Sam Ubl
Published May 15, 2009


Autumn leaves are never ignored. Their effervescence draws your
eye from the beginning of their turnover until the snow covers their
grounded reflection. As winter melts away and spring rains fertilize
the defrosted ground, only then is the new greenery superlative to the
colors of fall. It's a cornerstone to the refreshing warmth of summer,
yet it's a short-lived refreshment as our eyes grow used to the
greenery. Only when the wind shifts and a strong breeze suggests a
storm is approaching do we again turn our attention back to the leaves.
While still green, they flip to their dull side as if to warn us of the
weather to come, and so I got to thinking.

	So Many Colors..

Muskies are predators by nature, yet sometimes by choice. What draws
their attention besides the feeling in their lateral line and
mandible's sensory pores? Ultimately, what draws their eye? Water
displacement and relative vibration surely excites our quarry, so much
so that a blind musky can effectively feed. While the theory that color
doesn't make a difference can be proven at times, it surely can't be
the staple in every scenario.



As musky fishermen, we talk about color all the time; it's a popular
discussion. When to throw natural versus artificial colors seems to be
the mainstay for these conversations, and surely they go deeper, such
as the idea of natural colors lacking a visual profile, or the concept
of the purkinje shift. As a boy my father first introduced me to the
turning leaf concept I described at the end of my first paragraph. It's
a theory that has planted a garden of ideas I base a lot of my lure
color choices on.



The idea, while not my own, of natural paintjobs of lures imitating a
relative forage base and lacking a visual profile is an interesting
one. Surely fish are patterned according to their primary niche for
camouflaging purposes, theirs little to no question there. Does its
relationship to a muskies strike or lack there of go beyond that simple
aspect? I believe it does, and once again I'll refer back to my first
paragraph.



Why are juvenile muskies easier to catch? Sure, they may not have
fallen victim to barbed hooks yet, but could it be they aren't yet
bored of their prey? In the first couple years of a muskies life, they
feed more often and grow rapidly compared to a larger, older fish. To
them, life might just be a little more fun as their youth and smaller
size allows them more energy to chase down prey. Imagine a hungry
energetic child in a candy store and how sticky their fingers could
become if you let them touch all the variety that appeals to them. As
an adult, I'm assuming you would be less enthused by the spectrum of
colors as their appeal may only compromise a severe craving or hunger.
Much the same, I believe that a relatively large musky who has lived
amongst the perch, suckers, bluegills, etc. may no longer see the
excitement they once did in their adolescent years. Furthermore, no
longer are they as vulnerable to be caught on just about anything you
throw at them like their younger kin.



This theory doesn't resolute to boredom alone, rather it can spin off
another direction. Assuming the boredom theory holds true, much the
same as our enthusiasm fades with the constant greenery of summer,
suffice it to say that artificial colors can trip the trigger you feel
half way back on your cast's retrieve. Beyond the science of the
purkinje shift, where differences in color contrast under different
levels of illumination can increase lure visibility, lies a simpler
perspective - the significance of change. While almost all musky lures
are shaped or assembled to imitate a forage species by movement and
profile, perhaps what distinguishes an buyer from a window shopper is
the change in color.



By no means am I suggesting that natural colors don't work, in fact,
over two-thirds of my tackle reflect natural paintjobs, blades and
skirts. I also utilize the concept of purkinje shifts to the fullest
and take head to the idea of natural camouflaging falling victim to a
lack of visual profile. I'll never be one to profess that color doesn't
matter as all is relative to the circumstances. Yes, a blind fish can
be caught, but perhaps the next time you set out to catch one of the
other 99% of the species you'll consider more than the "hold your hand
up to the sky" theory when deciding what color to use.


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