I have been looking through the BPS master catalog preparing myself for the classic next month.

i have come across Cotton Cordell "Gay Blades". Has anyone ever used one of these? DO they really work?

How is the lure?

They catch just about anything that swims. Yes they do work.

If you are going to buy one, buy several. The Gay

Blade is very effective, but like a Silver Buddy, tends

to get hung-up easily.

8-)

Depends on the lake, I'd guess. If they match the bait on your lake as well as they do on mine, they seem to work pretty well, at least in colder water.

2 pictures from yesterday:

They catch fish, too.

I've done well with the www.rodbenderstackle.com Vib-E .

Another blade bait that I've had a lot of success with is the Heddon Sonar.

At one time, I had a Do-It mold to make these. I rigged them with open-shank double hooks with the hook points facing backwards. It substantially reduces hangups compared to treble hooks.

Tom

Another blade bait that I've had a lot of success with is the Heddon Sonar.

At one time, I had a Do-It mold to make these. I rigged them with open-shank double hooks with the hook points facing backwards. It substantially reduces hangups compared to treble hooks.

Tom

Good idea

Blade baits are almost a forgotten art

can you fish it with the live bait attached, or was that just an example to show the resemblance. i've fished crappie jigs tipped with minnows would this be the same?

No, the lure is not designed to fish live bait. The picture

is an example of what often happens: baitfish get snagged.

The Gay Blade creates a lot of disturbance in the water

which contributes to its success.

8-)

Roadwarrior is correct. I was just snagging a lot of shad with it a couple of days ago, so thought I'd snap a picture. I bet I caught at least 50 shad with it at that spot that day, often 2 at a time. Hard not to catch them as it was a massive bait ball. In the 2nd picture with the fish in it, the boat was in at least 80' of water, even though I was that close to a gravel bar. Water temp is right at 40 degrees right now here on Beaver Lake, so shad are starting to die off, I think.

I use the Heddon Sonar with some success, try different retrieves, fast, slow, and a ripping retrieve work well.