Blade Baits

[T-Billy]

5 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

I predict 3 muskies and 1 tree before the new year

 

scott

LOL I can live with that. I was marking big shad schools at the base of a 100yd rock ledge the other day. They'll be there all winter. This seems like just the ticket. Got some big 6" and 7" tubes on the way too. When it gets too cold for the A-Rig, I'll go vertical with these. 

[softwateronly]

2 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

LOL I can live with that. I was marking big shad schools at the base of a 100yd rock ledge the other day. They'll be there all winter. This seems like just the ticket. Got some big 6" and 7" tubes on the way too. When it gets too cold for the A-Rig, I'll go vertical with these. 

The 7" mizmo tube has caught and been bit off by more northern than bass for me.  Thanks for the reminder!

 

scott

[Bluebasser86]

They were eating the cheap little aliex blades real good Saturday. I can't hardly loose these things since they only cost $1, but I know if I spent the money on a nice one, it would be gone as soon as it touched the bottom 😂

[Mr. Aquarium]

I don’t vertical jig them. I cast them. I do pretty good with them in the cold water.  Smallie largemouth and perch. Slow lift pause. Often times they inhale it when it’s on the bottom. You don’t feel the bite when you lift  it feels heavy! 

[Choporoz]

Cincy Fisher is all I have used for last few years.  Way less than the big brands, and with excellent hooks.  I could probably save a buck by purchasing components from Barlows or Janns, but these are a good value to me

[TOXIC]

SteelShads did a good job on Saturday.  

[RRocket]

4 hours ago, TOXIC said:

SteelShads did a good job on Saturday.  

 

Very nice! 

[RipzLipz]

C’mon guys - I’m just healing up from the Black Friday attacks from you know who…..

 

Nice fish though, all of you!

[casts_by_fly]

On 11/28/2023 at 11:27 AM, TOXIC said:

SteelShads did a good job on Saturday.  

with the tw sale going, I’m going to pick up a couple new to me things to try this spring. I’m going to grab a blade or two. Looking at the steelshad, I’m wondering the difference between it and an original sonar. I have a bunch of original sonars downstairs of all different sizes and colors.  The basic shape is the same with a very similar weight placement. What makes the steelshad better?

[TOXIC]

Before GSM acquired SteelShad, I wasn’t much of a blade bait user.  One year in Michigan on lake St Clair we decided to spend a day vertical jigging for walleye.  I had a full box of different SteelShad blades with me and we spent the day drifting the St Clair river and hammering walleyes, I was hooked.  My partner used Damiki blades and the 2 aren’t even close in appearance.  As for others that look like SteelShad, I can’t do anything but guess on the differences whether it be body style, hook quality, multiple rigging snap holes, weighted belly style and shape, etc., but I can tell you they didn’t foul on the main line near as often as the Damiki and in our case caught more fish.  I brought them back to Virginia and as my original post showed, they worked just as well on our winter largemouth.  I’m getting ready to order the new style of SteelShad with the weight all in the front.  Supposed to eliminate more hang ups. 

[casts_by_fly]

39 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Before GSM acquired SteelShad, I wasn’t much of a blade bait user.  One year in Michigan on lake St Clair we decided to spend a day vertical jigging for walleye.  I had a full box of different SteelShad blades with me and we spent the day drifting the St Clair river and hammering walleyes, I was hooked.  My partner used Damiki blades and the 2 aren’t even close in appearance.  As for others that look like SteelShad, I can’t do anything but guess on the differences whether it be body style, hook quality, multiple rigging snap holes, weighted belly style and shape, etc., but I can tell you they didn’t foul on the main line near as often as the Damiki and in our case caught more fish.  I brought them back to Virginia and as my original post showed, they worked just as well on our winter largemouth.  I’m getting ready to order the new style of SteelShad with the weight all in the front.  Supposed to eliminate more hang ups. 

 

 

I remembered your trip reports and that's what made me consider the SS in the first place.  We fished sonars and the original little georges  (with the teardrop shape, not the half oval ones) going back 30+ years ago.  I've got a box of a bunch of sonars downstairs and I was trying to figure out what a SS gave me over a sonar.  Maybe I just fish what I've got a bit and see how I do first. 

 

 

 

 

 

[TOXIC]

Close in shape other than tail up and tail down.  I would buy a couple of SteelShad to fish alongside your current ones and see for yourself.  Good luck.  I really enjoy blade baiting.  

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

Close in shape other than tail up and tail down.  I would buy a couple of SteelShad to fish alongside your current ones and see for yourself.  Good luck.  I really enjoy blade baiting.  

Thanks. For a couple bucks why not. What weights are you fishing for a given depth?  I was thinking 1/4 to 10’ or so, 3/8 down to 16-18’, and half beyond that. 
 

also, blast from the past:

 

[TOXIC]

Since I fish mine on 10lb mono and spinning gear, I stay with 1/2 oz most of the time and in most all depths.  I’m usually not shallower than 10-15 and can go up to 40-50.