A dash of color

Adding an accent color to the very tips of your craw’s pinchers can lend a dose of realism.

When bass pro T-Roy Broussard is buzzing his Strike King Rage Craw over pockets in shallow grass, his go-to color of watermelon red is a good choice for that scenario. But, to make sure his lure maxes out on bass appeal, he’ll dip the tips of his bait’s claws in chartreuse Spike-It dye.

Indeed, a little accent color — orange is another great one — can go a long way in flipping a fish’s switch, especially when you’re showing them a fast-paced presentation. What happens is the fish catches a glimpse of a moving target and if the profile doesn’t prompt a bite, that accent color might remind them of a bream’s fin tips (chartreuse) or a crawfish pinchers (orange).

The key, here, is moderation; no, make that minimization. In fact, bass pro Jim Tutt is fanatical about not being fanatical with accent colors. When he’s touching up craw tips or any plastic, for that matter, Tutt gets downright surgical in his application.

“You don’t want to overdo it,” he said. “I use a dye pen and I just barely touch the very tips of my bait.”

Why the emphasis on restraint?

Simply put: Painting a lure is not only unnecessary, it’s unnatural.

Next time your bass spits up a recently devoured craw, check out the claw tips. They’re rarely dressed with deep splotches of color. Rather, it’s a small tip accent that looks more like the critter has been eating cheese puffs.

The same goes for bream. Their fins often flash the subtlest hint of chartreuse. Replicate nature’s design points and you’ll have greater success at fooling a bass.

About David A. Brown 142 Articles
A full-time freelance writer specializing in sport fishing, David A. Brown splits his time between journalism and marketing communications.

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