Reading Water Clarity Before You Choose a Lure Color

As a starting point: in clear water, natural and translucent colors tend to look more convincing since fish get a longer, clearer look at the lure. In stained or murky water, brighter or higher-contrast colors help the lure stand out and get noticed at all.

It's a starting point, not a rule — but it's a reasonable first choice if you're not sure where to begin.