Blade Baits

[Crestliner2008]

Fishing a medium-large river here in MA - the Connecticut - for smallmouth. I like to use blade baits (mainly), tubes and IKAs. How about some tips and/or hints on blade fishing this cold water period. While we're at it, let's talk about some alternative presentations as well.

[roadwarrior]

Try throwing a Silver Buddy and Cordell Gay Blade. Pop them off the bottom.

Buy several if you decide to give this a try, you might lose a couple!   :

Another suggestion for deep structure: 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade spinnerbait.

[Crestliner2008]

I've already lost 3! Just ordered another 9. This could get expensive! Netcraft has a mold which I may have to put on my Xmas list    I have a couple of those Ledgebuster. Never used them in the river though? Have to give 'em a whirl. Thanks!

[bass109]

I like these lures, but they dont last long at all after a few big fish, usually the hooks are missed up. Its really hard to get replacement hooks

[Crestliner2008]

Bass109 - Netcraft carries replacement hooks at very reasonable costs. When I use to do a lot of  jig fishing with 1/8 oz. and 1/4 oz. ball heads & 3" - 4" curly tails (my main smallmouth presentation 20 years ago!), I molded all my own. Didn't really care how man I lost. Loosing jigs was part of the game. Blade bait fishing seems to me a similar proposition. You can't get fish if you arnen't hooked up on the bottom occaisionally! But come on guys - besides the twitch on & off bottom - any other presentation techniques worth trying? I know these blades work well on walleye too - in river systems anyway!  

[roadwarrior]

Nope, not for me. I have not had success with any other presentation.

Perhaps these blades do not appear realistic enough when they "swim."

[Guest btlva]

I've used bladebaits as a Rat-L-Trap substitute over grass beds in spring. They have a tight wiggle on a steady retrieve. Overall I definitely prefer a trap but I think a blade might be the ticket when everyone else is throwing a rattling bait. I plan on doing it more next year.

Every winter I tell myself I'm going to spend alot of time jigging them on the bottom but I always quit after 10 minutes and do something else! Maybe this will be the year!

Wal-Mart had a clearance sale on Silver Buddies earlier this year (.99 cents each!) and I cleared off a peg. As I understand they're no longer made. I've seen that mold in Jann's too, probably would be a good idea to get one if I start fishing bladebaits more. tight lines

[granadethrow]

YOU ARE FROM MASSACHUSETTS? ME TOO!  

I usually fish either spoons or blade baits for smallies for lures.

for live bait i usually choose either crawfish or shiners. Shiners just use the smallest boober possible, paint it light blue, and use a small live bait hook. For crawfish hook them threw the tail with a hook and drag them slowly along the bottom.

I usually fish Watchusett Reservior, recently got a bronze pin for a smallie, looks great on my mantle

[bass109]

this bait is one of the best lures you can use. It can really catch anything

[Crestliner2008]

granadethrow - Happy to meet a fellow Baystater   However, I don't use live bait - period. I'm sort of like a dry fly purist; preferring to catch them on metal, wood or plastic. Half the fun is trying fool 'em into eating something that ain't something to eat!    Thanks all for the input. guess I'll stick with what I'm doing. Hitting the river again tomorrow....I'll let you know how I make out.

[electrikal]

Check out this article http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/silver_buddy.html if you haven't already. I just started fishing Silver Buddies last winter. Caught everything but a smallie. I'll be giving em a go again - my technique probably needs work! :-[

[Crestliner2008]

electrikal - I've caught several nice bass last fall on the SBs - when I first started using them (after reading Billy Westmoreland). But unlike the article you posted, you really don't have to watch the line all that closely and certainly I don't raise it that much (9 to 12) off the bottom. I use a baitcaster with 10# Fireline. As soon as the bait hits the bottom, I give it just enough of a lift off bottom (jerk) to barely feel the vibes. Drop it immediately and it should be on bottom again in a sec. or less. This is usually only an inch or two off bottom in reality (30' - 40' of water); you can see this easily, especially if you try it in clear, shallow water so you can watch it happening. Every strike I've gotten were slams - with no ifs, ands, or buts involved! Another MA angler I know has suggested to me that I should even dead-stick it for a few seconds or longer! These things are incredible. BTW, the "Silver Buddy" company is now defunked. Totally out of business. Unless you make your own, the cheapest ones I've found are at TNT Tackle, for $2.50 each. Wish they had a less "pretty" one at around $2.00, but even the plain jane SB's were costing that much.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Anyone see Zona using one of these today on "Worlds Greatest Fishing Show"?  Awesome.  He was fishing a small place called............. HEAVEN! lol

Shout out to my Bay State neighbors!!  RI in the house.