All The Visual Details On Top Of A Frog Or Topwater Lure. ..

[ghost]

But little or no detail onthe bottom. So the top of the lures attention to detail to "catch" the fisherman?

 

Looking at the bottom of most topwater lures is just mostly solid colors of white, black, orange, chartreuse,  etc. With some with a stripe or added simulated blood trail. 

 

So how does a bass or fish know or see the detail of a topwater lure on top? They don't right? It's just the silhouette or movement of that topwater lure that catches the attention of the fish? Unless the water is crystal clear and the day is bright, sunny, most times there's a haze in the water that a fish really doesn't see if what's on top making a silhouette or movement is really a real frog?

 

So the visual detail on top of the lure is a marketing gimmick to catch and reel in the fisherman to buy that lure, right?

 

I'm just trying to understand the marketing aspect of lure mfg's.

[roadwarrior]

Real fish usually have a white, silver, yellow or orange bottom side and it's usually

solid. However, when you work a lure the sides and maybe the top go underwater.

Bass may be able to see colors close to the water, but above the water. so color

may come into play. In clear water details may come into play, too. Ask the guys

fishig big swimbaits in clear water what they think and most will be very particular

about both color and detail. Still, I think profile and action are far more important,

but it's the little things that separate the men from the boys.

[Master Bait'r]

 

 

So the visual detail on top of the lure is a marketing gimmick to catch and reel in the fisherman to buy that lure, right?

 

 

 

 

I've heard the saying that the bottoms catch the fish and the tops catch the fishermen- that said, the sides are totally visible while working it, and the side patterns on, say, a regular bronzeye absolutely play a part in  pattern recognition whilst walking it IMO.  The basics are the same though- you've got light and dark, poppers and walkers.  Some wake-style walker frogs like the furbits and evergreens give the option to have a willow blade for flash which is awesome too.  I just try to have a decent selection of different sizes, shapes, colors and actions of fogs so I can give different looks if one isn't getting a reaction.

 

 

So yes, there will always be a certain amount of gimmick in any new lure- after all, people have been catching fish on antiques for decades- but there is also a certain amount of innovation, advancement and quality added in each new step as well.  Better hooks, better plastics, more and better patterns, more durable finishes etc...  They all make good lures better and that's important too.   

[Marty]

I agree with RW that profile and action exceed color pattern, probably by a wide margin. I do think the tackle industry gets a bad rap with the old saying that "lures are made to catch fishermen, not fish." If they don't catch fish they get no repeat business. But every product has to "catch" potential buyers. Cars have to catch drivers, razors have to catch shavers, stoves have to catch cooks, and so it goes.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I buy,a few different frogs but based on the bellys color I don't care about the top, white, black. White with yellow or any other bring color. For the most part all my frogs have white or black bellies. The top colors are to catch fishermen

[ColdSVT]

All i care about it white bellies on sunny days and dark bellies when its overcast

And yes i have taken a sharpie to my frogs before to color the bottom black if needed lol

[Avalonjohn44]

..., the sides are totally visible while working it, and the side patterns on, say, a regular bronzeye absolutely play a part in  pattern recognition whilst walking it IMO. ..

 

^THIS. Bass are rarely simply directly under the bait looking only at the stomach. The action of the bait will bring bass from all sides. Looking up at an angle, the fish will see the sides as well as the belly.  And since we know their eyesight is equivilent to a cats, it will most certainly see some of the detail.

[Montanaro]

I have a simple rule. Black or white belly and neon on top so I can see it better.

[Raul]

Here´s some food for thought: one of my favorite topwater baits is the Heddon Torpedo, it really is a very simple bait, a cigar shape plastic body with hooks hanging from it and a propeller on the tail, I, as any tackle junkie, have it in various finishes from the most simplistic to the most intricate ( many of them are no longer available ) plus a clear one, yeah means it has no finish at all, it´s transparent; well the thing cathes fish as well as the others. How about that ?

 

All those intricate details are meant to catch you, the action is much more important than how it looks.

[WRB]

Very few top water lures sit on top of the water completely like a boat. The top water lure sits with the head out of the water, the body slightly or completely submerged. When retrieved the lure rolls to one side and may go under water at times giving the lutes overall color scheme a chance for the bass to see.

If you are hollow body frog fishing over heavy weed matts the color has little affect, unless it hits open water pockets.

Tom

[Catt]

Why is Bone White with an Orange Belly so productive?

Like Raul said clear is productive & has been for decades...why?

I have a friend who hand carves Spook type lures & simply seals the wood leaving a natural wood color...they catch fish...why?

Or how about ole school white with a red head?

Profile & Action is WHY!