Smokey Joe

I've often heard bass fishermen say, "Color doesn't matter, except when it matters" and that the presentation to a fish is the most important part of fishing.  We must cast our baits to the fish, meaning we think that they are there.  Otherwise, our effort is futile since we've presented our lures to empty spaces.

I say bologna to the color comment!  It seems to matter to me nearly every time I go fishing.  I've had plenty of days fishing where the same bait of a different color caught more fish for a fishing partner.  We'd fish in the same vicinity.  The fish were definitely there.  We'd use similar retrieves too.

Different bait types and their attractiveness are a subject for another forum.  Now, some will say that it may be a lure's contrast (light vs.dark distinction) between colors that matters, rather than simply it's color(s).

With all of this in mind, I considered tying a jig using the colors black and silver.  There's nothing simpler to me than those colors with regard to their prevalence in nature's aquatic environments.  Baitfish are often dark and silvery, a natural contrast in color.

Well, here's my Smokey Joe Jig.

Materials:

• A 3/16-ounce ball head jig with a 2/0 bronze hook
• Tandy Leather Factory Suede Leather Remnant - black
• Lion Brand Fun Fur Print - lava (black and silvery gray)
• Harbor Freight Powder Paint - black and white mixed 1:1 to form a gray color
• Acrylic craft paints for eyeball and pupil - black and white
• Coats and Clark Trilobal Polyester Thread - light slate
• DecoArt Triple Thick for topcoat

If I do not catch a bass on this jig, then I'll be convinced that one made with different colors would be better. ;)