I was starting to pour my own jigs and wanted know the advantages or disadvantages of hook color choices.

Heck I've tried gold, red, black, and bronze - really don't think it makes a difference.

IMO, the black hook is the strongest/toughest.

The red/gold is now my favorite crappie hook because if you hang up in brush, most of the time, the hook will open up before you break you line.

Red

Black nickle is the strongest and best made IMO,,,I do use the gold quite a bit and a little red.

And red doesn't stay on the hook long. But I do recommened sickle hooks, but I do fish the other hook.

Some issues to always think of in colors of hooks:
Gold works good but will rust easy if left wet in box or lots of humidity in the air.Learned that by having to discard 15000 jig heads in the shop.
Red anodized and will wear off quickly and usaly cost more.
Black nickel,like others have said fill the bill and work great and is all I use unless requested otherwise by customers.

Black Nickel!! Red hooks are gold after the red is gone. And the gold rusts so easy. Black nickel is stronger than all and is sharper outof all the sickle hooks.We sell very few gold hooks mostly Black Nickel.