I spend what might be looked at as an inordinate amount of time looking thru different bait company's on-line stores and pay particular attention to new colors they add from year to year. Its amazing how things change from one year to another. More and more the on-line catalogs offer expanded views of the baits in each offered color which really helps to see what is in each...glitter, hi lite, etc. It helps to see the separation of color layers very clearly too. There's just no end to what colors keep popping up.
Roboworm.com, Keitechusa.com, yumbaits.com, bigbitebaits.com, reactioninnovations.com, zmanfishing.com are but a few of some really aggressive companies that stay well ahead of others when it comes to color development and many of these layered colors can be adapted to several of the current do-it molds line-up. The Wutz-its and Fat fork jumps right out as baits that would easily be made using the color combinations the larger companies are making now. Creature baits, frogs, craws, Senkos, Neds, Carrots....any mold do-it makes that is formatted to make a top and a bottom can be used to make baits very close to those done by the package people.
Many of these molds can be hand-poured, in part, to make these layered colors. The twin injector people can have a ball with two, three or even four color laminates. A couple here already dabble in triple injectors and have realized the fun of making what has always had to be purchased to enjoy.
I love working with color. I dig thru these tackle websites a lot and note colors I want to try, then I take the notes and hit a Scheels or FleetFarm and look at the baits first hand to get a feel for the way the colors are developed. Its the challenge. I don't like getting bogged down with every day simple colors. I like stretching them and make them do things like the package guys are doing. Or better yet, something they haven't even done yet.
Got some free time? Take a look at the baits on the sites I mentioned and let your creativity go.
