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

When you say 'blade bait' are you referring to a bladed jig or the lure?

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.

If you are referring to bladed jigs, I pretty much slow roll them on the bottom. 

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.

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?

I interpret blade baits as weighted pieces of metal like the Cordell Gay Blade . I hop them off the bottom , much like a worm .

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.

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

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

1 hour ago, 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

Perhaps of interest...

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/hard_metal_rap.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/silver_buddy.html

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.

8 minutes ago, 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

4 hours ago, 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...

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Nice ~ What does this bait weigh ?

A-Jay

3/8 oz and I think that's all they make.

12 minutes ago, 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

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.

1 hour ago, 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 .

31 minutes ago, 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.

 

8 hours ago, 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.

7 hours ago, 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.

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.

 

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.

 

15 minutes ago, 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

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.