Every year, in the late winter and early spring, anglers across the country rig up their rods, line them across the front deck, and regardless of what lure is tied on, there’s usually one common theme…. the color red. In the late winter and early spring, bass anglers utilize various shades of red and orange across a number of different hard baits in particular… crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, Chatterbaits, even blade baits.
But why? Is it just a myth passed down by old-timers, or is there actually hard science behind the red phenomenon? Let’s dive into why red-hued lures are the undisputed kings of late February and March, especially in the South, but they even seem to outproduce other colors up North too.
The Red Craw Science
In late February, lakes in the South are in a state of transition. Water temperature creeps from the mid-40s into the low-50s, and that’s important because crawfish begin to emerge from their winter burrows. In many southern watersheds, these crawfish, especially the prevalent Red Swamp Crawfish species, undergo a physiological change during their first spring molt, turning a deep orange or “blood” red color. Bass, which have been lethargic all winter, recognize this high-protein snack as an optimal choice for the pre-spawn gorge.
But what about northern crawfish, or other species? As it turns out, many crawfish species aren’t red at all, but rather more natural shades of brown, tan, olive, with the occasional spots or shades of orange and red (the Rusty Crayfish, which is invasive in a number of northern waters, is generally brown with some “rust”-colored hues), and sometimes even black, blue, purple or white. Many don’t change colors either, so there’s really not a lot of science to support red baits outside of the South. But if that is the case, why do northern bass anglers still tie on a red crankbait in the spring?
The “Visible Spectrum”
In many places, water in February and March is notoriously stained or “muddy” due to spring rains. The color red is the first to disappear in the water column as depth increases, which means that bass can’t even see the color red in deep water (anything more than about 6 feet deep depending on clarity). However, in the shallow, murky water where pre-spawn bass move up to feed, red provides a high-contrast silhouette. To a bass looking up through stained water, a red crankbait looks like a pulsing, living target that stands out better than natural greens or browns. And bass can see red hues with more detail than humans do. This explains why some red lures maybe outperform others even though the colors look really similar to us.
Just A Coincidence?
Honestly, the science isn’t very clear on why bass seem to eat a red craw-colored bait in the late winter and early spring, but most anglers in the South, and many in the North still swear by it. Personally, I have a lot of success with red colors after ice out up here in Wisconsin, but I don’t see any bright red crawfish. I also have a ton of success with black and blue colors, even in exceptionally clear water.
My hunch is that it is a little bit of everything all working together. In the South in particular, they have more red crawfish, but I also think prespawn fish just tend to be hungrier, move up shallow, and can see that red really well in that shallow dirty water. Plus, if so many anglers recommend using it, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy… if we all use it every year, we’re gonna say how well it works and more anglers will follow suit. Does it really outperform, or is it just tradition at this point? Maybe both.
All I can say is that every angler fishing on Guntersville in the past month, in both the Bassmaster Elites and the MLF Bass Pro Tour have had some kind of red crankbait and/or red Chatterbait tied on. And in my own personal experience up north, it just seems to work… so that being said, here’s a few of my favorite red baits for the late winter/early spring bass season.
The “Big Three” Red Lures
As mentioned above, there are really 3 main types of baits that anglers generally prefer to throw this time of year, and ones that seem to work even more in shades of red: Chatterbaits, lipless, and regular crankbaits… let’s break down some of my favorites for each, and which colors I like.
Lipless Crankbaits:
A lipless crankbait, AKA a Rat-L-Trap, is commonly used to trigger reaction strikes by ripping it through the grass, but it’s certainly not exclusive to grass. You can fish it around rip rap, chunk rock or clay banks, and like most of these baits, it generally will excel with a little stain on the water, or in low-light and/or windy conditions.
Berkley Jack 6 – 1/2 oz. – $11.99
Colors: Firetail Green Craw, Special Red Craw, Ghost Red Gill
Chatterbaits:
Another one that excels in the grass, Chatterbaits are a staple in the early season, and a great way to cover water as the thump of the blade can draw fish to bite. Much like a trap, it can also be fished near hard structure, and also does better in stained water, or with low-light and wind.
Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer – 1/2 oz. – $19.99
Colors: Fire Craw, TW Spring Craw, Hite’s Hot Craw
Z-Man Chatterbait Elite EVO – 1/2 oz. – $9.99
Colors: Lava Craw, Bama Craw,
Trailer: Rapala Crush City Freeloader 4.25″ – $6.49
Colors: Red Craw
Crankbait:
A number of different crankbaits can work this time of year, but I’m more partial to a flat-sided crank and that subtle, tighter vibration, especially for cold, pressured water. Fish it along hard banks, channel swings, chunk rock, clay, and/or steeper banks.
Berkley Frittside 5 Crankbait – $12.99
Colors: Spring Craw, Special Red Craw, Brown Craw
The “Red Craw” theory isn’t just a marketing gimmick to sell more plastic… it just works. There may something to try and match the seasonal molt of the crawfish, specifically in the South, but it could also be about the physics of light in the water. Or maybe it’s just become common practice these days and that’s why we all think it works.
Whatever the reason is, I can guarantee we’re gonna see a whole bunch of “red” at Lake Martin this week, on the next stop of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
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