Definitely a topic that will get a diverse bunch or replies!
I tend not to tinker too much with factory lures. Instead, I just make my own. But even in that, I have never really gone crazy with off the wall ideas.
One thing I used to do that I haven't done in years was to take 4 inch Slider worms in Smoke color and let the tails soak in salt water for a couple of days. I'd fill an ice cube tray with salt water and then drape the tails in to the little square sections, while the rest of the worm body would stay dry.
Doing this would turn the tail a milky white color, which seemed to work really well in a few of the clear lakes around my area.
I used to call them "Milk Duds"