Evolution of the jig and choosing colors.

Does anyone buy a new bait and choose the color/size buy the peg hook that contains the least amount?
Someone asked me one time how I chose colors or patterns with so many available and that was my response since this person was not a seasoned angler so to speak.
That brings me to this question with so many jig patterns available why is black&blue the most common? This doesn't resemble a craw as well as some other patterns out there is black&blue a "contagious confidence" color or is there something that makes it better.
Growing up we fished jigs constantly even molding and tyeing our own but we never used blue, always black & chartreuce or black & redish orange some times just black.
Just thought the evolution of the jig would be a good thread starter.
Stoner

I think it is somewhat passed on from angler to angler. There is a good reason. Black gives a good silhouette (sp.) in our slightly stained lakes and/or in low light conditions. The blue against the black offers a lot of contrast. Or so that's what I've read and been told. Whatever the reason, be it confidence or visibility, it just plain works. I love the Blk/Blue 3/8 Triple Rattleback. A good ole fishing buddy turned me onto them and this very bait caught my best tournament bass so far (4.65#) out @ Rough. Pitched it in, let it fall, soaked it, shook it and the line started swimming. Won't forget that one. Thanks BigCarl.

Yeah, I've always heard black and blue on jigs, but I think I've had more success on brown/orange or brown/purple (pb&j). I read somewhere that bass see all dark shades of blue, brown, purple, green as one dark (black) color. Sometimes I think the color combos are more for the angler than the bass. Having said that, I still have alot of black/blue jigs in the box.

I have a lot of success with the black and blue jig as well as a watermellon color jig with matching trailor. I struggle with brown and brown and black jigs during the summer months. What colors do you guys use as trailors on this color combination, especially at night?

Also, I seem to have more success fishing a jig at night without a rattle, does this hold true to you as well, or does a rattle really seem to make a big difference for you guys?

I think the rattle is condition dependent. If the fish are skittish or the water is gin clear, then I throw a jig w/o the rattle. If they are aggressive, the water is stained, or you have low light conditions I believe the rattle serves the purpose of attracting fish from a further distance. It would give them one more sense to use to key in on the bait. I also use a scented trailer most of the time. Uncle Josh made some plastic/pork leeches that I really liked but I can't find them anymore. I had to switch to the Powerbait leech that doesn't seem to have as much action, but it does have plenty of scent.

On another jig note: I just started throwing the heavy (1oz) BPS football jig. With the feel of it I think I will use it as an alternative to c-riggin in deep water sometimes. I threw this jig in Grn Pmpkn/Candy with a Grn Pmpkn/Candy Paca Chunk today and had several takers in the 15-25 ft area. I really liked the way it kept bottom contact. I could feel the difference from one type of bottom to another and it gets down quick. I did also hop it up pretty far by fishing it like I do a t-rig only lifting the rod quite a bit quicker. I was able to generate a few strikes this way as well. It seems like a versatile technique and I'm sure to use it more in the future. Shhh! Don't tell too many people, but I was fishing at T-ville again today. If you can get 'em to bite there with all the jet-skiers, tubers, and pleasure boats plus the high bright skies, not to mention the fishing pressure, then I would say this could prove to be a very effective presentation. Try it folks if you haven't already. I think you'll like it.

Rattles seem to work for plastics/jigs for me. Sometimes if the water is clear or the bite is off I'll try it without them. Sticking with the jig topic, what kind of retrieve works best for you jig guys. Do you do more hopping or dragging?

In shallow water I tend to pitch it in, let it sit on bottom (hopefully it doesn't make it that far) for a few seconds and shake it in place a couple times. Hop it up and out a little and repeat. Retrieve and on to next cast. The deep water jiggin is something I'm just starting to try with those 1 oz. bps football jigs. Both a drag and a quick hop drew strikes today.

[QUOTE=Trapper;299593]I have a lot of success with the black and blue jig as well as a watermellon color jig with matching trailor. I struggle with brown and brown and black jigs during the summer months. What colors do you guys use as trailors on this color combination, especially at night?

Also, I seem to have more success fishing a jig at night without a rattle, does this hold true to you as well, or does a rattle really seem to make a big difference for you guys?[/QUOTE]

I like to match my trailer to the jig mostly black/blue flake Paca chunk, but at night it has to have a rattle.

I certainly am not a pro nor will ever be one, but I think the actual color of the jig is way OVERATED, especially night fishing. Black and Blue or Black and Red for me on New Moon, Green Pumpkin or Brown and Orange on New Moon is enough for me. All those colors are for the bait companies to sell more items. I bet that any combo with Black will work just the same during the new moon and natural colors will do the same on New Moon. Depth and Presentation, just as in any other bait, is way more important than color. If you are not fishing the correct depth or presenting it properly, you will not catch fish. If the fish are 30 feet deep and your boat is sitting in 30 feet of water casting into 2 foot and working down to 15-20 then retrieveing and casting again, you can have the absolute best possible color, scent, jig, line and hook made but you will not catch a fish. Take a 99 cent bitsy bug with any piece of plastic trailer and make a cast to where you are working it 30 feet deep where the fish are and you will catch more fish. I fish for Smallies most of the time, and in doing so, I will trim the skirt to the exact length of the hook for a smaller bulkier bait and I love Paca Trailers. To me they give a better presentation than Zoom or any other trailer. I use a rattle 90% of the time unless drastic not-biting fish calls for drastic changes. I will either hop it slightly then let it soak, hop and soak or just slowly drag it on the bottom like a C Rig.

Try what I do sometimes. I get on a bank thats holding fish and catching em there. I then try several different types of baits and colors. Most recent I tried 3 different color of jigs all same weight same type of trailers and same manufacturer, just different colors. 8 out of 10 times the black and blue catch's more fish. Now most of my fishin in the summer is at night so that probably is why the black is better. I think dark colors are better at night cos fish only see shades at night not color. Anyway thats why I stay with black/blue when it comes to jigs. I use zoom chunks more then paca. Just my choice.

i think the jig is a lot like the plastic worm,you can use 4 or 5 colors and if you are on fish you'll get bit,the wrong bait in the right place will still get a fish.As already said the extra colors are to catch fisherman,eventhough on any given day you'll catch something on them.for me i like a 1\2 oz for all around in blk\blue\grnpmkn with either a zoom chunk or a paca in wtrmelon candy or a plain grn pumkin craw just seems to work for me.if i vary i still use a solid green pmkin or watermelon,sometimes i add a few strand of blue in them.