Best Z-Man Colors for Northwoods Lakes

“It’s a crime to not have the PB&J Finesse TRD!” scolded one guide customer.

“The Deal in any bait is solid in clear water,” added another.

“I may second The Deal, but Green Pumpkin gets bit in every situation. And also, the Motor Oil Diezel Minnow is absolute money,” revealed one more.

From Smelt and Perfect Perch, to Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Yoga Pants and Coppertreuse, everyone plays their favorites, and also has an opinion of them.

I play favorites too, but am forced to fish with what I know works best for a lake and its fishery.

I’ll divulge my thought processes and secrets as you read on.

An article about lure color selection is as cliché as it gets, but in studying the extensive freshwater and saltwater colors from Z-Man Fishing Products, it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed by this color list – now nearing 400.

Behind the Scenes at the Z-Man Lab

Z-Man’s current color chart, and the decisions behind producing specific colors, comes from several angles. Primary influencers include user feedback, pro staff and guide team input, forage connections, target markets and industry trends, and fishery specifications just to name a few. Each season, Z-Man introduces a few new ones to market.

“New color additions are derived from a number of sources,” reveals Z-Man’s president, Daniel Nussbaum. “Most frequently, we receive requests from our pro staff and guide staff team members for specific colors that they feel they need to be successful in tournament fishing or on guide trips. We also field numerous requests from retailers and consumers for various colors. Most of these requests are for successful and productive colors similar to those offered by other lure brands as that is what most anglers are familiar with. In many cases, we do try to mimic forage more accurately than existing color patterns do. An example would be our Drew’s Craw color (designed in conjunction with Drew Reese who assisted us in developing our Ned Rig line of finesse plastics and jigheads) that is designed to mirror the dark back and light belly color of a crawfish,” he adds.

Z-Man also brainstorms for new ideas that they feel will be effective and eye-catching at retail – most of which end up as saltwater colors meant for redfish, snook, or sea trout. And in many other instances, they’ve also created new colors completely by accident, such as The Deal.

“The Deal resulted from a mixture of green pumpkin material and pearlescent pigment during a clean out of our lab extruder. We found that color to be interesting and decided to pair it with a light-loaded pearl belly with iridescent violet flake that we had just come across. That combination has wound up being among our top selling colors and has been copied by a number of other companies,” Nussbaum admits.

Amongst smallmouth anglers, The Deal is one of the top goby and sculpin imitating colors out there. Additionally, it also effectively replicates natural minnow and bluegill patterns found in every freshwater lake. It is a fish catcher for all species.

Most common to Z-Man’s color formulating, new color requests are submitted by its pro team members. In 2023, Z-Man released two new colors that rapidly became popular – Purple Rain and Gamechanger. MLF Pro, Brian Latimer, is the brainchild of these two.

“Purple Rain and Gamechanger are two colors that Brian specifically requested in his SMH WormZ when we were engaged in the design process and that we also added to various Ned Rig and drop shot baits in our product line,” says Nussbaum. “Purple Rain was completely specified out by Brian, and we formulated to base colors and flake concentrations based on his requests as well as slices of other soft plastic baits that he supplied,” Nussbaum shares.  

Purple Rain, in the new Gremlin creature bait (fished on a Carolina rig), and in the Finesse TRD, has become a personal favorite in all baits for largemouth fishing – excelling not only in clear waters but in the very dark, dingy, and low visibility eutrophic lakes that experience mid-summer algae blooms. Underwater, it provides high contrast and visibility to largemouths where they might only be able to see up to a few feet away.

“The story behind Gamechanger isn’t quite as interesting unfortunately,” admits Nussbaum.

“The color itself is our version of a staple worm color offered by another popular brand that Brian felt we were missing for clear water applications in particular. Due to the difference in our ElaZtech material and the fact that all of our colors are formulated from scratch, it actually took around 15 different iterations of this color before we reached a color match we were satisfied with,” he discloses.

Gamechanger, with its translucency, noted by Nussbaum, is an outstanding option for all of our high-vis clear water smallmouth lakes. I find it exceptional in the lake regions where clean, sandy bottoms are prevalent. It became a favorite in late-2023, as it best replicates a minnow. I eagerly wait for this colorway to be made available for the 3-inch MinnowZ and 4-inch DieZel Minnow.

Nussbaum reveals that Z-Man’s best-selling colors are often the most basic ones out there. “Simple, single tone patterns like Green Pumpkin, Black with Blue Flake, and Pearl are always among our best sellers regardless of the region.” These work in every water clarity and fishery, I attest.

In northern markets, such as the Great Lakes, Ontario, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, Nussbaum says Z-Man also does very well with colors that accurately mimic regional forage species – the long list includes crayfish, cisco, smelt, shiner, bluegill, perch, and other various assorted minnow species.

“Smelt and Smoky Shad in baitfish shapes like our Jerk ShadZ, The Deal and Green Pumpkin Goby in goby imitations and drop shot baits, and Canada Craw, California Craw and Drew’s Craw in crayfish profiles and Ned baits. Other off-the-wall colors that don’t mimic any type of prey, specifically like Coppertreuse and PB&J, sell very well also.”

Presently, Z-Man is catering most to the bass, panfish, and saltwater markets. However, its ElaZtech lineup created for the saltwater market is also creeping into the walleye and pike fishing circles as its Scented Jerk ShadZ and DieZel Minnows have become popular lure options for jigging and casting in recent years. I personally feel as if the 3.5 and 4-inch Scented Jerk ShadZ (smelt, motor oil, electric chicken) will out-fish live bait when jigging for walleyes.

Besides domestic sales, Nussbaum reveals Z-Man’s international business is growing as well, and customers in places like Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Singapore have very different color preferences than folks here in the US do. “The colors we seem to run in the highest volumes in our plant are Green Pumpkin, Pearl, Motor Oil (for Australia), Coppertreuse, and Smoky Shad.”

According to Z-Man’s marketing director, Cory Schmidt, “Z-Man is always working on new colors, but we’ve become a little more selective in recent years given our lineup of nearly 400 hues. That said, we’ll likely be offering some new walleye colors in the near future, and we’re always looking for potential new bass patterns.”

Cracking the Color Code

With nearly 400 colors to choose from, picking the right one for a specific lake can be a daunting task.

As a result, questions arise.

What’s the best color?

What’s the best color for this species?

How do you choose them according to water clarity?

First, color selection is a product of trial and error, the process of elimination, and spending an inordinate amount of time on the water. By now, I know what works well for specific lakes, and their fish species – notably walleyes and smallmouths. You don’t get to making these decisions without time on the water, and then making such connections.

Second, identifying the lake’s dominant forage species and the feeding tendencies of its fishery enables me to best match the hatch according to that fishery. Again, identifying a fishery’s response to colors here is huge. Do any fish display any preferences to specific colors? Is catch rate higher with one color versus another?

Third, understanding how specific colors can become further visible in underwater environments (contrast, highlights, saturation, UV effects) and under varying water clarities is advantageous. What you see on the color chart and above the surface is totally different from how things will appear underwater to fish. So, you must visualize for yourself and also see how a color can change its appearance under water.

As you know, this fishing region encompasses over 4,000 different lakes clustered within a 4-county radius. From clear to dark clarity, and with each lake’s fishery composed and behaving differently from the next one, we have the most diverse lake types in all of North America. Every lake and its fishery has a unique response to color choice.

Most of the time, color choice for us depends on the fishery, the forage, and water clarity and just knowing my target species behaviors. I fish a lot of clearer waters, cisco-based fisheries, and perch lakes. On these pelagic fisheries, Smelt, Disco Cisco, Pro Team Perch, The Deal, Ayu, Motor Oil are most often used – each of them catching boatloads of smallmouths, walleyes, and pike, simultaneously.

Meanwhile, many smallmouth lakes are still heavily occupied by crayfish and therefore Canada Craw, Drew’s Craw, Molting Craw, New Money and Hot Snakes tend to be the best producers on those waters.

What would the staff at Z-Man suggest to anglers if basing color options on the different types of water clarity?

“Examining your factors above, here’s how I usually approach the color question,” answers Schmidt. 

Clear Water

On waters with high visibility, where clarity exceeds an average of 10-foot depths, translucent and naturalistic patterns are advisable. Where going natural is the game plan, matching the hatch is the best guideline to follow.

On perch-based lakes, Schmidt favors base colors of green, chartreuse, orange, black, and a little white. “If the water’s clear, steer toward light green/yellow/black (Pro Yellow Perch) or green/white (Green Lantern).”

“Gold Rush produces a lot of walleyes in perch-based lakes. Sexy Penny is good, too. Pro Yellow Perch, also.”

Throughout the north, many premier largemouth fisheries also tend to be sunfish/bluegill-based lakes. “Chartreuse, black, Space Guppy (dirtier water), Baby Bass (clear water) and Houdini is a good all-around sunfish-like pattern, as is Bluegill,” concludes Schmidt.

Meanwhile, cisco-based lakes are much deeper and clearer than perch or bluegill-based fisheries. “Blue/white is nearly always number-one, though I’m really liking purple patterns in recent seasons – Z-Man’s Dark N Stormy and Troutcicle are two good ones. Disco Cisco and Gussy’s Glimmer Blue are proven producers,” reveals Schmidt.

On these waters, Disco Cisco and Smelt are the only two colors smallmouth anglers should need. Both in the 5-inch Diezel MinnowZ have captured smallmouths up to 6 pounds.

The lake itself doesn’t need to have either smelt or cisco in order for Z-Man’s smelt pattern to work, either. There is a reason I ordered 20-bags of Smelt the prior year – Walleyes and smallmouths on every lake type gobble snap them.

Across our pike and muskie fisheries, Z-Man’s ElaZtechs haven’t hit the main stream yet. Anglers are making a mistake neglecting the 5 and 7-inch Diezel Minnowz in the same said color patterns, too. “For muskies and often, pike, I sometimes prefer bright gaudy colors, even in clear water. The StreakZ XL is an 8” soft jerkbait that’s really underrated for Esocids. Hard to beat plain white, but Bubblegum can make these fish really mad,” instructs Schmidt.

^ Assortment of clear water color options for all species

Z-Man Staff Picks: Bad Shad; Gussy’s Glimmer Blue; Smelt; Breaking Bream; Disco Cisco; Pro Yellow Perch; Green Lantern; Perfect Perch; Gamechanger

Dark Water

Dark waters with less visibility (averaging a few feet or less) require high contrast, darks, and fluorescents.

For low-visibility lakes and rivers, utilizing a program of high-contrasting colors is advised. On muddy and bloom largemouth lakes, Z-Man has nailed the need for dark, attractive colorways. Black/Blue flake, Junebug, Bama Bug, California Craw, Canada Craw, and Purple Rain are a few worth considering. My favorite baits available in these patterns are the Gremlin, GOAT, Hella Crawz, and Turbo Crawz. Each get used as standalone baits, or as jig trailers.

In green algae-bloomed water, Schmidt is a proponent of whites and smelt patterns. “The water beneath in a bloom can often be clearer than most anglers realize. But even if the water is really that pea-green soup color, I run a bright white pattern. Surprisingly, solid black patterns can work well here, too.”

Don’t neglect green pumpkin in these situations either. Z-Man has made it available to most baits in its lineup.

^ My favorite color options for smallmouth bass in low clarity, brown water fisheries.
 

^Colors for dark water largemouths.

Z-Man Staff Picks: White; Sexy Penny (for muddy water); New Penny, Bloody Mary Sunday (for tannic brown water); White, Smelt (bloom water); Black; Purple Rain

Moderate Clarity

For the fisheries that fall somewhere in the in-between, are neutral, but can also be tannic brown such as rivers and flowages, anglers can get by with almost everything in Z-Man’s color chart. I tend to favor Motor Oil, New Penny, Green Pumpkin, New Money, Green Lantern, Green Pumpkin Orange, and Black.

“If the water’s a little stained, go orange, orange/chartreuse or orange/black. New Penny is excellent,” advises Schmidt.

Last year (2023), Schmidt turned me on to New Penny, a copper-based color with gold fleck. Nowadays on the rivers and flowages, I don’t use anything but New Penny in Jerk Shadz, Diezel Minnows, and Swimming Paddlerz.

 “Sexy Penny can be good in those waters, though New Penny has been more productive for smallmouths for me. Houdini is good in tannic water, at times. Also love Rootbeer Gold. But don’t overlook straight white/pearl or even glow-chartreuse tail,” instructs Schmidt.

Schmidt also admits, “I’ve played around with some of the interesting saltwater colors like Calico Candy, which has a reddish hue. Haven’t caught many bass with it yet, but it just feels like it will produce one of these days.” 

^ Colors for smallmouths in waters of moderate clarity.

^ Colors for largemouths in waters of moderate clarity.

Z-Man Staff Picks: Dark N Stormy; Golden Boy; New Penny; Sexy Penny; Black; Rootbeer Gold

If I only needed one color in any bait to rely on, it’s a yoga pants Finesse TRD. Smallmouths and walleyes from all waters gobble it up. Black – it works everywhere from clear to dirty water.

Outside of the Box Color Considerations

Beyond its freshwater offerings and staff recommendations, Z-Man produces an even more extensive colorway selection for saltwater fishing, which may be the best out there.

Many saltwater colors work exceptionally well on smallmouths and walleyes – especially walleyes who are very color-focused. Favorites I’ve come to find for clear water and other moderate clarities are Bruised Banana, Laguna Shrimp, Fried Bologna, and Houdini. Each are used extensively with the Scented Jerk ShadZ. Whether I’m fishing clear lakes or slightly stained lakes, these saltwater colors seem to catch the attention of walleyes and smallmouths better than most naturals do.

“In addition to natural baitfish patterns, saltwater anglers like a lot of chartreuse, purple, and pink colors. We’ve seen a number of those successfully transition into bass markets,” informs Nussbaum.  

Z-Man also offers a number of interesting baitfish patterns catered to saltwater anglers that fly under the radar in bass markets.

“Our Sexy Mullet pattern has a natural baitfish colored back with a glow chartreuse belly and has been well accepted in the bass market, particularly in dirtier water or when paired with a ChatterBait. Opening Night, with its light purple back and clear belly with holographic string glitter, has long been a saltwater staple in clear water situations and translates equally well into similar freshwater conditions. We designed our Laguna Shrimp color, with its pink back and tan belly, to match shrimp that are prevalent in the Laguna Madre in Texas, but for whatever reason, smallmouth bass seem to love it, and we’ve added it to our lineup for bass baits like the TRD TicklerZ. To that end, smallmouth seem to love pink, and even our somewhat ‘loud’ Pink Glow color sells well in northern markets,” Nussbaum acknowledges.

Choosing the right colors is overwhelming, but thanks to Z-Man’s guidelines and input, color selection for Northwoods lakes has now simplified.

Just look at the water clarity. Then react accordingly to fish response. And it doesn’t hurt to heed the advice of Z-Man’s color coordinators like Daniel Nussbaum and Cory Schmidt.  

Andrew Ragas splits time between the Chicago area and Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Based in Minocqua, WI, he specializes in trophy bass fishing and offers guided trips from May thru October. While big bass is the passion, he dabbles in multi-species as well. He may be visited online at www.northwoodsbass.com