Tis The Season For My Buddy, He Is Silver. He's A Silver Buddy.

[MainelyBASS]

Next to a traditional jig, a blade bait is probably the most successful tool in my arsenal once the temperature drops below 60 degrees. If you don't have any blades in your collection, I would strongly consider picking some up. Most will work, some work better than others in my opinion. Its hard to top the success of the silver buddy, but others to consider are Heddon Sonar, Johnson Thinfish, Reef Runner Cicada and many more. A few things to consider when fishing these baits are: Switching out the stock hooks, and adding a swivel or snap to limit the amount of line twists that you will encounter. I fish my blades on 8lb fluorocarbon with a 7ft MH spinning rod. With this setup I can fish vertically and drop the blade down to fish I have found on my sonar. Casting setups work as well, but I find that they lead me to "over fish" the blade. If I can offer one piece of advice to anyone who is considering or just starting out fishing blades..... fish it like its made of glass. Let it fall all the way to the bottom. When lifting it off the bottom, only lift until you feel the vibration. DO NOT rip it off the bottom as fast as you can. When the blade goes to sink its best to let it sink on a semi slack line only. If it sinks on fully slack line, there is a good chance you will not detect the bite that comes on the fall. This is one of the most popular ways you will get bites is on the fall. By no means am I an expert on fishing blades, but I only offer this as an opinion. Im sure someone reading this could probably teach me a thing or two about fishing blades.

[Smokinal]

We know the same buddy. I can't wait till I can get me some bites with my buddy.

[Choporoz]

I put my buddy in yesterday and he found rocks and never let go.  RIP

[mhtranger]

Where does one find "silver buddies" ?

[Choporoz]

Try silverbuddy.com.  Actually, I think mine was a Vibe from TW. 

 

Tied it on 8# spinning rig....I felt like I should have been entered into a Long Cast Contest.    I was jigging it when I lost it, but dang.....you can throw these things a quarter mile.

[Mainebass1984]

I have the same "buddy".

[Mike2841]

I'll have to give them a shot, if I can find some time to fiah before the water freezes

[salmotrutta]

What are your favorite ways to fish it?Vertical or casting and bouncing it back.Dick's sporting goods actually had the Silver Buddy.Picked one up in 1/2 oz.I have a feeling i should have picked up more.

[Smokinal]

^^^Yes, you should have. I like to cast it out, let it hit bottom and work it back to the boat with short hops. And like the op said, don't overfish it. Usually you want a short pull up, just until you feel the bait vibrate, then drop it, let it set, repeat. But as usual, there are no rules so if they want it fished a little more aggressively, give it to em.

[Mainebass1984]

I cast mine out to. Small subtle hops working it back towards the boat. I get a lot of hits as it flutters down.

[Bluebasser86]

The fish around here don't seem to like your buddy unless they have stripes. 

[MainelyBASS]

Thats why I posted it in the Northeast and not in the general, or any other forum.

[Bluebasser86]

It's weird because they'll eat jigging spoons and tailspinners, just never seem to get them to eat the Silver Buddy. Sounds like you fish it on much lighter gear than I have so maybe I'm overfishing or overpowering the bait and that's why I'm not catching them. 

[Crestliner2008]

I've reduced my losses on blades by removing the front treble. I also crimp down the barbs on the tail treble. Has had no adverse affect on my catching or landing bass, white perch and lake trout. Great lure all season long. Just can't fish it in grass. Well, I guess you could, but you'll be fouled more times than not.

 

Going to ordering some 2/0 Siwash hooks to try on a few of my blades next season. BTW, Barlow's offers blade bait bodies (without hooks) for a very reasonable price. And yes, they do work just as well as most of the other "name brand" blades that I've tossed over the years.

[ClackerBuzz]

^I was thinking about giving buddy a try this season but with 'double hooks'. seems like they wouldn't get hung up near as much

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221489584500?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[MainelyBASS]

^I was thinking about giving buddy a try this season but with 'double hooks'. seems like they wouldn't get hung up near as much

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221489584500?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The actual silver buddy comes stock with 2 double hooks, but not a split ring. There are numerous ways to tweak the hooks, some people as mentioned already fish it with only the back set of hooks, some just the front set. I personally switch to a #4 treble on the front, and a #6 in the back, both on split rings. A heavier hook upfront doesnt throw the action of the bait off because the head is where all the weight is to begin with. Regardless of how you customize it, its a great idea to pick some up and start getting familiar with how to work them to draw strikes, then worry about modifying it for greater success.

[Crestliner2008]

I learned early on in my blade fishing, not to use any blades with double hooks and no split rings. Lakers will actually destroy the lure as well as the hooks when doubles are used. Just not enough flex between the hook and the blade itself. Even smallies will destroy those flimsy double hooks. Best to redress the blades with one (or both if that's your preferrence) quality treble hooks. It's amazing the amount of torque a 5 lb. fish can put on those baits!

[Mike2841]

Anyone use the heddon sonar

[Catch 22]

Anyone use the heddon sonar

 

Yep,I do. I like the ones with rattles in the eye sockets.I would probably go with the Buddy if I had to choose.Don`t neglect to try the gold color blades.

I have  a 2 ounce Buddy that I use for stripers. It works