What colors work for smallmouth in clear water vs tannic water?

Smallmouth carry red- and green-tuned cones like other black bass, so color genuinely registers — and clear water lets them use it. In clear water, natural wins: green pumpkin, goby browns, smelt/shad silvers, and translucent finishes that pass close inspection. In tannic (tea-stained) water, red wavelengths carry best and contrast matters more than realism — think darker silhouettes, chartreuse accents, and baits with more thump so the lateral line shares the work. Sunlight shifts it too: flash and translucence on bright days, solid opaque profiles under clouds.

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