Plug color importance?

[Canalman]

I’m interested to know what people’s take on plug color is. Being a builder I love to go crazy making super detailed colors that take 12 different colors, all custom mixed, but then when I actually go out to throw plugs I tend to lean on just a few colors. Dave and I are looking at redoing our color lineup and wondering what you guys consider important. It’s obviously important to have your White, White/Pink, Yellow/White, Blurple. And I like to use Bunker and Herring Patterns. Is it better to have ones that resemble every baitfish in the world? Is it important to have a few variations of the staple baits, like a Silvery Bunker, a Greenish Bunker, A Yellowish Bunker etc. I like the latter better, what do you guys think and which colors/bait patterns are a must? I’m bored here at my real job give me something to ponder.

-Dave

[tattoobob]

I think anything dark on top and light bottom is good, black/white, Blk/purple, parrot

[spence]

I have my own favorite coller called "SPLENCE".

It's like blurple, but you wouldn't understand

-spence

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by spence

I have my own favorite coller called "SPLENCE".

It's like blurple, but you wouldn't understand

-spence

You're probably right

[luds]

Originally Posted by spence

I have my own favorite coller called "SPLENCE".

It's like blurple, but you wouldn't understand

-spence

metroblurple?

[Ake G]

I pick top colors that I can see easily OTW so I can keep track of how I'm working a plug and where it is.I really don't think the fish care. It's probably just a visibility issue with them, as well!

When I'm painting my own,or buying plugs the only colors (other than all white or all black) I fish are White/pink stripe, Lime green over white, Chartreuse over white, hot pink over white.

Yeah, it's fun to "flex my airbrush skills..." but since I'm not interested in selling plugs....

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by luds48

metroblurple?

Ok... I'm definatley using that name.

[Pete_G]

Some days color matters a lot, some days it doesn't much at all. I don't know if I've observed much more then that.

My plug bag these days is mostly white, black, and herring (blue/pink/white) all year long. Black or olive for my soft plastics and that's about it.

Of course, for a contrast, you have DZ's much brighter selection of needles. Neon green, hot pink, etc, as well as basic black and white.

I guess from a plug builder's persepective, it would be tough to offer what everyone wants because everyone has their favorites.

[luds]

Both solid light purple and dark purple needlefish are favorites of mine. I've done well on them and always wonder why I don't see more custom plugs painted that way given the effectiveness of black and purple.

I tend to fish blurple on cloudy nights and around the new moon but have found that a light purple plug is still effective around the half moon. Solid dark and light purple both seems to fish as well as blurple on dark nights.

I also like metal lips and needlefish with a light purple back and baitfish combinations that include a purple hue.

I like purple and it seems to work well

[striprman]

This is what has worked for me in the canal. Swimmers and pencil/polaris poppers and atom plastics
Spring (herring run)
Silver/white belly and black top
Yellow, Yellow red
black, blue/white
Summer
Polaris in yellow, white, blue/white, blue, mackerel
Pencil in mackerel, yellow, white
Fall
white and pearl swimmers, blue/white pencil/polaris, white and yellow polaris and pencils, mackerel.

Along with jigs and eels

[baldwin]

White, black, yellow. That covers it when you really get down to it.

[snake slinger]

black black/purple

[jklett]

Originally Posted by baldwin

White, black, yellow. That covers it when you really get down to it.

[Redsoxticket]

Glow in the dark color like green amber would be different. There are suid jigs that are effective so why not a plug.

[ChiefLinesider]

I am a fan of bright colors & patterns that reflect light. Alot of my plugs are white & black. But then I have a bunch of neons green/bright yellows etc. which I will throw majority of the time. I dont know what it is but I do well with neon green in just about any condition. Of course I have my thoughts on why it works, but they are just thoughts on a endless quest to find a definitive answer to an impossible question. Why does a color work well? Or is it because that person has confidence in that color and uses it most often?

After you have landed a fish on your favorite white needlefish, you might say, wow I love white needles. But what would have happened if you had thrown a black needle in the same spot & worked it the same way. Was it because that fish was there and was hungry, or because you threw the correct color at the correct time?

Of course you cant prove that because you cant put all those variables back together. Of course this is all too technical, but I enjoy thinking about it.

One of my favorite sayings-
If it aint chartreuse, It aint no use.

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

I am a fan of bright colors & patterns that reflect light. Alot of my plugs are white & black. But then I have a bunch of neons green/bright yellows etc. which I will throw majority of the time. I dont know what it is but I do well with neon green in just about any condition. Of course I have my thoughts on why it works, but they are just thoughts on a endless quest to find a definitive answer to an impossible question. Why does a color work well? Or is it because that person has confidence in that color and uses it most often?

After you have landed a fish on your favorite white needlefish, you might say, wow I love white needles. But what would have happened if you had thrown a black needle in the same spot & worked it the same way. Was it because that fish was there and was hungry, or because you threw the correct color at the correct time?

Of course you cant prove that because you cant put all those variables back together. Of course this is all too technical, but I enjoy thinking about it.

One of my favorite sayings-
If it aint chartreuse, It aint no use.

What happens when you are standing on a rock and try 4 differnt colors and the fish finally takes the last color, do you say it was waiting for a certain color or is it just sick off that plug passing over it on hits just to chase it away

[ChiefLinesider]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

What happens when you are standing on a rock and try 4 differnt colors and the fish finally takes the last color, do you say it was waiting for a certain color or is it just sick off that plug passing over it on hits just to chase it away

One of my favorite parts of the game.
Questioning

[Joe]

Black/Purple
All Black
All White
All Yellow
Yellow/White
Olive/White or Olive/Light Gold
Herring
Pogie
White w/Pink Stripe
Squid (seasonal)
Mullet (seasonal)

This is more geared to what sells - there are regional patterns that I don't sell that do well some places. I've tried a bunch of others - but these patterns far outsell most stuff. In wood, chartreuse does not do that well but in plastic (Super Strike) it does real well as does parrot.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Joe

Black/Purple
All Black
All White
All Yellow
Yellow/White
Olive/White or Olive/Light Gold
Herring
Pogie
White w/Pink Stripe
Squid (seasonal)
Mullet (seasonal)

This is more geared to what sells - there are regional patterns that I don't sell that do well some places. I've tried a bunch of others - but these patterns far outsell most stuff. In wood, chartreuse does not do that well but in plastic (Super Strike) it does real well as does parrot.

Regional ,,, Reading these boards and talking to different people it seems alot of loyalty to certain plugs/colors is regional . It makes sense different bait in different areas would make this true . Montauk (3 ounce yellow darter),,, Jersey smaller lefty types ,, I don't know why . Most bait shops up north get there pogies from jersey .?? LI NY large wood (7400 surfster size)parrot ? Cape is a hog-pog Maybe a giant 12" jointed CCB type or a bomber.. Canal large yellow or white pencil popper.. North of the canal small stuff seems to be the ticket . 2 ounce max.. Not saying there isn't overlap and you can't catch a fish on another plug.. Maybe its just local loyalty pre-internett before we knew what every one eles was doing .

[vanstaal]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

I am a fan of bright colors & patterns that reflect light. Alot of my plugs are white & black. But then I have a bunch of neons green/bright yellows etc. which I will throw majority of the time. I dont know what it is but I do well with neon green in just about any condition. Of course I have my thoughts on why it works, but they are just thoughts on a endless quest to find a definitive answer to an impossible question. Why does a color work well? Or is it because that person has confidence in that color and uses it most often?

After you have landed a fish on your favorite white needlefish, you might say, wow I love white needles. But what would have happened if you had thrown a black needle in the same spot & worked it the same way. Was it because that fish was there and was hungry, or because you threw the correct color at the correct time?

Of course you cant prove that because you cant put all those variables back together. Of course this is all too technical, but I enjoy thinking about it.

One of my favorite sayings-
If it aint chartreuse, It aint no use.

I often ponder the same thing i got this plastic plug it's yellow and orange paid 7.00 for it I killed them with it !! just a thought.

[stiff tip]

for yrs (earlyer)when i fished the canal . it was any color u wanted as long as its yellow... why ??? because of the schools of pogies in the canal... but if we had a rush of macks through the canal i would switch to that color patten 4 as long as that run lasted ..... multi colors on your plgs are mostly eye candy...to please the user.. gibbs made most plgs 2/3 colors w/ some hi lites.. ask me my fav, colors ...... bl/sil/w....y/sil/ w ....gr /sil w/ verm lines....but best plg 4 me in the canal isssss.... the loaded ...cotton cordell... jazzed up n coated n loaded.... w/ lots of shiney chrome......

[BigFish]

White, black, silver, yellow and green! Contrasts and shades of gray!

[bloocrab]

Mr. Canalman - If I built plugs for myself, I would make them very detailed and purrrty - mainly because I enjoy art, looking at it or creating it. However, if I'm in it for the profit...I would concentrate on a more hardier plug, I would use fewer colors but better hardware and spend that extra time on a better FINISH. What I find with ALOT of hand-crafted plugs are the durability of the finish. I do not like paying $20 for a plug that shows it's guts on the first outing. The extra time put into multiple colors should be spent on more finish coats. - Fancy color patterns are attractive to the eye, the human eye that is. The quality of a well painted plug will definately sell. Unfortunately, a very detailed plug takes more time which will drive the cost up, which will lower the amount of buyers, but a hardy plug...once proven, will be bought over and over.

Do I think a fish can see the scales that some builders paint on their plugs? .... ....do I think they're cool looking ? YES!
Can they see the variation in multiple color patterns?? I doubt it...
Most baitfish have a white-ish bottom-side regardless of what color their top-side is...most baitfish start to get chased or targeted from below...If you can add 2 + 2 and come up with 4, you'll understand that the ACTION along with the predator-fish being present are the KEY.

Why did yellow work when white didn't? Did you go back to white after catching with yellow? Did you fish it with as much confidence? Sure, I think there's a difference between very dark colors versus very light colors...but colors inbetween appeal more to my eyes than the fishs'...
Just my opinion


**OOPS, walked away without hitting the "reply" button, looks like some others feel like I do - and replied first, sorry for the repetiveness

[Swimmer]

I like that metroblurple crack, well said.

[tlapinski]

Solid dark color, solid light color, and a contrast of dark/light. For a while I was too caught up in fancy colors. Now I stick to the basic pattern I just noted. I really think this will cover you on 95% of the scenarios you will run into. Are there times when one color seems to blow away others? Yes, but it is really hard to tell if it is something the user is doing different or if it is actually the color difference. We all have had experiences where we have stood next to guy using the exact same plug but doubles our results. Worry more about presenting plugs properly and at the right time and color will fall a distant 3rd place, IMO. Of course, your results may vary!

[JHABS]

Always Start with White, White at NIGHT , I'm Sure a few will chime in on this .

[luds]

Originally Posted by JHABS

Always Start with White, White at NIGHT , I'm Sure a few will chime in on this .

I always start w/ white and or black and purple. There are a few places that Chartreuse or yellow always works well so I usually start with them but that is rare.

[rphud]

Here' a list of some from people I have had info on from down NJ way:

Smokey Joe (black/silver-gray/white)
Moss Back (dark green/white)
School Bus (black/yellow with black stripes/yellow)
Chicken Scratch (yellow/white)

I noticed two of my favorites from Karl F.: yellow with red head and white with red head (mostly for surface things).

One thing I have been pondering lately is how much the fly guys rely on chartruese over white, and how much they don't match up with lure colors.

[Swimmer]

Great article in OTW this month by Charlie Soares on this. Not to mention that our own #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& had another great read this month also. I think most of the colors schemes are to catch our eye and not the fhish's eye. We all agree on this, which is amazing.

[Canalman]

Skpop, I think I can picture that.

So what I've gotten from this so far is that

#1 Durability is Key
#2 Old Stand By Colors are still reigning supreme
#3 Blurple is preffered over black by most
#4 White and Yellow/White are far and away the most popular
#5 Natural Colors are important, but only suggestions of nature, no need to replicate the olive hues under a herrings eyes while softly replicating the hues from blue to pink to gold on it's body .
#6 metroblurple will be in the new color lineup this year.

Anything I missed? Any other suggestions?
-Dave