Science behind Electric Chicken Explained

[CrappiePappy]

What was the point?
It says a lot but doesn't really say anything lol.

Au Contraire, Mr lure maker ..... it says exactly what anglers want to hear : the colors are opposite, contrasting colors ... which means it's visible in most all water clarity conditions -- & quite possibly the MOST visible.

But then, you already knew that ... LOL !! (even with your hair jigs, Elec Chicken is one of your more popular colors, is it not ? ) I think WiCrappie was just trying to spread the knowledge, concerning the science behind the "color". Maybe not "real science", as in a biologist's report ... but, layman science, that most all of us can comprehend.

It might seem a little like "preaching to the choir", to reveal this information to learned anglers & lure makers ... but, to those of lesser experience & knowledge, it confirms that "contrast" is an important factor in the coloration of baits, giving them the understanding of "why" these gawdy color patterns do attract & catch fish.

... cp

[Redman]

CP I reread the artical twice. Have come to the conclusion that if complimentary colors are that effective then we should be using only colors of our jigs that are complimentary. The white and blue jig that has taken so many fish this season and the colors of the University of Kentucky should be replaced with the colors of the University of Florida. I will contend that the colors used to make a jig will most represent a small bait fish that in our case a crappie is feeding on.

Complimentary colors are used most of the time by advertizers to catch people. Complimentary colors on jig will catch fish but wait what about a solid color jig like the Gray Ghost. or one like the Silver minnow. Fish are creatures of instinct. They are eating machines driven by the desire to fill their bellies with forage bait fish. Therefore if you will present a JIG that most closely matchs the forage fish that they are feeding on at that moment you will most likely trigger a crappie in to hitting that jig and being caught.

This is MHO not to say that you are wrong but presenting a agrument in matching the hatch that the trout guys always seem to be doing with great success. If it works for you keep doing it and if it aint broke don't fix it.

All the best

Redman

[bugman]

Interesting.

[ScottV]

Now I know something new also. Thanks for sharing.

[CrappiePappy]

CP I reread the artical twice. Have come to the conclusion that if complimentary colors are that effective then we should be using only colors of our jigs that are complimentary. The white and blue jig that has taken so many fish this season and the colors of the University of Kentucky should be replaced with the colors of the University of Florida. I will contend that the colors used to make a jig will most represent a small bait fish that in our case a crappie is feeding on.

Complimentary colors are used most of the time by advertizers to catch people. Complimentary colors on jig will catch fish but wait what about a solid color jig like the Gray Ghost. or one like the Silver minnow. Fish are creatures of instinct. They are eating machines driven by the desire to fill their bellies with forage bait fish. Therefore if you will present a JIG that most closely matchs the forage fish that they are feeding on at that moment you will most likely trigger a crappie in to hitting that jig and being caught.

This is MHO not to say that you are wrong but presenting a agrument in matching the hatch that the trout guys always seem to be doing with great success. If it works for you keep doing it and if it aint broke don't fix it.

All the best

Redman

I understand your argument, and your point.

Water clarity & sunlight penetration depth are key components to a fish's ability to distinguish color ... as well as being able to distinguish baitfish from the surrounding background. Even baitfish have contrasting colors ... dark backs & light bellies. They're just not as "contrasting" as full color lures. Their colors are meant to act like camo ... so the baitfish appears dark, when viewed from above (& blends with the darker bottom background) & light when viewed from below (& blends with the "white" of clouds & sunlit water surface glare.
I took the article to say that .... complimentry contrasting colors are more visible ... therefore being more likely to be seen from more different angles.

I also understand the argument of "match the hatch" & matching the baitfish "size" .... but, there's been too many times when I've thrown a lure into a school of feeding fish, that in no way matched either of those factors (and was actually outlandishly different ... LOL !! ) ... and I caught fish. My train of thought on that, lends me to believe that the fish could distinguish my "freak" from the myriads of look alike baitfish (ie - it was more visible) ... so they were able to key on it, easier.

As far as mfg's baits/colors "catching the fisherman" .... I have to ask : Is there any color, or combination of colors, of a bait ... that "WON'T" catch fish ?? And to the other side of the coin .... is there any color or combination of colors, that will "ALWAYS" catch fish ?? My experience has been that the answer to both questions ... is NO. Color, in and of itself, is not the "be all" of any bait. You have to add in size, shape, action, & scent (where applicable). Then throw in the prevailing conditions (weather, water clarity, water temp, depth, season, etc) and you have a more complete idea of how well your choice of bait is going to work. But, that's just the "game plan" .... the "play diagrams", if you will. You still have to "meet" the opposing team, on the field, before it's game on .... LOL !! Besides ... if the bait doesn't appeal to the anglers, then they're not going to buy it ... if they don't buy it, they won't try it ... if they don't try it, they won't catch anything on it ... and no one will ever know if it works or not. :p

Good discussion .... keep it going !

... cp

[shipahoy41]

Interesting read. Thanks for posting it. I am inclined to agree with Pappy. The most important thing to me is to have confidence in what technique you are using as well as what bait you choose to use. My favorite is chartreuseand. What am I talking about? I tie two contrasting colors as long as one of them is chartreuse. Add a little flashabou and either a chenille or jelly body then fish it slow.

[crappiedoc]

Fish are just like the gulls above them, you just can't hear them. Contrast, yes! Solid colors, yes! Chart/white not much, but when its time thats all. Fish are oppurtunists, they have to be. All I'm saying is, when you get stuck in a pattern, sometimes you'll miss out. Theres lots of interesting stuff in the water, not just fish. And how about winter when crappie eat the moss off the brushpile, it's full of aquatic insects and such. One consistent thing is the constipation fish get after eating loose Gulp baits, cleaned a crappie the other day with part of the tail of a gulp minnow sticking out. It just wasn't right.

[smoothlures]

Au Contraire, Mr lure maker ..... it says exactly what anglers want to hear : the colors are opposite, contrasting colors ... which means it's visible in most all water clarity conditions -- & quite possibly the MOST visible.

But then, you already knew that ... LOL !! (even with your hair jigs, Elec Chicken is one of your more popular colors, is it not ? ) I think WiCrappie was just trying to spread the knowledge, concerning the science behind the "color". Maybe not "real science", as in a biologist's report ... but, layman science, that most all of us can comprehend.

It might seem a little like "preaching to the choir", to reveal this information to learned anglers & lure makers ... but, to those of lesser experience & knowledge, it confirms that "contrast" is an important factor in the coloration of baits, giving them the understanding of "why" these gawdy color patterns do attract & catch fish.

... cp

All I got from the article was they're contrasting colors on the color wheel and you should try more contrasting colors. I tie every combination known to man, and I don't care what the contrast is, if that's not what they're eating, they won't hit it. Heck I've probably caught most of my crappie on solid white or green chartreuse with a matching head. :p

[smoothlures]

That was a good read But have you ever caught a very small and I am talking about a 1 to 2 inch bream fry and noticed the color of it. looks very close to the color of a electric chicken. Find one and be SUPRISED.

Redman

And big crappie LOVE those little bream. Had a chance to put out a minnow trap in my buddies pond to catch bait that was stocked with crappie. They ate 'em up.

And on a side note, lots of baitfish have light pink hues to them in all kinds of lighting from moonlight to full sun.

[CrappiePappy]

All I got from the article was they're contrasting colors on the color wheel and you should try more contrasting colors. I tie every combination known to man, and I don't care what the contrast is, if that's not what they're eating, they won't hit it. Heck I've probably caught most of my crappie on solid white or green chartreuse with a matching head. :p

I think the article was just trying to say that complimentary contrasting colors (like Elec Chicken) have a certain amount of science behind the gawdy color scheme ... and not just "any old colors thrown together & given a name" :p

Any two colored jig has "contrast" ... to one degree or another

And you're right ... "if it's not what they're eating, they won't hit it" ... OR ARE YOU Many jig color combinations don't have a counterpart in the underwater world ... and Bluegill fry aren't the mainstay of a Crappie's diet ... so, if minnows & Shad are "what they're eating" (mostly), then grey/white should be the only color combination necessary. I think a more accurate statement would be ... "if it's not what they're SEEING, they won't eat it" And contrasting colors is what helps them 'see' the bait ... with complimentary contrasting colors being the most visible. (IF & WHEN that's a necessary thing)

Funny you should mention green/char :D

I used Elec Blue/Char tubes, with great success, for many years ... and on many different lakes. Switched up one year, not too long ago, to green/char, and have done quite well on it, since. I'm just wondering what the next "great" color combination that I'll come across, will be :D (my #1 fishing partner has yellow/char as his "go to" color combination :o ) And I've seen the Crappie at a certain lake I fish ... go from favoring "Albino Shad", to "Popsicle", to "Monkey Milk". (none of which is even remotely similar to the other) I'm just hoping they've got a hankerin for "Bluegrass", next time I'm slinging jigs in their face

... cp