My observation is blade baits used in Prescott this time of year foul hook more fish than not. I have foul hooked fish there both times I went using short shanked jig/minnow. From what I see blading is akin to snagging (in this scenerio) but would like experienced input from others so that I am not misunderstood. Anyone?
Blade baits are very effective for me compared to Jigs about 1 day out of 10. As far as snagging, well….. it is possible but mostly the fish are reacting to a “fleeing morsel” and will swipe at it as a reaction not a contemplated decision to eat something. As a result some do get foul hooked. The 1 out of 10 results can actually outfish a jig by a lot ! I’m just not able to put my finger on the when and why ……yet. I always keep a rod rigged and ready to try before I leave a group of fish I’m hovering over with little or no success. Keep it in mind next time on the Water. 
Suzuki…I was skeptical as well. I’ve seen blades used (obviously)to snag fish in the spring…with four guys in a boat drifting down the river jerking their rods up with Herculean force.
Last fall I was watching guys working blades in a slower deliberate motion kinda like snap jigging. I was talked into trying it and was amazed at my success. I would say one out of five fish were hooked outside of the mouth but always in the general area.
(We are all required to release foul hooked gamefish) so I have since softened my earlier negative opinion.
I foul hook a number of fish in the spring using only a jig and plastic so I think some of that is unavoidable when spawners are packed up by the dam in large numbers. I think a persons INTENT can be deciphered by observation and attitude.
Tom,
I agree totally with you. We were down in redwing one day and a buddy wanted me to show him how to use them. The first fish in the boat was hooked under the jaw.Then agian we have had them inhale the things. I belive its a reaction bite to an extent. But I also belive that curiousity is what gets these eyes more so than the reaction to take the bait witch puts them in the right place to get snaged 
This is just my 2 cents. 98% of the time I spend jigging my jig does not leave more than 4-6 inches off the bottom. Very few days do we ever have to get too aggressive with our jigging to catch fish.
I have found bladebaits to be effective. Effective presentations vary depending on the mood of the fish and what is working. Generally when the water gets in to the high 50’s ,as it is now, they are not as effective as when the water is in the 40’s. Walleye and sauger bite on action that varies from not moving it at all to the big snagging yanks I witness down at Prescott. Other effective presentations included casting out and counting down for suspended fish and then pumping the blade back to the boat.
I would think the blade bite is slowing down based on the water temperature. My son is out blading now on the Croix. If he makes it back ( he is 16 and this is the first time he took the boat out by himself – with some buddies)I will find out.
Good luck.
Hey! Welcome to the posting side of things Cannon Baller!
You fish the Croix much? If so, which part?
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