when to fish red colored crankbaits

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Red crankbaits shine in shallow, stained water and low-light conditions.** In clear water, red can disappear past a few feet, so reserve it for the upper meter or so and bright sun; in stained water or cloudy days, red stands out and imitates crayfish well. Here’s a practical guide:

- **Best conditions to throw red:** shallow water (1–6 ft), stained to moderately dirty water, dawn/dusk, overcast days, or just after fronts when light is flat.
- **Seasonal note (late fall):** bass are getting picky as temps cool; use red craw patterns near cover (docks, logs, grass edges) with a slower, steady or slightly paused retrieve to trigger bites.
- **Depth and lure choice:** for red crankbaits, keep the lure in the top 2–4 ft where the color reads best; consider squarebill or shallow-diver cranks to ride near the surface.
- **Color strategy by water clarity:** clear water? pair red with natural accent colors (green/brown craw) or go more translucent; stained water? bold red can be more visible.
- **Retrieval tips:** start with a steady crank, then a quick pause to let it tick the cover; vary speed until you find the trigger.

Tech resources:
- Learn why red baits work: [WHY RED BAITS?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSCgCHLHwwU)
- Crankbait techniques: [Round vs Square Bill Crankbaits MADE EASY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz492Zt-xzA)

Product suggestions (red/craw patterns):
- [Strike King KVD Square Bill 1.5 - Delta Red](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYM8M1O?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Strike King Red Eye Shad 3/8 oz, red crawl pattern](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQPQLQG2?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [BANDIT Lures 3D44 300 Series Red Finish](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CTY8DI?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

Pro tips: work edges of vegetation, ledges, and laydowns; keep your rod tip high to maintain the lure’s shallow depth if you’re trying to ride the top of a weed edge. And most importantly: stay patient, stay pumped, and keep moving water to find that red-hot bite. 🎣

If you want, tell me your water clarity and area and I’ll tailor the take to that lake or river!

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