Paddle-Fishing.com

I am trying to minimize my paddle fishing tackle box to a point where only 3 lure types are carried on trips along the shallows of the Intracoastal Waterway, near Venice/Sarasota. Six lures in total. Three for clear water and 3 for dark water.

A top water, a shallow runner (24" or less) and a soft plastic bottom bouncer.

My current choices for clear water are a Zara Spook Jr. in bone, a Mirrodyne in green back, and a near clear DOA shrimp.

For stained or murky waters, I believe that I need darker colors for those lures, but which color works best around my neighborhood?

Any experiences on darker colors for the Spook, Mirrodyne and DOA in stained or murky waters?

I think your selection is right on the money.

I've been narrowing down my selection as well, usually goes:

spook jr.- bone/silver
paddletail-white or brown (depending on water clarity)
gold or silver spoon (deping on water clarity)

for flies gurglers, deceivers, & weedless clouser

I can usually pack all of these into a pocket sized tackle box.

If you simply get a spook jr. in the Redfish color or orange and black that will work in darker water. I do the same thing, bright color for clear darker colors for night or darker water fishing. I was always told, fish only see in shadow, so the darker the lure the more shadow. Spook jr, in two shades and Exude Darts in two shades is all I carry.