Two Cold Water Baits for Smallmouth

[Will Wetline]

You can be sure that when my season starts next week on Massachusetts' Quabbin Reservoir, I'll be packing suspending jerkbaits and a selection of Z-Man's ElaZtech plastics mounted on mushroom heads. But the two types of baits that are starters for me are blade baits and hair jigs.

 

Not certain, but I believe that Heddon came out with the first vibrating blade bait, the Sonar, some decades ago. The Silver Buddy is so popular nowadays that this category is often referred to by that name and there are many other manufacturers as well.

 

This topic is in the "Tacklemaking" forum because I make my own - or maybe it would be more accurate to say assemble my own. Let's start with "blanks" from www.barlowstackle.com

 

https://barlowstackle.com/Vibrating-Blade-Lure-P2631/

 

First step is to get rid of the front hook hanger. You'd probably be fine omitting this step if you don't want to put on a face shield and carefully cut that tab off with a Dremel cut-off disc. Then you've got eyes over which you might want to put a dab of Hard As Nails to keep in place. Then for added pizzazz, select a color of holographic tape if you like. The flash from the unadorned nickel plated version does draw attention too. Don't forget size 2 Duo Lock snaps. Hooks . . . I tried double hooks, a single treble on the tail and a 1/0 Eagle Claw Siwash which Crestliner 2008 recommended to me several years ago and I like best for solid hookups.

 

 

 

Not sure how to work this bait? Study this post that A-Jay started October 2, 2015:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/163752-its-almost-blade-bait-time/

 

The other type of bait I'll be throwing regularly until the water temp hits the low 50ºs is a hair jig. There are a few manufacturers to be found while scanning online tackle suppliers and maybe you can find local makers that tie for brick-and-mortar shops (bless all of them that survive), but I get an extra kick when I net a bass that ate a bait that originated on my bench.

 

 

 

What we call a "hair" jig covers a lot of material. In the pics above, tied to heads cast from pewter and bismuth/tin alloys, you see bucktail, bear, rabbit, calf tail, grizzly hackle, saddle hackle and Grizzly/Flashabou Accent to add some sparkle.

 

Interested in tying your own? Check out the good work being done by smalljaw and SDG Custom Lurecraft on YouTube.

[PaulVE64]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNqoBLhpif1/?igshid=kv6fv0b8g0iw

 

Some of my ties with rabbit, maribou and bucktail. Pribably some saddle hackle and flash too.