On 7/20/2025 at 10:34 AM, ECP1989 said:

Could you post some photos of those?

These are actually just a bit under 1/4 oz (body weight). I have found 1/4 oz. Is the magic number for using casting gear. 

#3 Aglia (silver blade) and the one with the minnow (Comet I think?) were the deal on Black River smallmouth when I was a kid. I also remember silver with red spot Z-Ray spoons as a winner.
 

Now I’m going to have to go look through grandpa’s “Black River Only” box and see what else is in there…..and maybe plan a weekend up there as well.

On 7/6/2025 at 11:14 AM, bowhunter63 said:

Mepps never quit catching em, A lot of guys just quit fishing them 

Truth.

 

 

On 7/21/2025 at 10:02 AM, Pat Brown said:

My uncle got a giant out of St. Clair this morning on a number 3 aglia! 

 

My son regularly salvages incredibly tough days on a mepps!

Looks like a double #3.

 

 

On 7/21/2025 at 12:37 PM, Blue Raider Bob said:

I still get Mepps catalogs every year, and the last page is an add to send them squirrel tails. Count me in as an Aglia addict.

If you order direct from Mepps at Mepps.com, you can put together combinations you seldom find in stores.

I have a bunch in green and black that work great on the Chippewa Flowage...

 

7 hours ago, MassBass said:

I have found 1/4 oz. Is the magic number for using casting gear. 

You can go lighter on BFS gear.

I mentioned this on another thread…

 

But when I get tired of shaking a jig and minner, many times I switch over to a Mepps #3 on a ML BFS rod and do the Livescope thing.  Works great! 

I continue to catch them with an inline spinner, even high noon on slick calm summer days when nothing else seems to work. (Admittedly, these are typically smallish fish at this time.)

   I went through all my old tackle and tried a variety of inline spinners, but most I have were too light for me to fish effectively.  Even if I could be bothered to figure out best rod and line for 1/8 or 1/4 oz spinner, I have little confidence in the tiny hooks or profile.

  I love the 1/2 oz Panther Martin in all silver and all gold.  I use MM casting rod with 20lb braid to leader (same set up I use for blade baits all winter)

  I tried some Fox's and some no-names, but don't get the quick start and good feedback like the cupped blade of the Panther and Mepps.

Have used on the neighborhood ponds in the morning using the 1/4oz. Panther Martin Willow Strike, 3/16oz. Blue Fox Shallow Spinner and Mepps Aglia Plain Gold and Silver blades #2 1/6oz. 6 and 8lb mono on med. lite and medium 6'6" spinning with Shimano Solstace spinning reel.

All good for shallow (skinny water) presentations.

Good Fishing