Looking to use for Ice fishing this year, has anyone done the same?
What size did you use? 
October 30, 2011 at 7:55 pm
#1302793
Ice Fishing Blade Baits
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October 30, 2011 at 8:47 pm #1005236
Depends how deep and what fish you’re targeting.
October 30, 2011 at 10:32 pm #1005265The northerns are just destroying blade baits right now on the lake I fish. It almost seems as though they get irritated with the blades.
There are alot of fun to fish.October 30, 2011 at 11:21 pm #1005281Planning on trying them out on Mille Lacs, in-between 15′-30′
October 31, 2011 at 12:01 am #1005296Putting in a order through Deans.
Excited….October 31, 2011 at 12:14 am #1005301Question on regards to rigging them?
Is one of the three holes better then the other?
Or better yet why is there 3 holes?
October 31, 2011 at 12:23 am #1005305Blade baits through the ice have been a crucial part of my approach to walleye, pike, and any other predator fishing I’ve done for many years now. For me, it’s a “first-drop” type of bait, I put down the hole immediately when hitting a new hole and seeing a good mark. Drop the bait halfway down open bail, then more slowly till just above. Here’s where people often mis-use them IMO. Folks long to feel that glorious ZZZIIIPPP by ripping the bait 3 feet or more. That tends to scare all but the most aggressive bass or pike. Walleyes especially like the thing danced. Slight, quick pulls, enough to feel 2-3 “ticks” or wobbles of vibration. Then teeter-tottered above their heads.
It’s the ultimate temperature-taker of the fish. When the blade bite is on, you get the best of the best; aggressive fish that you get down to FAST, trigger quickly, and bite well. You don’t mess with bait, and can cover ice quickly. That said, when fish continually snub your blades, time to lay it on the bottom, and do slight lifts from time to time.
I’ll concede that fish need to be at least in a moderate activity level or mood to eat blades, but perhaps the best part of a blade is its fish calling ability. If I’ve got dead-sticks or bobber rods down, you can bet I’m jigging a blade nearby. Countless times I’ve watched them swim in hard on the Marcum, shun my blade, and I can’t see the bobber in the hole next door.
Red tiger, glow perch, glow pink, and gold have been my color standbys. Gold is a phenomenal Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods color. Careful with Red Tiger though, if there are pike nearby, it can spoil your walleye bite.
Tieable leader material is nice just for that reason. Joel
October 31, 2011 at 12:44 am #1005306Nice read Joel.
It’s gonna be an awesome Ice-season!
October 31, 2011 at 2:13 am #1005326There is a nice article on Blades through the ice in the current FLW Walleye Gear Guide… I have used them successfully for many species in many types of water…
October 31, 2011 at 3:48 am #1005335Quote:
Question on regards to rigging them?
Is one of the three holes better then the other?
Or better yet why is there 3 holes?
Middle hole only for me through the ice. Attach to your line with a small cross lock snap. #2 seems to be about right.
October 31, 2011 at 4:05 am #1005336My best walleye bite last winter for numbers and size came fishing blades in shallow water with Cal Svihel. Pink and white was the hot color and the fish would absolutely smoke them when they pulled the trigger.
October 31, 2011 at 4:22 pm #1005447Use the blades often on the ice, like James said middle hole with a snap, 1/4 oz.. Not only do the eyes like them but northern, bass and CAT yay Cat like them. I have a glow one that has hammered the cat a couple times after dark.
Usually the hits are ones you better have a hold of your rod. Nice fish James
.October 31, 2011 at 4:33 pm #985141Nice write up Joel, thanks.
I agree the 2-3 ticks is the key and not the rip. I might rip it 1 or 2 times if it has slowed to try to call fish but then back to just ticks. Have had quite a few hits just letting it sit there and dance it.November 1, 2011 at 2:23 pm #1005699You guys ever try blade baits for lake trout through the ice? I have tried a couple times without getting anything but a few lookers. It seems like these should work fantastic for lakers.
November 1, 2011 at 2:57 pm #1005719I have used them for Lakers and have had good luck with them also. I use a ton of fuzzy’s mini mags out here in the islands.
November 8, 2011 at 4:00 pm #1007342Lake of the Woods.
November 8, 2011 at 4:27 pm #1007356Quote:
Lake of the Woods.
Ha-ha, love it! Thanks for the pics, esp. the one of the eye that chomped that bait.
Another note, strike detection for some of these biters can be somewhat difficult. Pike usually slam it, but walleyes especially it often feels like a soft, steady downward pull instead of a “thump.” If you’ve ever targeted or caught largemouths through the ice, it can be alot like that. It’s the fish inhaling the bait more than stomping it. For this reason, I tend to fish a high quality, lightweight graphite rod with these baits. It certainly doesn’t take a high-end rod like that to fish the bait, or feel it vibrate, but you wouldn’t believe how dull the bite can be on these active baits. My favorite is a 32″ Thorne Brothers Walleye Sweetheart in Medium or Med-heavy.
Joel
November 8, 2011 at 5:46 pm #1007385That red with black bars pattern has always been hot on Lake of the Woods. Not sure why it works.. but it sure does! I had to endure Joel putting the hurt on fish after fish for about two hours last winter… and I didn’t have one.
November 8, 2011 at 10:51 pm #1007460Thanks for the info about blade baits, I have a few that I use softwater, new bait for me to try on the ice.
November 9, 2011 at 1:26 am #1007500Will B Fish N Tackle be at the St.Paul Ice Show???
November 9, 2011 at 1:56 pm #1007618Quote:
Will B Fish N Tackle be at the St.Paul Ice Show???
The product will be available through several dealers like Thorne Bros, but Custom Jigs & Spins will not be at the show with a booth, unless something changes.
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