I don't fish crankbaits much anymore but was hoping you could answer this question?

Back in the day crankbait manufacturers would paint a "dot" on the bait supposedly because predator fish would attack the eye of baitfish. The added "dot" was to draw attention to the strike zone further back on the bait? Is that still a thing? 

I just figured it was because so many baitfish have a pronounced dot...shad, especially 

Threadfin Shad have a dot, lure makers try to duplicate the baitfish coloration....to help sell more lures.

Tom

Still a thing, as in about all crank manufacturers have shad or baitfish patterns with dots in their lineup. Whether the fish care or not is up for debate, though.

My most productive “Shad” color crank bait is a custom ghost color pearl white with fine silver flake vertical stripe, no dot, with yellow eyes bomber model A and Poe Super Cedar 300. Why? doesn’t look like a Threadfin to me it does to the bass! The color hasn’t. Been available for 20 years because it looks too plain or didn’t have The Dot.

Tom

                 

 

Lures are meant to imitate bass food.  Bass are predators.  Crippled fish are especially attractive to a fish predator looking for an easy meal.   Anything that makes a small fish stand out, is going to be noticed.  I carry a red magic marker in my tackle box.  I use it to paint red lines on my rattle traps.  This was taught to me years ago by someone who fished these lures exclusively.  If you notice, many successful bass lures have similar markings.   Dots, lines, eyes, mouth and gill slits all have the same purpose. 

 

Don’t forget the placebo effect as well..if you think it’s a better bait you fish it better. When you fish it better you usually catch more. 
 

I stopped trying to figure out the why. I’ll throw pieces of styrofoam cup of that’s what their into..