Alan McGuckin, who handles PR for Dynamic Sponsorships, submitted this piece:
Modern-day crankbaits come in a vast array of impressive color options that can cause a heap of mental perplexity and a badly overstuffed tackle tray. Bass fishing’s resident funny man and two-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, Gerald Swindle, offers a comforting dose of advice that should help BassFans simplify their crankbait color choices. In Swindle's world, three colors outshine the rest: Red craw, shad and firetiger.
“We all make it harder than it has to be, but choosing crankbait colors should really just be a seasonal-based deal," Swindle said. "You’re not trying to collect every color they make. There’s no need to go broke trying to buy every shade they stock on a retail peg, but make sure you can afford these three."
Red Craw
Swindle says: “This is your early winter through early spring color. Anytime the water temp is 42 to 56, I’m generally throwing a shade of red craw. You can be sure this color will put you in the ballpark of success anytime the water’s cold."
Shad
Swindle says: “When the water temps hit 58 or 59, that’s when I generally see bass get off the red craw pattern and dial in on shad colors. It makes sense, because once the water warms, shad get shallower. But even in the heat of summer, if you’re fishing out deep, shad are probably the primary food for bass."
Firetiger
Swindle says: “Firetiger is my bullpen pitcher. I put him in the game anytime the water is heavily stained, and he stands a chance to play just about any month of the year. He’s kind of the wildcard among the three colors, but he can also be the most consistent if the water is off colored or dirty no matter the season."
Swindle’s rod, reel, line for most cranking situations aside from ultra deep cranking, consists of a 7-foot medium-action Quantum rod paired with a Quantum Smoke S3 casting reel (6.1:1 gear ratio) spooled with 10-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line.
Subscribe to Swindle’s simple theory on crankbait colors, and you could save a little money on tackle, spare yourself some mental angst, and catch a few more bass through a confidently refined approach to your crankbait game.