Realistic Paint Jobs

[Scott F]

In nature, many species of animals, including fish, have colorations that allow them to blend in to their environment so they may be able to hide from predators. Any animals that have some sort of genetic defect, like albinos, do not often survive to adulthood because they can't hide from predators. My question is, does it make sense to use baits that do not stand out from the environment and instead blend in, like those that have photo like paint jobs or does it make more sense to use baits that do not hide and that stand out so that bass can easily find them?

Do those of you who insist on using realistic looking baits have better catch rates with them than you get with less than realistic looking baits?

[Brayberry]

I have some beautifully painted custom painted cranks, and I have some blah looking cranks.  Both catch fish equally for me.  The collector in me loves the custom stuff, so I keep buying it, more to admire then to fish with.  

[HeavyTwenty]

Translucent lures kind of blend in. I use them in really clear water, but I can't really say they do any better than standard shad color lures. 

[mooneyes]

Realistic paint jobs look great when you have the benefit of looking at them in an environment that does not filter light.   They will look much different under water when the light becomes filtered and the water color has an effect on them.     I find it more practical to use colors that I believe will provide a good contrast based on available light and water color.

 

[Raul]

"Realistic" paint jobs got one beeeeeeeg FLAW, they are only realistic in a very limited set of conditions in which the realism is truly realistic. Fish coloration and pattern is caused by pigmented cells in the skin called melanocites, how much coloration they show is ruled by the nervous system, so to x or y depth, for a or b water clarity and color, for 1 or 2 light penetration and ..... we can go on ad infinitum, the nervous system tell the muscle cells sourrounding the melanocite to relax or contract to match the conditions in which the animal will mimic the most the environment. Does it make sense to fish with them ? It makes perfect sense if you think/believe it's going to help you catch more fish.

[kickerfish1]

I am not a huge fan of realistic paintjobs be our lakes here are not always the most clear which is where the realistic paint jobs would shine outside of catching anglers. More often then not I try to match color or paint to water clarity. The more clear the water the more natural the color where the more dirty or muddy the water the more bright or darker the color. For example I would not toss a Live target pattern crank in water with a few inches of clarity and I probably would not toss something bright chartreuse in water with 10 feet of clarity ... at least not to start with.

[roadwarrior]

15 hours ago, Scott F said:

Do those of you who insist on using realistic looking baits have better catch rates with them than you get with less than realistic looking baits?

 

No, but as a collector the finer points really impress me. My favorite are Megabass or specifically

the Ito Vision 110. Of my entire collection I have probably only fished three.  As far as "catching"

my #1 jekbait is a beat up, 10+ year old Lucky Craft Pointer (green Baby Bass). Otherwise my

go-to crankbait is a Norman Fat Boy (redear pattern). You would probably consider this lure to be

completely ruined!

 

[FCPhil]

I think it has a significant effect depending on how timid the bass are. Recently I was fishing with both a black whopper plopper and a translucent shad whopper plopper. Only the translucent one got strikes.

[frosty]

I fished some realistic looking colors the other day in extreme clear water. I got nothing, I threw in a yellow and purple jerkbait (afaik, there's no yellow and purple fish in Indiana waters) and it got hammered. I think action and location is far more important than color. 

[WRB]

Have you ever seen a albino baitfish? They are very rare because predators eat them, they stand out from all the others.

I like real looking slow moving lures like soft plastics, jigs and swimbaits, contrasting colored lures for faster moving lures like crankbaits, top water. Bright flashy lures in the wind like spinnerbaits and structure spoons.

Tom