it honestly all depends! I know on clear water i like to use natural colors. For something that imitates a crayfish like tans, browns, burnt oranges, and for baitfish i like white or pearl. The thing with the dark baits in stained water is that it creates a profile that the fish see without actually seeing the bait in all its color.....

i know someone else will explain it so much better than i can, but thats what i have heard and use...and it works well for me