Make 'Em See Red

When my Swagger Tungsten order arrived the other day, it got me to thinkin' about the color red and catching bass. I have always been a fan of adding a red accent to a bait to enhance its appeal to the bass. However, I do have some guiding parameters. Most of the time, I am adding a red accent to a bait fish imitating presentation. And, I am adding the accent to a bait that I am presenting in 6 feet of water or less. Keep in mind, prevailing conditions, such has water clarity and wind, can adjust those parameters on any given day. Why a dept limit of 6 feet? I have read a few studies conducted on the depths at which colors change, turn dark, or disappear. The color red seems to disappear rather quickly, beginning its change around 6 feet. Obviously, gin clear water on a sunny day would change that somewhat. But, to keep things simple, I stick to the 6 feet rule. A few years back, adding red hooks to every bait in your box was "all the rage". While the logic had a solid foundation, it was more of a fad to sell more baits and more hooks. There are many ways to add a red accent to a presentation. Red dye can be a go-to fish catcher. Obviously, a red tungsten weight on a Texas rig is one, as is using a red hook. Adding a red treble to a crankbait is a solid choice, as is is adding a red feathered treble to the rear of a topwater bait. A red trailer on your spinnerbait can turn a bass' head; red strands mixed into a skirt or a red lead spinner blade are sometimes the magic formula. The point is that there are many options. I will caution you to keep this in mind. Don't go overboard with it. A red accent works because it stands out. Too much red just blends in and is much less effective. For example, if you lipless crankbait has red or orange included in its paint scheme, a red hook is not needed. If you are pitching a soft plastic bait to shallow cover using a red tungsten slip sinker, forego using a red hook. Again, keep it simple. If you have never tried adding a little red, give it a shot. If you have, I urge you to try it some more. You likely won't begin loading the boat with trophy bass just because you added a little red to your presentation, but I believe it will get you a few more bites on the average day. And, in a tournament situation, 1 or 2 extra bites can be the difference in cashing a check, or not. Tight lines to all!