Jig Colors for Every Situation

Color can have a big impact on a jig’s ability to get bites. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler, understanding how to adjust your colors based on water clarity, light or weather conditions will significantly increase your catches when using a jig.

When to Use Each Color Jig

Black & Blue – Low Visibility

Dark colors like blacks or blues work best when there is lower visibility. This could be due to water clarity, light levels, or weather conditions. Dark colors create a silhouette which helps them stand out and be detected.

Green Pumpkin & Bluegill – Natural Bluegill Imitator

Green Pumpkin and Bluegill color jigs work great as natural colors. They both closely mimic Bluegill which can be a major food source for bass, especially in ponds or smaller lakes that don’t have shad.

Craw & Brown – Natural Crawdad Imitator

Craw and brown colors are ideal for bottom contact jigs when you need a natural color. The both resemble crawdads which are high protein meals that bass love to bulk up on.

White & Silver – Natural Shad Imitator

Whites and silvers are ideal for swim jigs as shad imitators. Go more ghosty or silver in high visibility situations and a bolder bright white in lower visibility situations when you need to stand out.

How to Select Jig Color by Water Clarity

A good rule of thumb is that the dirtier water, the bolder you want your jig skirt. Dark colors like black and blue work great to provide a silhouette that stands out in dirtier water. Additional, bright bold colors like chartreuse can also help standout.

In clearer water, more natural colors are preferred as they blend in and appear more natural to the fish. For swim jigs, shad and bluegill colors are ideal depending what bait fish are in the water your fishing. For bottom contact jigs, green pumpkin or browns are great at mimicking crawdads, bugs, or dying baitfish.

Adjusting Skirt Color by Light & Weather Conditions

The amount of light or weather conditions should also influence your choice in skirt color. Early morning or on cloudy days provide lower light conditions which lowers visibility. This allows you to get away with darker colors, even in slightly clearer water.

Strong wind can also change visibility underwater. Heavy water chop on the surface can create a lot of flashing on the surface which can drowned out lighter colors. Darker jigs can help stand out and break up the surface flash.

By understanding the impact of water clarity, light conditions, and wind on the effectiveness of skirt colors, you will be able to increase your chances of catching fish. Whether opting for darker colors or natural tones, the key is to consider the water conditions you are fishing and tailoring the skirt color accordingly.