Happy Valentine’s Day, Ohio bass lovers! Since today is all about hearts and love, this article will be all about bass LOVING the color red. Let’s explore some ways adding or using the color red will have lovestruck lunkers locked on to your lure.
Why Bass Bite Red Bait
There are two schools of thought on the color red and bass. The first states that red is the first color to disappear under water and will make things less visible. The second is that red is a color that incites aggression (i.e. blood) and bass will instinctively strike. In my experience, using red flake or subtle red in shallower and clearer water does, indeed, make bass bite. As the depth increases, red will degrade, but to what extent? Considering bass eat crawfish, which are reddish in color, not enough to make them invisible.
Crawfish Crush
Speaking of crawfish, let’s talk a little about this Springtime bass delicacy. If you notice a pinkish or reddish hue to the fins, lips or belly of the bass you are catching, they are most likely feeding on crawfish. This is particularly true in the early Spring, when bass are still holding tight to and feeding from the bottom. This is a good time to tie on a crawfish colored crankbait and slow roll it as close to the bottom as you can. Even lethargic, cold bass can’t resist a juicy red crawfish just passing through. Check the sunny shallow flats with a crawfish pattern wake bait, too, in the Spring. I have had some really spectacular bites on these. Oh, what FUN for some early bass bites!
Hooked on Red
One of my favorite subtler method of using the color red is by using red hooks. Red treble hooks may look like a blood stream to a hungry bass. A subtle red flash from a red worm hook or red flake in a stick bait may catch a curious bass’s attention. I love skipping up into sunny shallow water with a Texas-rigged green pumpkin Senko with red flake and slowly swimming it back to me in the Spring. My favorite red worm hook is a Gamakatsu Wide Gap #4 or 5.
Eye See You
Red eyes on hard baits, a red sticker, or red painted spinner bait blade, or a red stripe on the belly are other popular ways of using the color red to attract bass. One of my favorite tricks is to paint the small blade on my spinner bait with a red magic marker. This still allows for the flash from the metal spinner blade, unlike a red painted blade. My spinner baits with holographic red eyes have always been a favorite, also.
While I can’t guarantee using the color red will make bass bite, it is worth adding it in some capacity to your arsenal. Maybe a few red threads in a skirt, or dip your tail into some red colored bait scent. I hope the bass you are fishing for have as much of a love affair with the color red as the ones near me do!
