, lil TRD, various white minnow imitators on a drop shot. All got ignored. Crappie and bluegill in the lake. Hitch also and they were spawning.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for sharing all this!

[@ryanbuckley3314]

When I'm on home waters and it's a slow day, but I know the place holds fish at that time, I almost try to hide from the fish. The fish know you're there, usually. A little fleck maybe, but camouflaged basically. Green pumpkin, browns, whatever blends in.

[@GoingMod]

I think color/contrast matter as visibility is based on conditions thus the most visible nature color would be ideal but at the same time too over fished areas usually call for changing it up an more unnatural colors and way to fish. haha once again "it depends on conditions". I really apricate how you pose questions and display facts about what you find. This sparks lots of testing when I fish personally. Thanks as always Steve!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@BassHead1322]

I believe bass are opportunistic feeders. If you can see it from a longer distance you can attract more attention. There also competitive so interest in more than one might cause one to bite. We’ve all seen bass following a bass we have on a hook

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for adding this!

[@troyreynolds7943]

The glow is spot on. I throw white or chart/white swim jig and white trailer. In stained water with sun up high they reflect just like shad flicker in the water.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I love the shad flicker comparison. Thanks for adding this!

[@edpelkey7798]

If there are no bites changes are warranted! With a senko there are a couple of small things that can help get bit. To a baby bass colored senko a small splash of black can on the tail makes the senko look like a small bass. You can rub the senko it will dull the colors where it can make it look injured. Add a small glass rattle.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

These are all excellent. I love this list. Thank you!

[@tubejim101]

Always shocked how straight black senko does, even in dark water, and low light.

[@matthewwoodard9810]

Dude. This. I like using white, too, but I laugh every time I hear someone say something to the effect of they need something bright or loud in low light or the bass can’t find their bait. I have caught soooo many fish on a black Senko or jelly worm, dirty water, at night , no moon, dead sticking it. Trust me, they can find your lure !!

[@MarkVincent-h7q]

Up here...the Pennsylvania/Maryland area...there's a sayin', "If it ain't chartreuse, what's the use." I NEVER go witho youut chartreuse in the bag, Tid bit,we started "dippin'" the head of the worm, the part closest to the weight we'd use, versus the tail. Try it, see what happens...tight lines, God bless us all...✌️

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will. Thanks!

[@DilloanGraham]

Look man. Real veiwer. Real KZbin watcher trying to get better. Addiction heavier than any here. I'll admit. I've been heavy into TYF. Tactical bassin. Ext. Ur Real. Down to earth. Tyler is my guy. Mut ur the man. U get real with it and explain things outside the box. Learned alot fro. U in just 5 videos. Killer info. Keep it up man. For real. Love the strike king hat. Bitzy bug jig for the win. U know I'm right

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! The bitsy bug is a definite go-to! I appreciate you watching.

[@rhodesianhunter9360]

So I've mostly fish rivers for smallmouth and white is the color for dark tannin to muddy water. When its clear it doesnt seem to do as good as natural colored baits. But I've recently started fishing a clear resivour more often for large mouth. I havent dailed it in yet as far as colors, but im starting to notice white seems to do better in the clear lake for large mouth than it does in clear rivers for smallmouth.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is all great info! Thank you for sharing this.

[@kerryschallon8879]

Interesting video. Im going to have to experiment with this too.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Good luck! Let me know how it goes for you.

[@bxcloud104]

When I watch the Japanese anglers, they tend to go brighter/high contrast colors. Their waters are pretty clear and of course highly pressure. So maybe they're on something? Which they tend to be.

[@Sisyphus317]

Bubble gum is a bait I use for dirty water but clear. Hmmm might try it

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Let me know how it goes for you! Thanks for watching.

[@jc-2120]

My go to bait on N and E Texas lakes including Fork is a Chartreuse and Pepper ring fry. Always produces for me.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Nice!

[@LowBrowFishing]

I have a feeling you already know where I stand on this. I rarely "match the hatch". I feel that in pressured waters especially, we need to stand out from the background. Today, for example, I was fishing water with 4-5 feet of visibility with a light green stain and using a plum/black color. I caught several in that 2 pound range pretty quickly and they choked it. No doubter bites for sure. But when I switched over to green pumpkin, all I could muster was a couple of weak bites from one dink and a bluegill. Those fish just wouldn't commit. My fishery is exceptionally pressured but the area I fish I generally have all to myself because I don't think a lot of guys like to flip hydrilla or skip under flooded brush. Ugh...I'll stop before I write a novel in your comment section. But suffice to say, I could talk about this topic for hours, lol!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

When I was putting this together I was thinking about you. I knew exactly where you were on this one. Lol. I have to say I was quite pleased with the outcome.

[@LowBrowFishing]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors Welcome to the dark side, my friend! Lol!

[@joshuamurphy8270]

White, white and chartreuse, chartreuse and white. And chartreuse has always out produced most of the time for. Still a time and place for other color's. I have found that white especially for me out produces by far.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for adding this!

[@andywest6113]

You might want to check out a book called what fish see. By Collin. Kageyama starting on page 158

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Will do. Thank you!

[@davehuggins5777]

Great video and observations, Steve! Appreciate you!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks so much!

[@somewhereinsd362]

I just caught 19 yesterday in gin clear water with a 1/2 and 1/2 bright pink and orange 7 inch worm, biggest was 4 lb 13 oz all fish were caught in less than 4 ft with cloudy conditions...there is something too this steve, maybe not every day but at times its what they want... great video by the way..

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That's awesome. Thank you for sharing this!

[@jholl7339]

Funny you should post this, as I have been gravitating toward lighter colored lures, as of late, for this very reason. I remember a video (and I'm certain it was yours) where stickbaits were tested for visibility under different water conditions. They key takeaway for ME was how much the white lure stuck out, even over the black one. Now, my goto for several years now, has been smaller paddletail swimbaits. I ALWAYS make sure I have a supply of white ones, on hand. And, recently, when post rain conditions still had the local river looking dirty, unless it had chartreuse on it, or was white, it wasn't getting bit. When I ran out of my favorite TRD color, Coppertreuse, I had to resort to picking up a larger lure, the paddletail, mostly because I had a stock of them in white, and I new I could count on that "glow" to cut through the stain. And, as I had hoped, it didn't disappoint.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing this. I did a color test underwater 2 summers ago. Thanks again for sharing all this. I really appreciate it.

[@questor_xl]

I'll start with high contrast and experiment with other factors such as depth, speed, cadence, etc before switching colors. Thanks for the inciteful video. 👍

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing this! I appreciated it.

[@erniebrightfishing]

So are you saying you start with whites and then try depth speed cadence before switching to say a green p if none of that seems to work. Thanks

[@questor_xl]

@@erniebrightfishing yes. White, pearlescent white, chartreuse. It depends on the light level and water clarity. The "glow" Steve talked about really is "a thing". Edit: Don't forget black can also be high contrast. It just doesn't "glow".

[@erniebrightfishing]

@@questor_xl I've heard of it before. But if I'm being honest I shy away from whites and charts. Unless it's a trailer for like a swim jig or spinnerbait etc. I tend to do what everyone else does and stick to g.p. brown blacks etc. Natural as possible. But my idiot mind not thinking white is natural too. But I only utilize it for bed fishing or trailers. I'll re-examine my approach now. Thanks man for your input.

[@questor_xl]

@@erniebrightfishing black is another high contrast color I don't often share. 😉

[@mikethetoolman8776]

all white bandit 100-200 is my go-to color and lure on most local lakes and does very well usually! white lures work great around here

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Those bandits are great little lures. Thanks for sharing this.

[@pensnut08]

Want to have some fun (if you haven't tried it already)? Try throwing a Zoom Crazy Chrome Super Fluke.... And hang on.... Clear water, stained water... I haven't thrown it in down right mud, so I can't comment on that.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Love that color name. Thanks!

[@rickvann3489]

Supposedly bass see white and chartreuse the same. My rule is there are no locked in a box way to fish. Fishing pressure has always made me go outside the box. I invite techniques like carolina rigging jerk baits.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

One time years ago I was fishing a chartreuse spinnerbait, got a backlash, and while I was picking it out I looked in the water. It looked white. I pulled it out and sure enough it was chartreuse. I have never forgotten that.

[@eddyd.105]

Awesome content. I'll have to give this a try at my local mud pool with about 2" visibility.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Good luck!

[@gpg311]

Hey Steve - thanks for all the great content! Have you had a chance to use your JigRig now in the warmer weather?

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I was going to the other day and didn’t. I definitely will though!

[@standingbear998]

regardless of color first it has to look alive, then color comes in. being seen is big won't make um bite it alone.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for sharing!

[@cjfishtales2238]

I'm convinced bass vision is drastically different from ours. I think they have what I call a pixelated or fuzzy view of objects. It's nature's tradeoff. They can see better in low light and cloudy water but they don't see things in clear focus as we do. To me, it explains why baits like the yamatanuki or scat seem to work better than more realistic baits. At least at times. I suspect you're on to something regarding contrast. Anything that fits the fuzzy silhouette of bait gets their attention. Contrast probably enhances their ability to pick it up in their field of vision. I also think they use their lateral line to hone in on something. But at some point they have to see it to bite it. Finally I think bass are extremely opportunistic. Sometimes we describe that as curious and maybe they are. Either way, a bright color would seem to encourage that instinct to probe and inspect.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

They sure love to inspect and check stuff out. It amazes me watching them just how they investigate stuff in their world. Thank you for adding this for everyone!

[@bradr.7249]

That is a great experiment Steve. I have always gone natural in clear water. There have been times though when I got skunked. I have thrown a white finesse swimbait before in different colors. It does seem thought that the brighter ones get bit more. Great underwater footage of those baits.!

[@Woefman911]

I am with you Steve, I was terrified to throw what I call loud colors for largemouth. I also hear say 50% of pros say keep it simple on colors. Those that keep it simple do it for confidence maybe or they cover more water in my mind. Then on my little lake it took me years to figure out good colors. I even hired a bait painter from Soddy Daisy Tenn. My home lake has green dye in it to keep algae down. I never been skunked in a boat on this lake but over years discovered a color I normally would not use and bam. I took that principle into soft plastics and tend to prevail. I too prefer natural but it is unreal to me that color can make difference. So glad for your videos and asking our opinion.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

This is great. Thank you for adding all this!

[@erniebrightfishing]

Much like you I tend to shy away from the chartreuse and whites. The only time I usually use a solid white color is bed fishing where I can tell if the bass has it or not. Maybe I should incorporate this more into my fishing. Here lately I've been experimenting more with shad patterns but that's the scale pattern with silvers blacks violets and blues. Ya know like shad do in the sun when you take them.out of water. I guess it's time to get some white. My wife's gonna dislike you cause I'm saying Steve told me to hun. Lol. Great video. I can never get enough Steve Rodgers Outdoors. I love it. Thanks for all the education my friend.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Your wife and my wife would have a lot to talk about. Lol. Thanks for sharing all this for everyone. I appreciate it!

[@henniestapelberg448]

Hi Steve, thanks for a great video once again.! I'm from South Africa and we don't have an shad as baite fish yet a white spinner is my favourite lure to use so I feel you have got a good point.!! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is a great lure! I really need to get over there.

[@kanadianelf]

I've caught more fish on a chartreuse curly tail grub than all other lures combined. It has never failed to pull in fish for me.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

The curly tail is a tremendous lure that I often think a lot of anglers forget about. Thank you for sharing this.

[@rodneychandler82]

Some of my best fishing and biggest bass have come off white Z 2's with lavender top fished on light mojo set-up. Literally cast for cast moving from point to point . Man made reservoir with steep sides and little structure

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Those lavender tops on those lures is a great-looking combination. Thank you for sharing this!

[@henrywitecki]

my local lake has 20 Species of Earthworms, 56 species of snails, and around 10,000 species of insect, you never know what they will go for.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That really puts it in perspective. Wow! Thank you.

[@martywilladsen4559]

Because I fish a lot of ponds (therefore no shad) I never throw white baits in them. You’ve really got me rethinking my approach. Great video as always.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Makes me rethink some things too. I appreciate you watching.

[@terranced5802]

I fish a lot of places that don’t have shad or crappie and the bass will still bite a white swim jig good.

[@fliperotchy]

I feel visibility is critical for bass to be able to locate the bait, without a doubt. However, a lethargic bass may not be interested in swimming over to a lure, even if they can see it easily. We still need to consider their mood.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video, Steve!!! Thanks for sharing those tips and they make sense. Will have to give it a try for sure!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Have a terrific evening.

[@liferelation]

I use a opposites approach.I throw a black or dark color for a half hour, then switch to white or light color in same area for another half hour. The winner stays on unless the sunlight or shade changes drastically.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing your approach!

[@bernietmusic]

Another great video, thanks! I find myself sticking to my confidence colors most of the time, ckear water natural colors, stained to muddy darker colors, especially with soft plastics, confidence is critical. However I've had great success with bright pink, orange, white many times on super clear water smallmouth. On pre spawn smallmouth really shallow, not just bedding smallmouth. Something about a bright color that gets them riled up. One of the benefits of using the bright color in a stick bait, fluke or even a floating Rapala is that I will fish it much slower with less action or manipulation because I can see it, and I like the way it looks. Its like watching a bobber and waiting for it to disappear.....lol. Best suited for target fishing submerged visible wood or docks often for me. I needed the reminder to mix up the bright colors more often!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I find myself fishing bright colors slower too. Excellent observation!

[@shannonkirby9295]

Hey, Steve, pray you are well and it is great to see ya. I usually use darker colors cause my water is chocolate milk. Still raining and lightening every day. 😂. Be safe

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! You too. I haven’t fished water that dirty for some time, but I plan on spending way more time on rivers this year so I’m sure it coming.

[@Rooster0529]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors you still need to see what bass do after a hard rain in the Summer like you did this Spring.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

@@Rooster0529 yes I do!

[@kidiraq8381]

I ABSOLUTELY cannot catch anything on a white lure of any kind. Greens, browns, black, pink, purples, chartreuse, Merthiolate, watermelon anything. “Magic Flake” anything. “Candy anything” ect. But never one white. I’ve been trying for 5 years on several lakes. Including the one I live on. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Definitely not a swim jig. Never caught anything on any color swim jig.

[@Cornelius798]

The only white that works for me is a spinnerbait, but white & chartreuse.

[@kidiraq8381]

@@Cornelius798 You know, your right. I forgot I just caught a bass last month with a chartreuse and white spinner bait. But it also has clear strands. So just a few white. But I guess that counts? Lol. God Bless!

[@Cornelius798]

@@kidiraq8381 definitely counts!

[@davidwilliams1805]

Great video with more great information buddy! Thanks as always for sharing and making us think! #SteveRogersOutdoors rocks!

[@maxcole3930]

I can say I've never tried this before, I usually go to my usual green pumpkin, black/blue, I will give it a try throwing bright, glowing bait see how it turn out. I do agree that the contrast is probably more important than the color in most situations. It makes sense to me

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

[@Rooster0529]

I have always used white (not much chartreuse) when I can see it a few feet down. I have even used it when cranking deep as long as the water isn’t too dirty. I find a lot more white with some blue making its way into my bag these days. I primarily fish pretty clear to ultra clear water on my home lake.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate it.

[@tonyb-50]

Seems like the easier to see, the more likely to bite, but bass fishermen for 50 years telling us differently 🤷‍♂️

[@christianentertainmentoutdoors]

White and Black forever.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Those two will get the job done! Thanks for watching.

[@MJ_Bass]

Imo, profile and action is far more important than color. I think bass can sense our lures from a long way off through their lateral lines more than the sight of it. Had too many good days I’ve ran out of the “perfect color” on a certain bait, switched colors and the bite rate didn’t really change.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for sharing this! I appreciate it.

[@kennethcorbin7317]

You know i dont have a all white worm in my tackle. I fish a lot of clear lakes down here in Central Georgia. I guess its because of the luck i have with darker colors than lighter colors. Maybe i need to pick up some white ones.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

The majority of my stuff is dark too, but I figured I am going to do a little experimenting this year. Thanks for sharing this!

[@ohyousooners]

Color always seems like a lesser factor for me. Most of the time (on my water) it seems like color does not matter. I can throw greens, browns, blacks, purples and they eat them all. Technique and presentation seems to be the far greater factor in catching. For example, my fish will ignore spinnerbaits and chatterbaits all day long, but can't get enough of the drop shot, no matter what color I throw.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing this. That drop shot is crazy good. Can’t believe it took me so long to learn it years ago. Felt like I was the last one on the planet to figure it out.

[@boonet6896]

Hey Steve great content as always. Since you are asking for comment. I am not a biologist by any mean but been fishing and learning from all good fishing outlets like yours for years. I think when you have content related to bass vision , you focus too much on how our eyes see them. Bass has very different rods and cones in their eyes than humans. Bass also has a vision about 5 times better than us. That could mean they can see ultra low contrast , ultra low light etc. , which makes the experience we have with our own lens irrelevant !!!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Very true! Thank you for sharing all this. I appreciate it.

[@derpfish1863]

Fish got them pale bellies so its definitely not out of the ordinary for a bass to see white on prey

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That's always been my though too. Thank you for watching and sharing!

[@tonyb-50]

Any conclusions yet?

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I have had really good luck with the bright colors in about any conditions. This mainly has been against a heavily vegetated background