painted vs unpainted heads

[Spoonminnow]

Fished today and clobbered crappie, perch, sunfish and bass in 85 degree water using unpainted jigheads and my hand poured baits. Location was shallow water - 5' - off a mid-lake hump. Caught over 35 fish yesterday using the same rig after 1:30pm. Pay extra for painted heads if you want and watch them chip after awhile, but you paid extra for nothing because fish are attracted to lure action and presentation with lure color a distant third. Jighead color doesn't even matter unless it detracts from the lure itself or adds an element of brightness fish might actually avoid.

[wharfrat]

the only time I've ever seen a difference is late winter. Mainly through the pre-spawn time. Other than that, mostly unpainted heads.

[hugastump]

was fishing for blue gills a week ago bright sunshine and hot with a white jig and 1" Gulb shiner minnow and hauling in gills , thought I would try a pink head maybe better , same Gulb minnow bite stopped . back to white back to catching fish. moved to another lake in the chain, Located Crappie; same white jig an bait notice paint had flaked off now was using plain lead ,still catching fish. but changed to pink -no bite- back to lead , caught fish , white caught fish , green or pink nothing. Seems to me color just depends on the day, I start with white or lead , if they do not catch fish in a fan cast of the area ,I switch to another color ,fan cast if no takers . move and try again going back to white ,then lead , then green or pink... guess it is called fishing an not catching for a reason

[Eagle 1]

Silver is a color found in nature more than any other .

[NIMROD]

Colors are more to catch fishermen than fish . I fished years ago with a spinnerbait maker and he only clear coated his personal baits .He said colors were to catch fishermen and sell more baits . I use strictly unpainted jig heads but then all I use are tubes with them rigged inside . Saves money using unpainted and tubes last longer .

[crappielimits]

Unpainted heads if not coated will oxidize in the box. I would at least coat with hard as nails, hard head or uv coating if stocking a bunch. You can also use a rust inhibitor.

[Spoonminnow]

Never had that problem as long as the plastic bait was not allowed to stay on the hook. Oxidation occurred every time after a year or if stored in a damp basement in a box that couldn't be sealed tight so I use zip lock bags to store backup jigheads by the hundreds so nothing in the bags oxidize.

[Fatman]

I don't have to but I like too!! I enjoy powdering, and matching heads to materials and plastics, the only problem with doing your own is you build up a really big stock! (and with another 13 thousand hooks, I'll be good for a long time!!!) I also make my own in-line spinners and beetle spin frames and tie flies and Vermont in winter is cold - and I don't ice fish anymore since I went through once in High school so plenty of time to make more stuff.

Last time I counted there were 219 bags of painted heads


Extra Unpainted



The cookie sheet on top of the storage bin is full of tied jigs and spinners that have to be put in storage boxs. And this doesn't count all the ones in my tackle bags and boxs.



I don't have a problem with stuff!!!LOL Worst part is the last 2 times I went to the fly shop I actually walked out without anything!!! - thought the wife was gonna have heart failure!!! (but I've been buying stuff on ebay and other members so!!)

[Jakesdad]

You,sir,are my hero! ^^^

[Spoonminnow]

Dang! that's a lot of jigs!!! Who is your supplier? Want to sell some?