This may seem odd or stupid to some people but, why are there hardly no jet black lures? My grandpa gave me a worn out crank bait with no paint so I painted it all black? Was that a big mistake or a good idea? Im very curious about this

I was out with a guide last year in Michigan and he told me that the first model of every bait/lure is black. At all times of the day, he explained, a black lure presents a solid sillouette to the fish. Companies test their new designs in black before approving them to be made in other color schemes. I would say that it was actually a good idea to just paint it black. The shape and action of the lure are the main things that fool a fish into believing what they are looking at is a prey item. The perfect color will seal the deal, but black will not scare fish away by any means.

FYI: my imformation on this topic came from walleye and Muskie guide Bruce Becker in watersmeet michigan and he really knows his stuff.

Awesome! But if so why don't they sell also just plain black lures?

Like I said, that information was second hand to me. I would imagine that you can find plenty of black lures...they will just be painted with eyes, gills, etc. to enhance its realism. I would be real interested to know if your black crank performs well... Bruce actually said that the huge variety of color schemes is just a way companies get us to buy more than we need so they can make more money.

Well that does seem like something I'll look into, I'll also take it out and fish, hopefully it works it's an older crank. Only one way to find out though.

I have caught lots of Bass on worms, jig/grub, and jitterbugs. All in solid black. You might just have made your new favorite lure.

An all black jitterbug is a very popular night time lure. I know I love it!

I have several lures that I've painted solid black. Like Scorcher214 said, a black Jitterbug is a primo nighttime bait. I've had success with an all black rattle trap, as well as a couple of crankbaits. Black is also a productive color for jigs, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and soft plastics.

Tom

I've got some all black crank, all black is about the only color frog or buzzbait I ever fish.

Awesome! But if so why don't they sell also just plain black lures?

The reason is, black to the buyer doesn't look appealing to purchase, so they make a million flashy colors so you buy more.

FYI: my imformation on this topic came from walleye and Muskie guide Bruce Becker in watersmeet michigan and he really knows his stuff.

FWIW Black is kind of a traditional musky color and a fair number of baits are still sold in solid or almost solid black.

I've got some all black crank, all black is about the only color frog or buzzbait I ever fish.

X2, Walk an all black frog on a overcast morning...You'll understand why pretty quick!

Mike

As the old saying goes; "any color will work, as long as it's black!"

Black is a perfectly good color for any bait, actually I can´t think of a better color for a Jitterbug other than black, black spinnerbaits ? my number one color for spinnerbaiting before dawn and at dusk/night, for cranks ? man that black Heddon Sonic has several thousand fish to it´s victim count and I´ve painted it so many times I don´t remember how many, black worms ? oh boy don´t ask, black jigs ? out of the several hundreds jigs I own 95% of them are plain black so you can say with 95% accuracy when you see me fishing a jig it will be black.

Black catches fish, sexy shad (insert latest must have color here) catches fishermen, fishermen buy lures....