Finally connected the dots between lures and the fish they catch (maybe)
Another supposition came into my head about lures in general:
A fish's brain is tied directly to the senses which flip an on/off switch of aggression. The type of stimulus, whether animal or lure, pre-determines the type of response.
It's been pounded into angler heads for half a century that fish recognize objects and strike based on that. But when has a fish seen an earthworm or maggot wriggling on a hook or any one of a thousand lures that look nor move like nothing that ever lived? Fish senses know/feel the difference between the two and depending on their current state-of-potential aggression, may strike or tolerate annoying intruders interrupting their yoga-like calm.
quote from JUNGLEJIMJIGS,
Quote:
Fact is fish aren't hungry and active most of the time and ignore big baits but stick a little snack in front of them and they suck it in.
Lures, unlike animals, range in categories ranging from those that tickle the fish's senses to those that thump them. Fish got to be pretty aggressive to strike thumpers such as large colorado blade spinnerbaits, deep-dive with-rattles crankbaits, Zara Spooks and large poppers on the surface, large swimbaits with boot tails, Chatterbaits, etc. The lateral line takes a pounding when those lures invade its territory.
On the other hand, small, finesse subtle-action lures tickle the senses when worked slowly near fish. They kind of irritate fish into striking like us humans scratching an itch or swatting a mosquito that lands on our skin. Small-blade short-arm spinnerbaits, small curl tail plastic alongside with many other finesse action tails that I've shown in many posts, hair/silicone skirts, small crankbaits and their clicking split-ring hooks and small poppers and balsa floating crankbaits (Rapalas), make fish curious and aware of objects that its senses tell it are not edible but that must be shown who's boss!
Colors and flash can also be visual ticklers or thumpers to the fish's eye. Bright fluorescent colors with or without black spots for contrast, the metallic flash of a spinnerbait or crankbait and bright white against a dark background are eye-catching and eye-holding. Used with sonic lateral line thumpers, you got a super thumper!
On the other hand, clear plastic hard or soft lures, use subtle light refraction and reflections that twinkle like stars in the night - or in the weeds. Black and dark gray(whether opaque or translucent) are easy on the eyes of a predator along with its other senses forever-tuned to what moves. No emotions are involved or hunger in the sense that it's time to eat this thing that just splashed down or is hopping slowly off bottom. (What prey hops around for Chrise sake or moves like anything we throw at them!)
Something to contemplate (between beers) when trying to decide which lure to choose from your overflowing tackle box.
