lets discuss the pros/cons/differences between the 3 and which applications are best suited for each.

brought up in MT's thread about the funky chicken lure, i feel this are many things to be learned about these different materials for fishing lures.

lets start with some basics

maribou
feathers/fluffy stuff that is often times is from real animal parts, so it acts/behaves/simulates real animals! its opaque, so you get good color presentation and it excels at night as it leaves a dark solid profile. has the least amount of color customization and multi colored baits tend to have distinct breaks between color changes.

its hard to beat when it comes to lifelike action and coaxing finicky fish into biting. used on everything from fuzzy grubs to  bucktails, its been around in fishing for a LONG time and has proven its effectiveness. plus is very durable, a big advantage over the other two kinds. it can fade if left out in the sun for extended amounts of time. has the most drag of the 3 materials.

the downside though, is that once wet, it takes a while to dry out and requires much more attention than newer materials. after a day of fishing for muskies on bucktails, any avid musky fisherman will tell you to hang your marabou baits to let them dry out and keep the hooks from rusting. when put back into a box wet, you get evaparatory water on your box lids and other lures. rust is bad.

for canoe/camping fishing applications... my personal opinion is that they are too much hastle for fishing from a canoe/campsite. after using a bait, you either have to hang it inside the boat in the sun to dry or from a clothes line/tree branch as you dont have the same amenities as a boat/cabin. leaving hooks exposed in a canoe is a big no-no as you could easily catch one in the hand/leg. anything to avoid injury up there is good. also, you run the risk of losing a lure overboard if you bump it wrong/tip the canoe. hanging from a branch/clothesline is a good way to lose lures by forgetting them, wind blowing, etc. plus if you happen to step on one that fell... ouch!

flashabout
basically its your grandmas christmas tree tinsel on a bait! its sparkly, shiny, can be opaque/translucent, medium durability and dries out very quickly. doesnt fade if left out in the sun, but it can become brittle over time. excels on sunny bright days where the reflective properties are maximized. has a wide variety of color customization with the ability to blend color changes horizontally/vertically/front to back.

in canoe/camping fishing applications... its a very solid choice. probably the most 'rare' of the 3 options and provides something a little different for the fish. the lightest of the bunch (although not really a big concern unless you are hauling a LOT of them). dries out quickly and lasts for a lot of fish. the least drag of the 3 materials, but the worst silhouette at night

silicone
soft supple lifelike rubber that pulses and wiggles drawing strikes. the least durable of the 3 materials as over time toothy predators can bite bits and pieces off. does not absorb water and dries out quickly. can fade and become brittle in extended sunlight. can melt to other soft plastics creating a gooey mess(newer materials have gotten better so its not nearly as prevalent as it used to be). can be translucent, although most commonly opaque. has a wide variety of color customization with the ability to blend color changes horizontally/vertically/front to back. leaves a good silhouette at night.

for canoe/camping fishing applications... my personal favorite choice. the combination of quick drying and lifelike wiggle and good night/day versatility and lots of color options. excels in clear water where the extremely life like color patterns can be seen.

other tips
im a big fan of clear plastic plano style trays. i like that they are flat and have adjustable dividers. plus they stack nice and you can see what is in them. i have velcro on the bottom of mine and they velcro to the canoe for easy transport/silent operation(you never kick them and have them skid on the bottom of the canoe). i have my map taped to the inside lid to keep the baits out of the sun during the day, and then once im back at camp i open the lid and place in the sun for a while to evaporate out any water that remains in the tray from the lures. rust is bad!

also, i like to add a twister tail to the rear hooks on my spinner baits. it adds a little more wiggle and pulse and can be used for a nice color contrast and adds some bulk. you can also adjust the size of added soft plastic tail to reduce the sink rate or retrieve rate. i like single tailed grubs with willow blades and double tailed grubs with colorado blades.