When I 1st started pouring jiheads ages ago I refused to paint them the 1st two years and caught fish fine. Now I paint and put eyes. Does it matter? Hard to say but end of day I think less than the fisherman thinks so. Still have to find active fish and at times doesn’t matter what you throw at them, they won’t bite. I more or less paint and eyes as a form of art expression but on a jighead.

Just recently bought some sourtherm pro tubes and going to try them out this weekend as I’ve never used a tube to fish. I know right? Go figure. Bought a 1/8oz is jighead tube mold so definitely paint and eyes won’t matter on it.

I use to back my aluminum boat by myself very similar to you. I attached rope to bow eye and the other end to winch stand. Would just throw remaining rope under the boat. Back in, slides off and then pull forward. People would look at me crazy.