If all you have are Erie dearies,I would use the gold color.But use the lightest weight.Make shorter casts and keep your rod tip up to help prevent snags.
I would think low light conditions are best,so cloudy or near sun rise or set.But you never know when they could be active.The water clarity in the fall is usually more dingy with the wind and algea too.
The date we got our limit casting last year was Sept 20th.One engine would not start.Dubert sent a mechanic over and spent 3hrs fixing it.Then the capt tells me he does not want to fish now.Had to convince him he needs to test the engine,so why not try a few casts too.Reached gull at noon.Sunny and not enough wind.Nothing for 20 min and now captain wants to leave the reef for another reef.This guy has no patience.I convince him to motor to another part of reef and then we start getting a light breeze.Catch that first fish and got our 12 in around 2hrs.