How important is the color and detail on the top of a surface plug?

[Swimmer]

I always thought placing eyes on the top and bottom of a plug as opposed to either side might be more effective figuring that the fish might see the eye more readily. From a color perspective I can recall from a physical ocean science class that red is the first color in the sprectrum to disappear as something red is submerged, but it is an enormously popular color on surface lures and swimmers. As you said Mike the smoother the waters surface is the greater the clarity, but the biggest fish I have ever landed on surface plugs were caught in the worst weather. Sometimes being so bad that I have no idea how the fish found the plug to hit it in the first place. A now deceased anti-fishing co-worker of mine said a few years ago after a visit to a tackle shop with his grandson that the colors on those fishing lures are meant to attract you into purchasing them first and catching fish second. Thier is some truth to that.