With regards to color preference;

My buddy has a favorite jig color or two, which he uses almost exclusively. I tend to change colors more. When there's a good bite, we both catch fish. Sometimes he outfishes me, sometimes the other way around.

Here's the point. He uses those colors all the time, so when the fishing's hot, that color combo gets the credit. When the fish aren't biting well, he'll change to a different color. If the fish continue not to bite, he says that color is no good. So, when he catches a fish, chances are good he'll be using one of his two trusty colors, and why change then? So therefore, his chances of catching one on a different color are pretty slim, since the fish must not have been in a biting mood if he was even TRYING a color other than his favs. in the first place.

I know that on some days, or on certain rivers, there are definitely preferred colors. But to ask "what is the best jig/plug/cheater/spinner color?" is simply asking a question that is difficult to answer. I'd say get a variety of colors, and you'll wind up having a favorite eventually. On the day you land 6 fish on your orange plug, that doesn't necessarily mean that some guy below you didn't land ten on a chrome/chartreuse pattern. And if you say "All the fish were caught on red plugs", that doesn't really tell you anything if everybody out there is using a red plug. I'm afraid, my friend, that trial and error is the best way to settle on your favorite color pattern. Don't be stubborn and refuse to switch if guys around you are landing fish on a certain pattern, and you aren't getting any action. Comparing catch results from different days, on different rivers, in different water conditions will tell you little, if anything, about how effective a certain color pattern is.

I'd suggest some "standard" productive colors. For jigs: cerise, pink, white/pink, black/cerise, black/white(on Columbia tribs!). For plugs: Blue and green pirate, blue/chrome herringbone, chrome/chartreuse bill, and flo. orange or pink. For spinners: Chrome body/blade, brass body/blade, blue body/silver blade, red body/silver blade, black/black. I hope you saved your shackles, because It can get pricey especially when you consider that you should really have 2-5 sizes of the items mentioned above. But at least you'll have the bases covered.

Go get em' !

Fish on............

[This message has been edited by Dan S. (edited 10-18-2000).]