It's actually a bait I've never thrown but want to this year.

My understanding is that these baits work well in cold water.

What few videos I've watched most let it hit the bottom and lift, yo yo.

Can these baits be used with a steady retrieve in the more active months ❓

All mine are 1/4 oz.

Last question and maybe a stupid one,

Letting it hit the bottom and having treble hooks, won't hanging be an issue ❓

Thanks 

As the waters cool off up here in the northern mid-west,

one of my favorite techniques comes back into play - Blade Baits.

The air & water might be cool or even down right cold - but the blade bite can be Smoking Hot !

Up until recently, my success with this technique was marginal at best.

A few years ago I watched the attached video trying to gain some insight

as to why I was not getting the results I expected.

Mr Scott Dobson's approach to fishing these baits was a GAME CHANGER. 

The less is best deal Really worked for me -

A fairly weed free clean bottom of sand or gravel really helps here.

 If you have the right conditions and haven't tried this yet, or have but would like to give it another shot, watch this clip. 

Reproduce this technique the best you can and have the net, scale & camera rolling.

You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/kLOoWcoPIK4?si=93Gel0pX0mArr2Eu

 

We do them a lot up on Champlain. 3/8-1/2oz 50ft and shallower (lol I really narrowed it down).  The best tip I ever got was lift until you start to feel the vibrations (like first 1-3 thumps) then let fall on a barely slack line.  Slowly retrieve like that.  Braid really helps with the thump drop feeling/action.

 

You will lose them don't go insane on them.  Plus the window isn't terribly huge to use them.

 

I buy clearance silver buddies or sonars and wire brush the paint off.

23 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

As the waters cool off up here in the northern mid-west,

one of my favorite techniques comes back into play - Blade Baits.

The air & water might be cool or even down right cold - but the blade bite can be Smoking Hot !

Up until recently, my success with this technique was marginal at best.

A few years ago I watched the attached video trying to gain some insight

as to why I was not getting the results I expected.

Mr Scott Dobson's approach to fishing these baits was a GAME CHANGER. 

The less is best deal Really worked for me -

A fairly weed free clean bottom of sand or gravel really helps here.

 If you have the right conditions and haven't tried this yet, or have but would like to give it another shot, watch this clip. 

Reproduce this technique the best you can and have the net, scale & camera rolling.

You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/kLOoWcoPIK4?si=93Gel0pX0mArr2Eu

 

100% this.  That video was key to getting bites. Of course we use fall and early spring and for as simple as it is , it's quite effective on the brown ones we target. I've heard they can we used deeper in the warmer weather months as well. 

I haven't been able to unlock it in the warmer months, but it is hands down the best technique I've ever tried for water in the 30's and low 40's.  I find the 1/2oz to be the mainstay, going down in weight infrequently and up to 3/4oz occasionally.  X3 on @A-Jay's advice and video, pretty sure this is exactly how I started fishing them.

 

scott

 

 

Great in cold water as already mentioned; ‘Okay’ in warm water, IMO - but don’t sleep on a steady ‘slow roll’ presentation in winter with the bait as an alternative to lift-drop.

 

Here’s a pair of nearly 8 pound bass, both caught in Dec., on slow rolled blades…

 

 

You read my mind - I JUST posted this video.

 

 

My go to early season bait. When the blade bait bite dies down is when I break out the jerkbaits. 

I've mentioned this a few times during blade bait discussions here,

but it really does bear dropping it here again.

Fishing the Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration Tungsten Lipless Crankbait   in lieu of a blade bait

can be Really Really Really good (and that was 3 really's)

It's a thin, dense rattle bait that casts a mile, gets deep quickly, and stays there.

I prefer to present it in the same way and in the same places as a blade bait.

A very small, medium-speed lift off the bottom, just enough to feel the rattle for just a second,

and then let it glide back to the bottom on a tight line.

A brief rest on the bottom and then go again.

Bites come on the fall, AND brown bass will eat it right off the bottom at times. 

Just so good.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Duo_Realis_G-Fix_Vibration_Tungsten_Lipless_Crankbait/descpage-DUOGFXL.html

I use the 3/4 ounce bait exclusively.

This Tule Perch ND is pretty good.

A-Jay

I like to use 1/2 oz & 3/4 oz for vertical fishing 20-40’ fow and mostly 1/2 oz for water shallower than 20’. They work well in the summer too when the smallies are set up deep & you can find them. I like @A-Jay suggestion on the g-fix but mostly for casting & horizontal retrieves. I use a more aggressive lift & drop when looking for fish as I think the added movement draws them in. Once you have a steady bite going the more subtle short lift usually works best as mentioned. I use braid with a short mono leader like one or two foot. You can use a very small swivel with two palomar knots if you like instead of a more complicated knot. 

I'm giving them one more try this year, haven't been able to catch on them, I just get them hung up on the bottom, then get frustrated and stop using them.

I've had a few good days with them in winter. Here's a tip. After losing several baits to brushpiles and stumps on mono, I switched to straight 30# braid. I haven't lost one since. And fish don't seem to care, even crappie.