Blade baits vs lipless crankbaits?

[plawren53202]

So I have recently been reading about/watching videos on the virtues of blade baits for winter bass.  (For me = pond and lake largemouths)  I have never used a blade bait.  I have a whole bunch of lipless cranks, which I use frequently.  To me, it looks like a blade bait would be very similar to a lipless cb--similar action, similar target water, similar retrieve, etc.  I'd rather not buy anything new if I don't need to.  But, I would appreciate hearing if there is something fundamentally different about blade baits that makes them substantially better than lipless cbs for winter bass.  Thanks!

[jimmyjoe]

   I can only think of two characteristics.

   One is pressured water, where every mother's son and their dog throw trap-type lures. In that situation, a blade lure works better for me.

   The other is vertical retrieve.  Cold water or warm water, it makes no difference. If you go vertical, the blade style, mechanically speaking, works better.   jj

  

[Choporoz]

One fundamental difference is that my blade baits cost me, on average, less than half what my lipless baits were.  That's huge on a lure with a snag per cast rate that can be astronomical 

[A-Jay]

I fish both baits quite a bit.

A blade bait is fished most effectively when presented very close to or on the bottom.

And a fairly clean bottom really helps; meaning the less weeds, the better.

Rocks, sand, or gravel are best.

 So while I can & do fish a lippless bait like a blade bait (and it's very effective for me) I rarely fish a blade bait like a lippless bait; meaning moving it mostly on a horizontal plane through the water column.

Just about everything you need to know about a blade bait - is in the video in the OP in the thread linked below.

The rest of that thread is loaded with all types of knowledge nuggets that should help you out.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[senile1]

I second A-Jay's post.  I purchased blade baits for a specific purpose:  Vertical fishing for cold bass in water temperatures ranging from the 30s to the low to mid 40s.  While they can be fished horizontally, I typically use other tools for that purpose.  

[Todd2]

Do Blade baits work in warmer water too? It seems dying shad would be on the menu year round..like pizza for me.?

 

I picked up a few Cicadas to give them a try this Winter. Blade baits and Jerkbaits are two lures that I have thrown very little..so I figured I'd try one of them this Winter.

[CountryboyinDC]

I have run into folks who fish silver buddies all year (same for spoons and other things that I don't use for bass) and I've been thinking of getting into cold water fishing, so I've been reading up on blade baits.  I never really thought of them as being like a trap, but I guess that when you think of it as the OP did, the kind of are.  This is good information, thanks for those who contributed.

[scaleface]

I've caught a lot of bass in the summer on blade baits but not until this year have I caught them in the winter . That last outing proved to me that they are a must have when  water temps drop into the low 40's .

4 hours ago, Todd2 said:

Do Blade baits work in warmer water too?

 

[MickD]

Yes, blades work for deep bass (and walleye) in warmer waters.  I've found in cold water smallmouths and walleyes that the lures are not interchangeable, and in fact , two different sizes of blades are not interchangeable.  Both can work, but some times, only one, and only one size and color will work.

 

I really want someone to tap into the bass/walleye intercom system and offer access.  I'll pay handsomely.

[jimmyjoe]

25 minutes ago, MickD said:

I really want someone to tap into the bass/walleye intercom system and offer access.  I'll pay handsomely.

   You're sure not the only one! One day last year, I overheard a conversation. Just one day. The bass was talking fluorescent orange 1/4 oz. Zonar, and the walleye replied with 1/4 oz. Golden Shiner SuperSpot from WallyWorld. I've never managed to eavesdrop since then, unfortunately.  ☹️  jj

[Fried Lemons]

Blade baits are killer in rivers. The shape cuts down through current while a lipless will tend to blow like a kite. Not many other baits fish well cross current in 20 FOW. I have also had many strikes come when I speed reel the blade in to avoid snagging in shallow rocks. Buy in bulk as they tend to snag easily.

[WRB]

2 different lures; vertical vs horizontal presentation.

The 1st blade bait was Heddon Sonar and lipless Heddon Sonic back in the early 60's.

Whopper Stopper Wooden Bayou Boogie was a lipless lure bought by Heddon but a floating diving lure inlieu of a sinking lipless that became the Lewis Rattle Trap class of lipless lures.

Blades are basically a flat spoon with a belly weight for vertical jigging that can be cast and retreived. Sonar is a multi species lure while Silver Buddy became more popular with Smallmouth bass anglers.

Lipless is a cast and retrieve lure that sinks and can be jigged but tends to foul the line into it's hooks.

Lipless often gets strikes on the fall while blades usually get strike on the lift.

Tom

[MickD]

Using stiff leader grade FC leaders or saltwater stiff mono leaders will cut down on the line tangling in the hooks.  Other posts about 6 months ago showed replacing two trebles with one single helps with bottom snagging and retains action.  I've done the latter but not fished them yet.

[GreenPig]

I fish blade baits and lipless baits all winter. Which one I throw is chosen for the depth I'm fishing. Bladebait for deeper(12'+) water and lipless for shallower water. I cast them and yo-yo both of them and it's very productive. The blade bait sinks and falls faster than a lipless. I use the blade baits for little to no structure and a vertical spoon for thick structure. Tried vertical fishing the blade bait and had much more success with jigging spoons. Sorry for the long post but I catch more bass in three months of winter than the other 9 months of the year. Not the biggest bass but the most #'s wise.

[primetime]

I just purchased my first blade baits on my last order for cold deep water. I picked up a couple of the Johnson Thin fish versions to try, but usually I tend to use the Mann's little george if I have a clean bottom. I am working on my deep water skills, and have caught fish over the years on the little george, so I have confidence in it, But I plan to start playing around with blade baits as I know for sure they catch fish, Just seem to always catch weeds if any are around.....