how many of you guys use painted blades on your spinnerbaits?  I know  anumber of people like a red kicker blade but am curious how many like the all white or chartreuse blades offered by a number of companies.

ive never used them simply because it seems to me that they wouldnt have the flash that nickel or gold would have and ive always thought of that as a key component to spinnerbaiting.  i know that JT Bagwell uses colored blades from a previous post though and am curiuos when you guys are doing so.

matt

I use a lot of painted blades our northern pike just love flashy spinnerbaits and aren't as aggressive with painted blades.

Garnet

when its cloudy:

white willow blades for clear water

chart. firetiget etc. tandem for stained and colorado for muddy water

Chartreuse blades, or white painted blades are the ticket to help me catch fish on spinnerbaits.I am not sure whether the subdued flash in the very clear water I fish is why, or whether its the overcast days that make them sucessful for me.I am not a very good spinnerbait person,in fact I suck at using them, but I have more confidence throwing a painted blade vs a shiny plated blade. Ivan

I like to use white or chartreuse blades in cloudy conditions or low light. I also like to use black blades, chartreuse, or a combo of black and orange in muddy water. The idea with colored blades is that when there isn't enough light to reflect off of the blades the painted blades show up better.  

Painted blades will work wonders especially on cloudy days or low light situations. On heavy overcast with clear water, give a try to white blades. On cloudy / low light conditions and stained or muddy water, especially if it has a greenish tinge, go for chartrause painted blades. In sunny/bright conditions and stained water I have had excellent results with holographic-job blades, especially chartrause or firetiger ones...

when its cloudy:

white willow blades for clear water

chart. firetiget etc. tandem for stained and colorado for muddy water

Vyron knows: One of the most succesful lures for me during 2006 has been a chartause double willow s/b with chartrause blades, handmade by Vyron himself (thanks buddy )

Back in October I was faced with high, muddy, swift water here on a local river. My most productive spinnerbait color was firetiger skirt with tandem flourescent orange blades.

I also often use a completely chartreuse spinnerbait (skirt and double willow blades) for low light, windy days.

Exactly what Vyron said.  

"No sun, paint it."

Please do not ask me why, because, it beats me, but, as far as rivers, at least the Susquehanna in PA, the smallmouth prefer chartruese bladed spinnerbaits. I keep telling myself that it is a figment of my imagination but, time after time, its the ticket.

During my club's last tournament of '06, my partner won the tournament using a white spinnerbait with double blades, both in white.  I used an identical spinnerbait, with the exception of my blades being shiny.  He easily bested the rest of the field and I couldn't  even get a stinkin' bite, except for one decent keeper on the 2nd day.  I'll have some spinnerbaits with painted blades with me in the future

Just as others have stated, on overcast days or stained to muddy water, I prefer painted blades. Chartruese blades on stained and muddy water and white on overcast days. Here's another option that's proved well for me the past 3 years. 

What do you recommend painting them with... or would I just be better off buying them already painted?

There is a color-rite dip, or you can use a powder paint.

Please do not ask me why, because, it beats me, but, as far as rivers, at least the Susquehanna in PA, the smallmouth prefer chartruese bladed spinnerbaits. I keep telling myself that it is a figment of my imagination but, time after time, its the ticket.

Chartruese has always worked in most Tx rivers also.    Do you think that is because their are more perch, blue gill being targeted than say shad?

Matt.

when its cloudy:

white willow blades for clear water

chart. firetiget etc. tandem for stained and colorado for muddy water

Great advice! Sometimes they just want a subdued color blade? I have been using blade nickel blades with success this year. The amount of flash they give off is inbetween a nickel and painted blade.

Allen