Blade Bait 2024
pwahmy reply :
For any of you that throw the blade bait, how do you like to work it? What color do you prefer for stained water, gold?
-Payton
papajoe222 reply :
When you say 'blade bait' are you referring to a bladed jig or the lure?
Fishinthefish reply :
I'm assuming you're referring to chatterbaits when I say this, and I either like to work them quickly with occasional pauses, or slowly and bounce it off the bottom, or off structure.
XzyluM reply :
If you are referring to bladed jigs, I pretty much slow roll them on the bottom.
CJ reply :
I think you are talking about a blade bait like the Heddon Sonar or a Steel Shad. Both great lures. Best cold, muddy water bait there is. I throw em out, let them hit the bottom then use my rod to move them similar to a flutter spoon. I just pull them about 5-6 ft. at a time. Start the rod at about 8-9 o'clock then pull back over my shoulder or maybe only waist high. I only move them fast enough to make them thump then kill em. Usually get bit on the pause while it's falling. I like gold or red for stained water but have done good on silver as well. I usually fish them shallow but they work at all depths. I just need a bigger one. Tried to make it but once they get big it's very hard to get em balanced right.
Fishes in trees reply :
I've heard spinnerbaits referred to as "blade " baits. I've heard chatter baits referred to as "blade" baits. I've heard baits such as the Sonar, or a Cicada or a Silver Buddy referred to as a "blade " bait. Which one do you mean?
scaleface reply :
I interpret blade baits as weighted pieces of metal like the Cordell Gay Blade . I hop them off the bottom , much like a worm .
Crestliner2008 reply :
Blade baits were orginally introduced by Heddon, back in the '60's - the Heddon Sonar. They became popularized by Billy Westmoreland on Dale Hollow Reservoir as one of his signature baits - the Silver Buddy. Many different brands, types and sizes have been produced since. They are all very effective baits, for a multitude of species, especially in the spring cold water season. I've caught mainly smallmouth and lake trout on them.
I work them by casting out, letting the bait hit the bottom, then jerking up just enough to start feeling the vibrations. Then let it settle back to the bottom again and repeat, back to the boat. If there are fish in the area, you will get bit! However, the main drawback is that this efficient bait also snags bottom quite easily. Consequently you will loose a lot of them. Which is why I get mine as blanks from Barlow's Tackle and attach my own split rings and single, Siwash hooks instead of the trebles they normally come with. This reduces the hang ups considerable and has no negative hook up ratio on fish.
A-Jay reply :
The information & techniques offered here by Scott Dobson have been a game changer for me when it comes to blade baits.
Check it out
A-Jay
pwahmy reply :
To everyone who asked what I meant, it was meant as the lure literally called the blade bait. Not chatterbait or spinnerbaits totally different things. Thanks for the replies everyone!
-Payton
On 2/15/2016 at 8:47 PM, A-Jay said:The information & techniques offered here by Scott Dobson have been a game changer for me when it comes to blade baits.
Check it out
A-Jay
Great information as always thanks A-Jay!
-Payton
Glenn reply :
Perhaps of interest...
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/hard_metal_rap.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/silver_buddy.html
CJ reply :
This is the best one I've fished. Not as cheap as others, I think they are around $5-6 but good lures right out of the package. I add split rings and different hooks to the Silver Buddy or Sonar. Also note that these catch big LM too. Not just a Smallmouth lure.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 12:33 AM, CJ said:This is the best one I've fished. Not as cheap as others, I think they are around $5-6 but good lures right out of the package. I add split rings and different hooks to the Silver Buddy or Sonar.
Nice ~ What does this bait weigh ?
A-Jay
Goose52 reply :
On 2/15/2016 at 8:24 PM, Crestliner2008 said:...................... However, the main drawback is that this efficient bait also snags bottom quite easily. Consequently you will loose a lot of them. Which is why I get mine as blanks from Barlow's Tackle ..............
I think you had mentioned Barlow's Tackle in a previous thread about blade baits and I had forgotten to check them out. Thanks for the mention again - I just ordered enough "fixins" to make up 20 baits - ten 3/8 oz and ten 5/8 oz. I went with Mustad double hooks - let's see how they do...
CJ reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 12:42 AM, A-Jay said:Nice ~ What does this bait weigh ?
A-Jay
3/8 oz and I think that's all they make.
tholmes reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 12:47 AM, Goose52 said:I think you had mentioned Barlow's Tackle in a previous thread about blade baits and I had forgotten to check them out. Thanks for the mention again - I just ordered enough "fixins" to make up 20 baits - ten 3/8 oz and ten 5/8 oz. I went with Mustad double hooks - let's see how they do...
I've been making blade baits from a Do-It mold for 30 years or so. IMHO the most versatile lure out there. I started using the Mustad (or Eagle Claw) split-shank double hooks and found that, while they don't eliminate snags, they reduce them considerably. Be sure to put the hooks on the bait so that the points face backwards. I don't use split rings, just clip the hooks into the holes on the bottom of the bait.
Tom
ww2farmer reply :
That video that AJ posted, along with guidance from bass resource member and long time friend wnybassman, led me to using blade baits this fall for smallmouth. It quickly became a go-to bait in my rotation. So far I have only used 1/2 oz. silver/nickle colored baits..........but they worked fantastic so I have needed to play with them yet.
scaleface reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 1:05 AM, tholmes said:I've been making blade baits from a Do-It mold for 30 years or so. IMHO the most versatile lure out there. I started using the Mustad (or Eagle Claw) split-shank double hooks and found that, while they don't eliminate snags, they reduce them considerably. Be sure to put the hooks on the bait so that the points face backwards. I don't use split rings, just clip the hooks into the holes on the bottom of the bait.
Tom
Have you ever had the hook come off while fighting a fish?The Strike King Rocket shad uses double hooks and it has happened to me several times .
BassWhole! reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 2:50 AM, scaleface said:Have you ever had the hook come off while fighting a fish?The Strike King Rocket shad uses double hooks and it has happened to me several times .
Nothing a little 24 gauge copper wire won't solve.
I hate loosing them, so I fish them with light hooks and 15 lb Big Game, I get 99% of them back.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 2/15/2016 at 8:24 PM, Crestliner2008 said:I work them by casting out, letting the bait hit the bottom, then jerking up just enough to start feeling the vibrations.
Ditto. Strikes often come on the fall -often the very bottom of the fall- and I hook them on the next upswing.
They really are a killer cold water bait but will work other times too. They cast a mile, hook well, and cover water quickly even while keeping horizontal movement to a minimum.
Crestliner2008 reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 12:47 AM, Goose52 said:I think you had mentioned Barlow's Tackle in a previous thread about blade baits and I had forgotten to check them out. Thanks for the mention again - I just ordered enough "fixins" to make up 20 baits - ten 3/8 oz and ten 5/8 oz. I went with Mustad double hooks - let's see how they do...
I forgot to mention that I've given up on the smaller blade baits entirely. The smallest I now use is 5/8 oz. with 3/4 oz. being the one I have tied on most of the time. I'm also planning on ordering some 1 oz. blades for deeper lake trout fishing. The 1/4 oz. model I never did very well with, although I plan on giving them a whirl this spring for white perch and crappie. 
Will Wetline reply :
Here's a link to Barlow's "Vibrating Blade Lure":
http://www.barlowstackle.com/Vibrating-Blade-Lure-P2631.aspx
and here's a photo of one I assembled:
Crestliner2008's description of how to work this bait is right on the money. And you will hang a few in a day's fishing which is why it makes sense to buy Barlow's blanks and assemble a bunch yourself.
Will Wetline reply :
You're looking at what was once a Gamakatsu G Finesse treble attached by a size 6 oval split ring. I would have used a less expensive hook but the ring in the other brands I had on hand didn't align with the ring properly.
I'll report on how this arrangement works in a couple of months.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 5:16 AM, Will Wetline said:You're looking at what was once a Gamakatsu G Finesse treble attached by a size 6 oval split ring. I would have used a less expensive hook but the ring in the other brands I had on hand didn't align with the ring properly.
I'll report on how this arrangement works in a couple of months.
Nice ~ If I may, why did you select the oval rather than the standard circular split ring to connect the Gamakatsu G Finesse ?
A-Jay
Paul Roberts reply :
Will, those look really great. I esp like the eyes painted onto the blade, although I usually add fish eyes rather than human eyes.
I use the little 1/4oz baits (Gay Blade and Sonar) for winter pond fishing in water as shallow as 5ft. Blades simply work in cold water, just about anywhere.
Jrob78 reply :
On 2/16/2016 at 8:25 AM, Crestliner2008 said:I forgot to mention that I've given up on the smaller blade baits entirely. The smallest I now use is 5/8 oz. with 3/4 oz. being the one I have tied on most of the time. I'm also planning on ordering some 1 oz. blades for deeper lake trout fishing. The 1/4 oz. model I never did very well with, although I plan on giving them a whirl this spring for white perch and crappie.
Interesting, everyone I know that uses "white perch" is actually talking about crappie. So, what are you calling white perch? White bass?
Jar11591 reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 7:28 AM, Jrob78 said:Interesting, everyone I know that uses "white perch" is actually talking about crappie. So, what are you calling white perch? White bass?
White perch is its own species, in the family of white bass/stripers.
Jrob78 reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 7:34 AM, Jar11591 said:White perch is its own species, in the family of white bass/stripers.
Cool, we definitely don't have them in TX.
Paul Roberts reply :
White perch (Morone americana) is a NE critter found in brackish water and freshwater drainages attached or once attached to the Atlantic. They form big open water schools like white bass and stripers and are aggressive and easy to catch.
Crestliner2008 reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 7:34 AM, Jar11591 said:White perch is its own species, in the family of white bass/stripers.
You got it. Great fighters that can get up to 3 lbs.. Very finicky biters. Which is why I'm going to try for a reaction strike.
Will Wetline reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 5:33 AM, A-Jay said:Nice ~ If I may, why did you select the oval rather than the standard circular split ring to connect the Gamakatsu G Finesse ?
A-Jay
What I wanted was a greater range of movement for the hook. I tried a size 5 oval ring that I had on hand but that was not quite long enough to permit the hook to swing up over the tail of the bait. I wanted this distance because I wanted to tie a thin strip of foam material which would float the hook. Have not found the right foam yet.
Sparse bucktail looks good but while bath tub testing, found it dampens vibration somewhat.
Let me leave it with you this way: Come late April I'll be testing . . . testing . . .
A-Jay reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 9:56 AM, Will Wetline said:What I wanted was a greater range of movement for the hook. I tried a size 5 oval ring that I had on hand but that was not quite long enough to permit the hook to swing up over the tail of the bait. I wanted this distance because I wanted to tie a thin strip of foam material which would float the hook. Have not found the right foam yet.
Sparse bucktail looks good but while bath tub testing, found it dampens vibration somewhat.
Let me leave it with you this way: Come late April I'll be testing . . . testing . . .
Thank you very much for the response ~
After looking at your custom double hook bait, something occurred to me. Have you ever considered a different hook attachment point ?
Perhaps a small hole drilled forward on the bait, one a little closer to the weighted area.
Just a thought - Good Luck with that "Testing" thing.
I'll be very interested in your results but also expect them to be rather positive.
A-Jay
Will Wetline reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 6:16 AM, Paul Roberts said:Will, those look really great. I esp like the eyes painted onto the blade, although I usually add fish eyes rather than human eyes.
Thank you, Paul.
Those are the 3/16" 3D adhesive eyes recommended by Barlow's for their 5/8 oz. Vibrating Blade Bait.
I like eyes on a bait. They add a spot of contrasting color and please my aesthetic sensibilities. (Well la-de-da, hey!) I don't think the fish care one way or another.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 2/17/2016 at 10:15 AM, Will Wetline said:Thank you, Paul.
Those are the 3/16" 3D adhesive eyes recommended by Barlow's for their 5/8 oz. Vibrating Blade Bait.
I like eyes on a bait. They add a spot of contrasting color and please my aesthetic sensibilities. (Well la-de-da, hey!) I don't think the fish care one way or another.
I was referring to the reflection of your eyes in the blade itself.
I do a lot of la-de-da too. I've been putting eyes on lots of baits this winter. Might even make it through my whole box(es) by spring.
Choporoz reply :
On 2/15/2016 at 8:47 PM, A-Jay said:The information & techniques offered here by Scott Dobson have been a game changer for me when it comes to blade baits.
Check it out
A-Jay
I want to shout out to A-Jay. Made my first casts of the year yesterday using blade baits (with which I've previously had little success.) Using what I learned here, I caught good fish from the first cast. I only had about 30 min of fishing off a pier on the way home from work, but they were hitting it pretty hard.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 10:36 PM, Choporoz said:I want to shout out to A-Jay. Made my first casts of the year yesterday using blade baits (with which I've previously had little success.) Using what I learned here, I caught good fish from the first cast. I only had about 30 min of fishing off a pier on the way home from work, but they were hitting it pretty hard.
Nice fish! I too have to give credit to guys like @A-Jay for holding my hand and helping me start to figure these baits out. I haven't caught anything impressive like that fish, but I have caught some of my first blade bait fish on purpose.
A-Jay reply :
@Choporoz & @Bluebasser86 Thank you for the props but I was merely the messenger. Mr Dobson deserves All the credit.
For me, learning to fish a blade bait offered a super effective option during the colder water periods that I didn't have before.
I'm super confident in it.
Glad you guys are having fun.
A-Jay
roadwarrior reply :
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