Beads are pretty! I like the gold ones, copper ones, silver ones, black ones, red ones, orange ones, ect... For Steelhead yes, you want a Orange or red bead on a nymph or leach. Alot of the other patterns it depends on what you "think" may appeal to the trout. I tie Rainbow Warriors with both silver and black tungsten beads, for PT I like to use copper or gold. Caddis can go gold or black. It's fun to mix and match. Does one work better than the other? I guess I'll leave that up to the fish.