Was having a conversation yesterday and the topic of the red chin on plugs came up?? Why paint it red?? Who did it first?? What purpose does it serve??? I answered with the following.....I started painting the chin on my plugs red because I was a big fan of Gibbs plugs, I liked the way it looked! Not sure if Gibbs was the first to do it?? Any thoughts???

my thoughts are it can mimick a dying fish with bleeding gills or something so it may make it appear to be easy prey for a predator.

no idea who did it first

yup- blood and /or gills.

Just look at a pogie. Lots of red around mouth, eyes, and gills.

what about white chin...........

CCBC had it on their plugs as early as 1916. At least looking at my Collector book they did.

Jigman

I thought so Jigman...thanks!

i read some where that just the color red anywhere induces a feeding response. since red = blood. i read that even just having a red hook will make a fish look twice. obviously that effect is increased it the red is in the throat area of a plug. since an injured head/gill area means that fish is definitely on it's way out.

also.. i would assume if you are tossing them into thick schools of bait, the red would help your plug stand out from the crowd. helping the fish to home in on your plug.

I just add it because its fun to do.:rollem:

It's just old school. Looks good and adds finish. You don't have to use red. I use orange on many of my color combos.

It there because I listen to you guys....:hee:

I also like to put a little red on the tail sometimes

It is my understanding that the red signified the gills. So, along with the eyes (if plug has them) it gives striper a sight guidance to the head of the bait fish.

Well, OK, that and it's just really fun to splatter bright red all over a wet yellow head. :)