Colors for clear vs. dirty water?
I've heard that the clearer the water the darker the color and dirtier the water the brighter the color. Also heard it the other way around. So I'm a little confused.
I generally use "natural" colors in clearer water, browns, greens & smokey translucent colors to imitate baitfish and crayfish. I don't fish a lot of muddy water, but grew up around High Rock lake, which was often muddy, lots of folks fished colors with black in them, like red shad. I don't have smallmouth closeby (but I hear they are a sucker for bright/fluorescent colors). Here, I will fish floating worms in some really obnoxious colors, even in super clear water, but that's the only real exception for me on not fishing natural colors in clear water.
It is confusing MattA, and there is not automatic answer. Generally speaking I agree with Jason above. Natural colors in clear water. Translucent/natural colors can be very effective in triggering strikes in the clear stuff. In muddy water its all about visibility. I want to use something they can see better. Blacks and browns are often my first choice. I use bright chartuese and white when I see bait fish around. Bluegills and perch have chartreuse and bright colors. If I see them, then I add chartreuse to my baits. If shad are all around, then white is important to me.
