I fish 'em a ton, and I still don't know why for sure.

From what I uderstand, their use first came around from BC steelheaders on VI fishing a river that often saw pinkish colored nighcrawlers get washed into the river after rains and local anglers started trying them just off hand ... sure enoguh they, worked and their use slowly spread from there.

That might just be river legend, but that's what I've heard.

I do know that tend to be most effective in pocket situations and wild fish witll bite better than hatchery fish.

Your comments as to fish biting them in gin-clear water are the same as I have found. You'd think a fish would run from some a gaudy offering, but that's usually not the case.

Some things about these fish we'll never know.