Here in SE Minnesota we have zero natural lakes. Everything is either a retention pond or a reservoir. Water color is seldom what we can call clear but if we enter a long stretch of dry during the summer and winter we can get water with clarity down to maybe 8 feet but its still going to have some stain to it. The lake I got these fish on is fed by three different branches of a primary river. The largest branch runs thru town right behind the house by about three hundred yards and is influenced by tannic acid from rotting leaves in the hil country forests the wrap around the town. The other two branches that affect the lake come in from the west thru farm country where silt laden water is very common. These two are also heavily stained. For the most part, every bait I fish will have a chartreuse tail. Ans as a rule in the everyday water we see, if the tail isn't there, nothing hits. Which goes to the idea that visibility is down right hyper important.
I make some 2-14" minnow baits in split colors, some without the chartreuse tails and some with. When we do get the clearer water I tend to go in the direction of the split colors that are less vibrant in color and often the crappies will hit without the chartreuse tail. In the usual water thou, that bright tail better be there if fish are expected. The Mississippi River backwaters and river proper are about the same way with the chartreuse tails, from very early spring, thru the summer and right up until ice-up.
Bass in the river backwaters are another story. With the usual silt and stain load in the water they really prefer swim baits with a lot of bright silver glitter in the bellies and tails. Watermelon with heavy red glitter in it is a super good color on top of the silver glitter as is a heavy blue/purple glitter top. Fished on weighted hooks high in the water he Quakin Shad in these colors is absolutely our best. The 4.5" Swim Toad and the 4" Caney Creek Croaker are dynamic in watermelon red with the silver glitter belly too, especially when fished on bare 3/0 wide gap and swum over the weed mats. I have also done some 4.5" Rippers in the silver belly blue/purple top and the Watermelon red flake. These will be fished on 6/0 hooks, maybe weighted, maybe bare hook. Gotta try'em to know what is best.
