One of the most simple and best ways to catch bass is with a soft plastic worm. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors; you won’t find a more versatile bass fishing bait than a plastic worm.
If you have ever been shopping for soft plastic worms online or at the store, you’ll notice there are what seems like an endless number of colors. With so many color options, it can be hard to know what the best colors are, and which ones will actually catch bass.
The best all-around soft plastic worm color to use to catch bass is green pumpkin. In fact, there are many professional bass fishing anglers that say green pumpkin is the only worm color you really need. It will help you catch bass anywhere in the country and works great both in clear and stained water. Green pumpkin is my all-around favorite worm color and is one that I would highly recommend to any angler.
With that being said, the best soft plastic worm color may depend upon the body of water, fish forage, water clarity and other important factors.
For this reason, I have put a ton of time putting together this bass fishing worm color guide to help make sure you buy and fish with the right worm colors for each bass fishing scenario.
Let’s get started.
Best Soft Plastic Worms Colors for Bass
There are literally hundreds of different worm colors us as bass fishermen can choose from. We all seem to have our favorites and the ones that we are most confident in.
I have personally fished a ton of different color combinations over the years and found some great ones and ones that didn’t work for me. If there is one thing I’ve learned, is that the right color of worm can make all the difference.
Here are my all-time favorite bass fishing worm colors:
Green Pumpkin
If you ask any experienced bass fishing angler what his or her favorite soft plastic worm color is, I guarantee you that some type of green pumpkin color is high on their list. There is no denying that green pumpkin is the best and most versatile worm color ever created. It flat out catches fish.
Sure, there might be other colors that better match the forage and condition on a given body of water, but regardless of where you are fishing a green pumpkin colored worm will catch you fish.
If you look up green pumpkin worms online, you’ll notice that there are tons of different color variations. I like to use green pumpkin with black flakes in cloudy conditions and clear water. I’ll switch to a green pumpkin that has either a red flakes or green/blue flakes when it’s clear and sunny outside.
However, all and all if you select some type of green pumpkin colored worm you’ll have a lot of success catching fish.
Black & Blue
One of the best color combinations of all time in muddy water is black and blue. This color combo gives your baits a good-looking profile that resembles a lot of bass forage. It also helps make it stand out in that darker water.
Darker color tones like black and blue are great summertime colors that can also work well year-round. However, if the water is clear, I shy away from darker colors like black and blue and prefer to use more natural colors like green pumpkin or brown.
Junebug
Junebug is a special summertime color. If you aren’t familiar with this color, it’s essentially a black and grape color with green flakes mixed in (depending on the bait company). I use this color on big worms and soft plastic baits.
Where this color really shines is in stained to muddy water and it’s absolutely a summertime must have. If you are targeting largemouth bass in the summer this is a must have color.
Baby Bass
If I am faced with bright sunny days one of my favorite worm colors to use is a baby bass pattern. If you aren’t familiar with the baby bass color it’s essentially a light colored green with black and gold flakes in it. (The colors may vary a little bit depending on the brand)
This color of worm does a great job at imitating perch, bluegill, small bass and other small baitfish. This worm color has been highly productive for me in clear water conditions and is one I would consider adding to your arsenal.
Yellow & Chartreuse
Another great color of worm to use to catch bass is a yellow or chartreuse colored worm. I don’t know what it is, but there is something about this yellow worm that gets the bass to react.
This is one of my go to colors to use on a floating worm like a Zoom Trick Worm. Twitching a bright colored worm like a yellow one in front of a bass will bring out the predator in any bad-tempered bass that’s nearby. This color can work well in stained and muddy water, but can also be a great option when the water is clear. If a yellow floating worm isn’t getting the job done, I’ll turn to a black or pink worm.
Pink
If you aren’t familiar with fishing a pink or bubble gum colored worm you have been missing out. I know what you might be thinking, because when I first saw this color, I thought there was no way the bass would bite it. However, when I saw anglers using this worm color in action, I knew I was wrong.
Pink or bubble gum patterns can be an effective color to use to catch both largemouth and smallmouth bass. I wish I could tell you the reason why this color works so well, but just know this is a color you should consider using. Where I think pink worm colors really shine is around the spawn and in stained water. There is something about a bright pink worm that catches fish.
How to Choose a Worm Color
However, if you really want to dial things and catch more fish, adapting your colors to your given conditions can help tremendously. This is especially true on days where the bass aren’t as aggressive and are more finicky.
Here are the main factors you should consider when choosing a worm color:
- Bass forage (are they eating crawdads, shad, bluegill?)
- Water clarity (are you fishing in clear water or muddy water?)
- Light penetration (sunny vs overcast can play a big role)
All three of these things can play a huge factor and will help you determine what the right color to use is going to be on a given day.
For more detailed information on choosing the right bass fishing color based on your conditions check out this article: How to Choose the Right Bass Fishing Colors.
Best Color of Worm by Water Clarity
The clarity of the water can give you a good idea on what soft plastic worms colors are going to be the most effective. In general, the clearer the water the more natural your soft plastic worms should look. The more the water is stained, or muddy, brighter, and darker colors tend to work best.
Let’s take a look at the different water clarity categories and discuss which colors typically work best for each one.
Best Color of Worm for Bass in Clear Water
If you are on a fishery that has clear water using worms that have a more natural color will be much more effective. What I mean by natural is any color that resembles the bass forage.
On most bodies of water that is going to be colors like green pumpkin, browns, shad patterns or anything that matches what the bass may be feeding on.
Just like you and I, bass can see much better in clear water conditions thus making matching the hatch or closely resembling what they are looking to eat a big deal. If you use bolder or odd colors, you may have a hard time catching fish consistently.
Best Color of Worm for Bass in Stained Water
A common water clarity that many anglers end up fishing in is water that is stained. What I consider stained water is water that is not exactly chocolate milk or clear but it is somewhere in between. If you look down and can see 1-5 feet down that’s a pretty good indication you’re fishing in stained water.
When the water is stained, I’ve had the best luck using soft plastic worms that have some type of brown or green color. From there if it’s sunny I like to throw ones that have red or green flakes. I feel like these added flakes will get a few more bites as the sun reflects off the bait. In clear water I like black and darker flakes.
Best Color of Worm for Bass in Muddy Water
When you are fishing in dirty water, and you look down and can barely see below the surface you are fishing in what I call muddy water. This dirty water can make your soft plastic worm harder for the bass to find and grab. That’s why having the right color is key in these situations.
The best color of worm to use in muddy water is dark and bold colors. I love using colors like junebug which is a bright purple and baits that have black and blue. Another underrated color in dirty water is white. There is something plastic worms in these colors that get the bass to respond and bite more.
Best Color of Worm by Weather Conditions
Another important thing to consider when selecting the right worm color to use is the weather. I’ve found that certain colors work best on bright sunny days, while others shine when it’s overcast and cloudy.
Here is a quick guide on how I like to select bait colors by the weather condition:
Best Color of Worm for Bright & Sunny Conditions
When it’s bluebird skies and the sun is high in the sky, bass will be able to see better, especially in clear water. For this reason, it’s best to throw worms that have a natural color or pattern.
In these situations, I like to throw a green pumpkin with some type of red or blue flake. The flakes will reflect off the sun causing a small flash which can be a great way to get a few extra bites. If the water is stained and bright and sunny, I like to stick with bold and dark colors like white and chartreuse.
Best Color of Worm for Cloud & Overcast Conditions
In cloudy conditions just like us the bass have less visibility in the water, which is advantageous for us as anglers, but it can also make our baits harder for the bass to see.
In cloudy conditions the best color of bait & lures to use are bright and dark colors. My go to colors in these conditions are white/chartreuse, black, and blue and dark greens & browns. These colors will increase your worm’s visibility and grab the attention of more bass.
Best Color of Worm for Night Bass Fishing
When choosing a soft plastic worm color to use while night fishing, choose dark colors like black and blue or junebug. These colors will stand out better at night as they cast a more defined underwater silhouette in these conditions.
Added visibility to your plastic baits will help the bass see and track down your baits better. This will result in more bites and fish caught.
Best Soft Plastic Worms for Bass
With the popularity of bass fishing growing every year there are now many companies that are making soft plastic worms. There are a lot of great options out there, but also ones I would recommend avoiding.
Here are my all-time favorite plastic worms to catch bass:
Zoom Trick Worm
One of my all-time favorite worms to use to catch bass is a Trick Worm by Zoom. You can use it on a Texas or Carolina Rig or Shaky Head. There really isn’t a wrong way to fish this worm. It comes in a wide variety of color options and its versatility makes it all around great bait.
Senko
The effectiveness and simplicity of the Senko is what truly makes it one of the best bass fishing baits of all time. The other great thing about the Gary Yamamoto Senko is that it comes in a wide variety of great colors. It’s also a super versatile worm and can be rigged several different ways.
They are a bit more expensive than other stick baits, but they are so much softer and will help you catch more fish than compared to other baits like the Yum Dinger.
Robo Worm
If you are fishing with a drop shot and haven’t tried using a robo worm you have been missing out big time. This is my go-to drop shot bait and has been catching both largemouth and smallmouth bass for years.
They have both a straight tail and curly tailed option. I have had the most luck with the straight tail version. As far as colors go my favorites are the Margarita Mutilator, Morning Dawn and Aaron’s Magic.
Berkley Power Worm
If you are after big bass and are fishing in the summertime the best worm to use in my opinion is the Berkley Power Worm. This is an all-time great bait that has been helping anglers catch big bass for decades.
It’s a curly tailed worm that comes in some big sizes ranging from 8 to 12 inches. It also comes in a ton of great options. I like to Texas Rig this worm or use it on a Carolina Rig This worm is a must have when targeting big bass in the summer.
Best Senko Colors
Perhaps one of the most popular soft plastic worms in the history of bass fishing is the senko, also referred to as a stick bait. It’s one of the most simple but effective baits to use to catch bass. Given its popularity there are now more color choices than ever before.
So, you might be wondering what are the best senko colors to use to catch bass? And which colors do you need?
In my opinion, the best all around color of senko is green pumpkin with black flakes. This color will catch bass anywhere in the country regardless of the time of year or water clarity. Another great senko color to use, especially in stained water, is black and blue. The dark color helps it stand out in muddy water.
If you have a green pumpkin-based color and black and blue color that’s all you really need. The green pumpkin colors work best in clear water conditions, while black and blue shines in stained and muddy water. From there you can expand your color selection, but this will give you a great starting point.
For additional insight on choosing the right color of senko check out this article: Best Senko Colors for Bass (10 Must Have Colors)
Related Fishing Resources
- Fishing Line Color Guide [Best Options]
- Best Colors for Summer Bass Fishing
- The Best Colors for Fall Bass Fishing
- 10 Best Crankbait Colors That Catch More Fish
- What Colors Do Smallmouth Bass Like?
- How to Choose the Right Bass Fishing Colors
Final Thoughts
What makes a soft plastic worm an excellent bait to catch bass with is its simplicity and effectiveness. You can go anywhere in the country with a worm and a few different colors and catch a ton of bass. You can also rig them in a variety of ways.
Whether you are fishing a soft plastic worm in water that is clear, murky or stained, selecting the right color of worm can help you have a lot more success.
The next time you head out to the water to do some bass fishing, think about the things we discussed in this post so that you can ensure you select the right color of worm for your bodies of water. If you do this, you’ll end up having a lot more success.