I've always been intrigued by the Nishiki / Clown color suspending jerk bait - but never pulled the trigger on buying one ... What conditions do you use the bright Nishiki / Clown color jerkbaits for ?

Stained water is the main time I fish it. I've had good success with it in clear water on overcast days too though. Smallmouth really seem to like it, as do walleyes, but I've caught plenty of largemouth on it as well.

If there is smallmouth I'm throwing it, even in clear water!! I agree with Bluebasser though, if there is a little color to the water, clown is what I'm going with, something with that color that they have to hit it. Not all clown colors are the same, there are 3 different types, you have the Rogue style which is a gold chrome with white belly and red head, then there is the Rapala style and that is bright chartreuse with a little bit of clear on the side and a bright red head. Last is the Nishiki or LC clown pattern and it has a chartreuse back,silver sides and belly and a red head with red spots, and while all of them are a little different, they all work. slight stain or anytime smallmouth are involved.