Blade baits from shore...

[DitchPanda]

So I've seen a few videos over the years of Iaconelli using a blade bait in cold shallow water just kinda hopping it around. This got me wondering if blades are effective from shore?

[Team9nine]

Yes - a few tips:

 

> Use lighter baits that are less prone to hug and snag bottom.

> Try simple cast and retrieve in shallower water, just like a Rat-L-Trap. If you do this, use the back hole on the top of the bait.

> Bomb long casts to deep water and use a lift-drop retrieve. Let the bait hit bottom after each lift. Use the middle hole on the back.

 

[garroyo130]

I primarily fish from shore and am seriously considering giving away the 4 blade baits I own to the local kids.

 

I personally have never had any luck with them beyond snagging a fish once. That said, I never threw them often to begin with ...

[DitchPanda]

8 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Yes - a few tips:

 

> Use lighter baits that are less prone to hug and snag bottom.

> Try simple cast and retrieve in shallower water, just like a Rat-L-Trap. If you do this, use the back hole on the top of the bait.

> Bomb long casts to deep water and use a lift-drop retrieve. Let the bait hit bottom after each lift. Use the middle hole on the back.

 

What specific baits do you prefer? What kind of setup do you throw them on?

[Team9nine]

17 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

What specific baits do you prefer? What kind of setup do you throw them on?

 

The pic is a 3/16 oz ThinFisher. I also use 1/4 oz Damiki Vaults. Any others 1/4 or lighter would probably work fine. Most times I use my usual finesse rod; 6’6” spinning, ML fast, 14# braid to an 8# leader. Medium would probably also be fine. I use them occasionally with the Vaults. Same line setup.

[DitchPanda]

9 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

The pic is a 3/16 oz ThinFisher. I also use 1/4 oz Damiki Vaults. Any others 1/4 or lighter would probably work fine. Most times I use my usual finesse rod; 6’6” spinning, ML fast, 14# braid to an 8# leader. Medium would probably also be fine. I use them occasionally with the Vaults. Same line setup.

Perfect...I may have to pick up a few this spring. Thanks for the info.

[Fishes in trees]

Back in the day, when I was a meat fishing bush hippie, I knew a guy who was good at making blade baits work fishing from the bank.  I think he threw a Cordell Gay Blade.   Anyway, his strategy was bombing then out, casting as far as possible and then bringing the bait back pretty quick, the plan being to stay close to buy not on the bottom.  He did ok with that technique, from ice out til spawn that is pretty much all he did.

I didn't have any luck doing that with the Gay Blade - my general approach to spring pond fishing was low & slow.    A couple of windy spring days I had bad days turn into good days by throwing a 3/8 oz ball head jig head/ 4" purple grub, casting it far and winding it back quick.

 

I think if you're going to throw that blade bait in ponds, keep it moving and don't let the fish get a good look at it, kinda try to force the decision.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

So I've seen a few videos over the years of Iaconelli using a blade bait in cold shallow water just kinda hopping it around. This got me wondering if blades are effective from shore?

 

   Yes, they are. You have to watch your composition on the bottom, though. Like @Team9nine, I like to use the Thinfisher, although I use it in 1/4 oz. size. Between it, the Sonars and Zonars and the Cicadas, I've lost many blade baits to snags in the river.

   I only started to use blade baits in impounded waters this last year, so I really can't draw any firm conclusions yet. It looks promising, though.    jj 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I don't know how Ike does it.  If your talking about the lake he lives on its an average of 3.2 ft deep with very little hard bottom.  I fish them around water or spillways which are usually the deepest parts of the lakes around here and they likely have a hard bottom.  Once you start fishing in a spot with a soft bottom your picking the grass off the bait after every cast.  I use the lighter blade baits 3/16 and 1/4 but they sink like a rocket even when you pendulum them back.  

The best advice I can give is you is to use a duo hook on the belly so that the shank of the hook facing the front.  Remove the rear hook or use a Colorado blade with a good bearing swivel in its place.  Mono or 15lb FC will cause it to fall slower then it would be with braid.   

[plawren53202]

8 hours ago, Rusty_Shackleford said:

I don't know how Ike does it.  If your talking about the lake he lives on its an average of 3.2 ft deep with very little hard bottom.  I fish them around water or spillways which are usually the deepest parts of the lakes around here and they likely have a hard bottom.  Once you start fishing in a spot with a soft bottom your picking the grass off the bait after every cast.  I use the lighter blade baits 3/16 and 1/4 but they sink like a rocket even when you pendulum them back.  

The best advice I can give is you is to use a duo hook on the belly so that the shank of the hook facing the front.  Remove the rear hook or use a Colorado blade with a good bearing swivel in its place.  Mono or 15lb FC will cause it to fall slower then it would be with braid.   

Ike just posted a YT video showing how he likes to replace stock treble hooks with the two-pronged hooks or, if you can't find them, how to make your own.