what lures to use

Question
I fish at a murky lake that has a lot of crappie and catfish. People tell me that there are real lunker bass in there but I just dont know what lures or colors to use. The water clarity is probably five feet. what lures and colors of lures should i use to catch these largemouth

Answer
Hi Gabe,
There are a lot of factors that dictate the lure and color selection.  Some of these are weather, water temperature, water clarity and structure.  Since you are asking specifically about the selection of lures I've pasted a couple of my magazine articles below.  Hopefully these will answer some of your questions.
If there are further questions about this or anything else, just drop me a line.
Best of fishing,
Dan

Basic Bass Kit

A class of bass angler that falls somewhere between the first timer and the somewhat experienced is often looking to expand into the sport a bit farther. Walking into a tackle shop full of the latest fish catching devices can be very confusing to this person. They need a 揵asic bass kit? without spending a lot of money, and don't know where to start.
By the time an angler reaches this point they most likely have some rod and reel combinations with which they feel comfortable. In the future there may be some changes made, but for now let's concentrate on the basic 搆it?to attract old Mr. Bass to the line.
First off a tackle box is needed that will last for a while with the inevitable addition of more tackle. This is where the soft side series of boxes, with wraps and stowaways work well.
There are three primary (spinnerbait, crankbait and plastic worm), and four secondary lure groups (jig, topwater, pork frog, tube and grub). The primary lures are the first thing to purchase, but the secondary lures should not be long in following.

The following is an easy reference list of lures by types, styles, sizes and colors:

SPINNERBAIT

Style:         Single and Tandem Colorado
Size:   1/8 and 3/8 ounce
Colors:   White, Chartreuse, Chartreuse/White and Black (if only one color is in the budget go with the combo-color of Chartreuse/White)

CRANKBAIT

Style:   Shallow and Deep Diving
Size:      1/4 ounce
Colors:   Fire Tiger, Bone/Orange, Tennessee Shad and Crawfish

Style:   Rat-L-Trap
Size:            ?and ? ounce
Colors:   Fire Tiger, Chrome/Black Back and Silver Shad

PLASTIC WORM

Style:            Ripple/Ribbon Tail and Straight Tail
Size:      4 and 7 inch
Colors:   Black, Watermelon, Grape and Pumpkin/Pepper

While not an absolute primary basic, crawdad worms should be considered. The best all around size is 4-inch in colors of black/blue flake/blue claws, black/red flake/chartreuse claws and pumpkin-pepper/orange claws.

JIG

Style:   Skirted
Size:      1/4 or 5/16 ounce
Colors:   Black/Blue, Black/Chartreuse and Pumpkin-Pepper/Orange



TOPWATER

Style:   Stick (Spook)
Size:      4 to 5 inch
Colors:   Black, Shad and Chrome/Black Back

Style:   Spoon
Size:      Not Applicable
Colors:   Black, Frog, and Chrome

Style:   Weedless (Rat)
Size:      Not Applicable
Colors:   Black, Chartreuse and White

Style:   Jerk Worm, although this is not strictly topwater
Size:      4 inch
Colors:   Shad, Watermelon Seed, and Pearl or White.

PORK FROG

Style:   Uncle Josh
Size:      No. 11 (3 inch)
Colors:   Black/Blue, Black/Chartreuse and Brown/Orange or Brown
TUBE
Style:           Tube
Size:             3 and 4 inch
Colors:         Black neon, Watermelon/Chartreuse, and Pumpkin-Pepper

GRUB

Style:   Curl Tail
Size:       2 and 4 inch
Colors:   Black, White, Smoke and Pumpkin-Pepper

As was said at the first, all of this is the basics. Start with the primary basics and expand to the secondary. From there experiment, ask questions of friends and people at sports shows/in-store promotions, tune in to television and radio fishing shows, search websites and ask questions on site boards, such as found at www.bassinusa.com or www.allexperts.com, and read articles in various publications. All of this will help you grow to a more productive bass angler, while enlarging that 揵asic bass kit?
  If you have any questions, contact me through the Dan's Fish 慛' Tales website at www.dansfishntales.com.
  Until next time, get out on the water, and enjoy a great day of fishing.

DAN'S FISH 慛' TALES
揋etting Started In Bass?br>   During the past few months several questions have been placed to me in regards
to getting started in bass fishing.  After fishing for many years, and taking experience for
granted, these questions trigger a person to realize that there is always someone who is
new to the sport.  So this article will try to briefly summarize all  of the questions that
have been asked.
  Most of the questions mentioned having small budgets with which to work.
Because of this the people want to get the most for their money, while having only one or
two rod/reel combinations, with a few basic lures, and find places to fish that don't
require a lot of travel, or full size bass boats.
  When starting with a small selection of everything it is important to select items
that will cover several tasks.
  For rods and reels it is best to get the best quality possible.  Going too cheap on
these items can turn a person quickly against the sport.  
  The style of reel depends on the person's experience.  Someone who has never
fished, or has very little experience, will most likely want to start with a spincast model.
If this is the case, go with one of the best.  These reels have low retrieve ratios, which
really don't hurt, unless there is a situation where a lure needs a very fast retrieve.
Accuracy isn't the best with spincast, nor is the drag system the greatest - especially on
the cheaper models.
  A person that has more experience, and/or wants to step up to another level, will
want to consider a casting reel.  For this I like the old dependable Garcia products, with
the C3 series being a good all around reel.  This person may also want a spinning reel for
lighter lure presentations, and for this I recommend the old Mitchell 300 series.
  It is best to team any of these reels with a sensitive rod, which means graphite, and
the IM6 and IM7 versions are the best.  A medium action, 6 feet long trigger style rod is
the middle of the road type of product, which will team well with the spincasting and
casting reels.  For the spinning, use a 6 to 6 1/2 feet medium/light action.  In all cases, the
Berkley Lightning Rod series is a good place to start.
  Line is the next consideration.  Again, we are looking at a middle of the road area,
and for this a good quality 12 pound test for the casting, 10 pound test for spincasting,
and 8 pound test for spinning should fill the demand.  Don't go to the off brand, bargain
bulk spools for this part of the equipment.  Remember, the only thing between your rod
and the fish is the line.  This brings up another important point - remember to retie often,
and especially after the line is pulled through any abrasive area, or damage is noticed.  I
check the first three feet of my line on almost every cast when flipping and pitching, and
at least every third cast when using spinnerbaits or crankbaits in open water.
  There are many tackle boxes, but for a beginner it is not necessary to go overboard
and get the biggest thing in the shop.  A soft pack series, such as Tackle Logic with Stow
Away hard boxes and soft wraps, that has some room for expansion can work well, or a
medium size hard plastic, like a Plano 1234 or 777 Guide Series, which has
compartments for holding a wide variety of lures will work well.
  Now that the tackle box is selected, it is time to fill it with a few items.  With this
a person can start getting carried away, as it is like 揳 kid in a candy shop? so try to stay
focused on the very basic lures, and work along as experience allows.
  Here is a very basic kit:
Spinnerbaits - 1/4 ounce, skirted, single spin (white, chartreuse and black);  1/8 and
1/4 ounce Beetle Spin (white and chartreuse).

Crankbaits - 1/4 ounce, rattling, lipless - such as Rat-L-Trap (chrome/black back and
shad); 1/4 ounce shallow and deep diving - such as Baby N series (shad, firetiger and
crawdad).

Plastic Worms - 6 inch, ribbon tail style (black, watermelon, purple and
pumpkinseed)

Tubes - 4 inch (black neon, watermelon/chartreuse and pumpkinseed)

Jig Combinations - 1/4 ounce, skirted (black/blue, black/chartreuse/green,
brown/black/orange or pumpkinseed) with a plastic frog trailer - such as Ninja Claw
(black neon and pumpkinseed)

Crawdad Worms - 3 and 4 inch - such as Salt Craw (black/blue, black/chartreuse,
watermelon/chartreuse, and pumpkinseed/orange).  The 3 inch size can be used as a
trailer with the jig.

Jerk Worms - 5 inch (white and watermelon)  This is not necessarily considered basic,
but it is easy to fish, and can produce a lot of fish, especially if fishing a smaller 揻arm
pond?type body of water.

Hooks - 2/0 and 3/0 offset worm hook and Kale bend - such as XGap and Fat Gap,
and 3/0 and 4/0 Copperhead style.  It may also be suggested to use some of the
Bleeding Bait style in the Fat Gap and Copperhead hooks.  Use the offset hooks for
plastic worms, Kale bend for tubes and worms, and Copperhead for jerk worms.

Worm Weights - 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 ounce.  Always use the lightest weight
possible, but be sure to keep it heavy enough to stay in contact with the fish holding
structure.

  There are many other lures, as mentioned before, but these will give an angler a
good starting arsenal.
  The best way to start learning how to use all of these items is to go fishing as
much as possible, and the best way to go fishing is with a friend who is experienced in the
sport.  They can teach a lot in a short period of time.  However, if you are the teacher,
remember these folks are beginners, and as such, need things shown and explained.  So
don't plan on going about your fishing as usual, or staying from sunrise to sunset.
  As the teacher it is a good idea to select a spot with plenty of bass.  They don't
need to be 搇unkers? just enough fish for plenty of action so the student can get the feel
for his tackle.  Some of the best places are private lakes, strip pits and ponds.
  A big benefit for the 搕eacher?is that this will allow him/her to set back and
review their own techniques, and see how well they may work for others.  There is
something very rewarding to see a person catch a bass on a lure or technique that you
have taught them to use.
  For the beginner it is advised to ask as many questions as needed, and to have the
friend demonstrate the technique or rigging as many times as needed.
  Other ways to learn more is by reading books and magazines, attending seminars,
searching the Internet and joining a club.  The club doesn't necessarily have to be bass.  It
can be any sort of fishing club, where bass are associated.  For example, there are many
conservation or sporting type organizations, with lakes, such as the Rock Island
Conservation Club, Izaak Walton's Giant Goose Conservation Workshop area, and many
other private fishing clubs.
  Getting back to the Internet, two places where questions can be asked are Bassin'
USA (www.bassinusa.com) and the fishing section of All Experts (www.allexperts.com).
At Bassin' USA there are pro staff members from all over the USA that can answer many
types of questions.  It is my pleasure to be a member of this pro staff, along with fellow
Midwest Outdoors writer, Johnnie Crain.
  Hopefully this information will help any beginning bass anglers get started on the
road to some great fishing, and a lifetime enjoyment.
  If you have questions on this subject, or anything else in fishing, stop by the Dan's
Fish 慛' Tales web site, at www.dansfishntales.com, and drop me a line.  This site also
links to the Midwest Outdoors site.
  Until next time, get out on the water, and enjoy a great day of fishing.