Smallmouth slayers in the know tell me I'm missing out if I'm not throwing blade baits at chilled out smallies in April and early May. Last year I passed on the blade bite but did get some nice brown bass on hair jigs that I molded and tied.

 

This winter I put an order into Barlow's, my main components supplier, for what they call "Vibrating Blade Lures."

 

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Vibrating-Blade-Lure-P2631.aspx

 

Here's what I got:

 

 

I chose the 5/8 oz. model and double hooks thinking that 4 hooks per bait are enough for the fish and I won't hang the bottom with the extra 2 that I won't be using! (tholmes confirms this in reply #12 in this thread:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/131783-blade-baits/?hl=%20blade%20%20baits)

 

This is one of the easiest bait making projects you can undertake. Here are the assembled baits:

 

 

Before assembly I cleaned the bodies with alcohol. The nickel, after being polished dry with a scrap of old T shirt, came up to a mirror finish. Not so with the brass. I improved the shine somewhat with Flitz polish but  while significant to some extent, finish is not the key feature of this bait - vibration  is.

 

 

 

I'll let you know in just a few weeks how the smallies like my vibes.

Nice looking baits. Not a fan of the double hooks though, I like the VMC trebles that are made for blades. Make sure you coat those in a clear coat before using them, the brass corrodes fairly quickly. The plain brass is one of my favorite colors. 

Very nice baits Will! I pour those baits in my shop but I haven't had much luck with them down here in Ga. for bass. I make them for a fella out in Arizona on a regular basis and he swears by them out there for walleye and bass. They also make a holographic sticker you can place on the side of those for a little more flash.