When I am using a plastic, I always start with a confidence color and, if I don't get any bites, I switch to a totally different lure. I don't try a different color of the same plastic. Am I doing it wrong? Do you cycle through colors before abandoning a particular plastic?

Changing a technique/depth/fall rate is way more powerful than changing color.

This past Saturday I took a trip down the SM River and had tons of hits with plastics more than hard baits.

They were sure hitting crawfish baits!

If I'm getting bit but not hooking up well, I'll try a color change. If I'm not getting bit at all, time for a different technique.

I usually pick my plastic color based on water color. If I'm in clearer water and I start with a watermelon red baby brush and I'm not getting bit I'll still stick with watermelon red and switch to something bigger like an old monster or 8in. lizard

If I am not getting bit; time to go find fish.

There are a lot of times that a certain color will get you more bites than another color. When I change colors and still don't get bit on that particular technique I either change techniques in that area or find another area.

I feel either shakyhead, trig, or weightless will catch fish if they are there. Change presentations as needed, change locations if you got nothing.

I have been toying with colors on the baby brush hog this year. I have started using 5 colors. Last year I used 1 color only. I feel the places I pounded earlier this year are slowing on my primary color, but I am still successful with th BBH with 2 other colors, but not the same numbers. The color may help, but the location and presentaion are what I feel matters.

great question...when I hit a new area or the same area if I haven't been there in a week but caught fish I alway's roll in with a moving bait, buzz bait, spinnerbait, crank bait, topwater...this is to see if there are any active fish around...if the area is really "fishy" and I don't get struck I slow down and put a jig or plastic bait in or next to key objects - usually inactive fish will expose themselves...if that fails I go looking somewhere else, but I use the same approach in the new area...as far as changing colors to entice strikes I always go by some type of activity - like short strikes or slapping at the lure, that tells me the fish are still there but they are being picky and a color change can make all the difference, but if no response from the fish I either move or go eat cheese burgers just my two cent's.

sell your stuff and find another hobby,,,,,,,
No,
OK, then go the cheeseburger route.

Really,,,
you have 2 choices & you always have 2 choices.
1.) be a rainbow and keep every color in the book in your tackle box and change colors till they hit one (& they may never do that)plus every other type of bait that's made & keep changing until you entice them to bite. or
2.) keep 2 colors, one dark / one light; in the style you think the fish like the best & use those + keep 2 other kinds of bait that you are "confident" in and throw those when the fish don't bite plastic.

option 1 -- expensive & you become BPS & Cabellas best customer
option 2 -- not quite so expensive,,,,you learn to fish those 3 baits & you won't get to see me at BPS

The choice is yours.

Or, you can do both which is what most of us do. We buy everything made but leave most of it behind and end up only throwing a select few favorites. I'll see you at BPS.

see you at HC