Help school me on blade baits.

[MassBass]

Instead of writing a long and winding essay about my near skunked bank expedition to the NH lakes region in November, I will just note some bullet points that would help me. 

 

* I believe blade baits are not in my arsenal because I used to think they were just a dumbed down lipless rattle bait. Now, I am an avid rattle bait angler, but why is the blade bait different, and why would it be more effective in water temps where the rattle bait bites are very few and far between? 

 

* Is the concept of fishing the blade bait similar to a rattle bait? As in cover water, power fish, and trigger reaction bites?

 

* Are there any situations where you would fish a blade bait from the bank? What if you were up on a cliff over a steep rocky main lake bluff?

 

* Now I know there are not many ice fisherman on the board, but do you jig the blade bait through the ice with consistent success for any specie?

 

* What are good brands, must haves, and high-end brands? 1/4 ounce is good all around or do you often go to some other weight?

 

* The things cast?

  

 

 

 

   

[Team9nine]

I’ll take a stab, in order:

 

- They are heavy metal and compact, so they stay deep and on the bottom where many winter bass are, and move faster than a typical rattle bait triggering bites.

 

- Yes, to a large degree, but more cover structure, and the bottom of the lake quickly and efficiently.

 

- I fish them from the bank all the time, late fall through early spring.

 

- bass and walleye

 

- Depends on depth and location, but anything from 3/16 in ponds up to 1/2 oz in larger lakes and reservoirs get the most use. Some guys will go upwards of 3/4 oz at times though. 
 

Lots of good brands available on the market these days. Do a search of this site for previous threads on the subject. One of my favorites are Damiki Vaults.

 

- …like a rock. Probably some of the farthest casting baits you’ll throw because of their weight and compact size. Not much air resistance to slow them down; but sometimes shorter casts are better.

[A-Jay]

@Team9nine covered it nicely above, as always.

Been a blade bait fan for a while.

And while I can & do fish a lipless bait "like a blade bait',

(Duo Realis G-Fix)

and have had some killer days doing it, IME they are not the same deal.

When it comes to the bite, it's often one or the other;  rarely both.

Before the 'how to fish a blade bait effectively' light went on for me,

I was guilty of WAY Over fishing the lure.

The video by Scott Dobson in this thread linked below,

discusses that very thing, and it's the best way I know how to get bites with it now.

Check it out.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[MassBass]

Thanks for the film, Mr. A-jay. Good point he had about imitating a dying shad (or other small silver baitfish), that is struggling from a cold snap. I think I could figure out a good retrieve pattern with the bait, but that 'less is more' philosophy would probably be a good place to start.  

[5by3]

Blade baits work best for me when water temps are around 37-45 here in the Midwest. I do catch bass, walleye, crappie, and perch through the ice on them as well.

 

As AJay said, less is more with a blade bait. A lot of times I see guys ripping them really aggressively, and while this can catch fish, I seem to do better with more gentle hops, especially in the frigid temps. You want to lift the rod just until you feel the blade vibrate, then let it fall back down. Depending on the blade, you’re usually only moving the rod tip 4-6” at a time. You usually don’t feel the bite unless the fish are ultra aggressive. The rod will just load up on the next lift or sometimes you’ll see the line stop falling and you know a fish has it.

 

My favorite is the Vibe-e in silver, gold, or black Shad. 1/4-3/8 oz depending on depth.

[DogBone_384]

On 12/18/2021 at 6:52 AM, MassBass said:

why is the blade bait different

The blade bait's smaller than a lipless, so it resembles small baitfish better.  Blade baits also transmit much more vibration than plastic hard baits.

 

@5by3 sums up how I fish them in eastern MA & Cape Cod.  My favorite brands are Yozuri and Binsky.

 

 

Good luck, and keep at it.

[Skunkmaster-k]

Hopping a blade bait is way more fun than dragging a whatever in the winter 

[MassBass]

This is why I am so interested in the bait, it is totally my style. Even compared to a hair jig and/or float and fly, when you can feel the vibration of the bait and fish it actively, it is much more engaging and fun. And if you are fully engaged you are usually confident, and the whole confidence catches fish thing. 

 

Anyone throwing the Steelshad blade bait? If I was going to make a small starter box of blade baits, should I go to BPS or TW? 

[txchaser]

Bait monkey wanted me to remind you to get a few with tail spinners too. 

[Bluebasser86]

I've been trying for a few years to crack this code and feel like I'm starting to sort of do it. I've really been surprised how many fish will eat it straight off the bottom.

 

I've been using some off Aliexpress, they're like $.70 a bait so they don't hurt so bad when I lose them one after the other. 

[MassBass]

Just reading some reviews for different brands on the retail websites, it sounds like a dynamite multi-specie bait. I have high hopes now that it will be good for white perch and schoolie striper, maybe shad? I am still searching for a magic shad bait, in the first of spring.

[Bluebasser86]

I've caught way more white bass, wipers, and crappie with mine than I have bass. It's a multi-species bait for sure.

[Bass Rutten]

A bottom oriented lift-drop retrieve seems to be the norm with blades, does anyone do well just straight cranking? I’m intrigued by this lure but I fish mostly weedy natural lakes.

[Choporoz]

Try it.  I haven't had luck chucking and winding, but honestly haven't done it much.  I generally fish blades when water is cooler, fish are slowing down, and so I bump them on bottom.   If I want to wind away, it will be in warmer water and I'll be throwing something different. 

[Team9nine]

14 minutes ago, Bassjam2000 said:

A bottom oriented lift-drop retrieve seems to be the norm with blades, does anyone do well just straight cranking? I’m intrigued by this lure but I fish mostly weedy natural lakes.

That’s been my most productive retrieve style overall when fishing smaller ponds - steady, slow retrieve over flats, parallel to weedlines, dropoffs and the shoreline - especially on dark, windy days or after heavy rains when the water is stained. Very similar to a lipless but slower.

[padon]

On 12/20/2021 at 12:11 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I've been trying for a few years to crack this code and feel like I'm starting to sort of do it. I've really been surprised how many fish will eat it straight off the bottom.

 

I've been using some off Aliexpress, they're like $.70 a bait so they don't hurt so bad when I lose them one after the other. 

ive heard some interviews with the guys that designed the binsky. they emphasize not over working the bait. let it go to bottom ,pick it up gently dont rip it. as soon as you feel it vibrate 4 or 5 times let it go back to bottom. many fish will come to the vibration and actually pick it off the bottom. you wouldnt think they would i mean its metal. but ive been trying it and it does work.

[Bazoo]

I appreciate this thread very much. I'm going to be learning how to fish blade lures this wintertime, and I enjoy learning new lures and techniques. Much useful insight shared here, thanks all.

[MassBass]

40 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

I appreciate this thread very much. I'm going to be learning how to fish blade lures this wintertime, and I enjoy learning new lures and techniques. Much useful insight shared here, thanks all.

Thanks for bumping my old thread...I have something to add, I got into some big smallies on a blade bait, but in July. 

[Bazoo]

18 hours ago, MassBass said:

Thanks for bumping my old thread...I have something to add, I got into some big smallies on a blade bait, but in July. 

You bet! That is a nice one, good and fat.

Maybe I'll have to give the blade baits a try before winter.

[padon]

bass will hit blade baits and jigging spoons at other times besides winter. any time they are schooled deep they are a possibilty