When I go bass fishin' I try to let the bass tell me as much as possible to what they want to happen. What color is by the amount of light penetration which is based on water clarity. Which bait is usually determined by the seasonal habits of the bass which gives me a selection of baits and by trial and error along with past experience I determine which lure.
Size is determined by the forage.
How close to the bass do I need to present the bait in order to get a bite. In other words, how much of a strike zone does the bass have on that given day. The strike zone is precisely what its name implies, that zone in which a bass will travel x number of feet to strike an artificial lure. On some days that zone may be 15 feet while others it may be five feet or five inches. But, learning the strike zone of the bass is a very important factor in having a successful day fishing.