Thread: Painted vs unpainted Jig Heads

The advantage is to have a different color or more color added to your bait(jig). The down side is painted jig heads usually cost more than unpainted. But sometimes you want to tone the color down and not use a colored jig head. Try colored and unpainted jigheads and let the fish tell you what they like.

Only plastics I use are tubes and it is cheaper to use unpainted inside . Also tubes will last much longer that way and hook is closer to rear of tube .

I like painted jig heads especially when trolling- I'm looking for reaction bites and the contrast IMHO Helps-
as far as cost buy some colors in powder paint and do your own- I use a heat gun on low- you can do a ton of jigs in a hour

I use unpainted jigheads, because in my view ... silver / grey IS a color

But, seriously ... I use both and can't really tell any difference in my catch ratio, overall. My "spider rigging" jigheads are mostly painted heads, and my "casting" jigheads are all unpainted (with the exception of my Roadrunners). I catch fish on both, so I see no particular "disadvantages" to either one.

unpainted lead is a natural color or hue. I think fish have a pretty neutral attitude towards it.

It's easier and cheaper to just not have to fool with having painted heads,you don't have to weigh in to the equation "what color head". Spend the money to buy them or time and money to make them.

They will chip up if your fishing them around rock or gravel bottoms

They will make a difference sometimes and can increase the catch rate,(or decrease it) as can the actual head shape or size as it can effect the fall rate and movement of the jig.

If you have a lot of different colors,types,and profiles of jig bodies you can help negate this. I fish primarily straight lead now because I always have so many bodies of so many color variations I can usually find something that works with the plain lead head. Except like crappieppapy I use color most of the time with roadrunner heads,I do have some plain pony head spinners though. Either chartreuse or white in roadrunner heads I think covers it well if matched to the right body. I also think bait attractants (I won't use the N word) also help to negate this.

When I use to have fewer bodies and carried a variation of painted heads it did matter more often to be able to add something to that limited number of bodies.

If you can always catch fish with equal aplomb using only a small arsenal of bait types and presentations,over many years and many different bodies of water under all conditions and seasons. You possess a special MOJO that I do not possess. I recognize that, and salute you. I am not one of those people. I help keep the lure companies in business.

unpainted lead is a natural color or hue as CrappiePappy say's. I think fish have a pretty neutral attitude towards it.

It's easier and cheaper to just not have to fool with having painted heads,you don't have to weigh in to the equation "what color head". Spend the money to buy them or time and money to make them.

They will chip up if your fishing them around rock or gravel bottoms

They will make a difference sometimes and can increase the catch rate,(or decrease it) as can the actual head shape or size as it can effect the fall rate and movement of the jig.

If you have a lot of different colors,types,and profiles of jig bodies you can help negate this. I fish primarily straight lead now because I always have so many bodies of so many color variations I can usually find something that works with the plain lead head. Except like CrappiePappy I use color most of the time with roadrunner heads,I do have some plain pony head spinners though. Either chartreuse or white in roadrunner heads I think covers it well if matched to the right body. I also think bait attractants (I won't use the N word) also help to negate this.

When I use to have fewer bodies and carried a variation of painted heads it did matter more often to be able to add something to that limited number of bodies.

If you can always catch fish with equal aplomb using only a small arsenal of bait types and presentations,over many years and many different bodies of water under all conditions and seasons. You possess a special MOJO that I do not possess. I recognize that, and salute you. I am not one of those people. I help keep the lure companies in business. I been eyeballin' these glow in the dark heads...stop me before I buy some.

Either way is fine, Black tail with a plain head looks like a minnow.

sorry about the double post...I was trying to edit the original and somehow double posted