I have noticed a lot of people using blade baits on the river and they seem to be productive. It does seem that a lot of these fish are foul hooked, mostly in the underside of the fish. It seems a lot a people forget or are not aware that you are not supposed to keep these fish. I have seen a lot of fish go in the livewell, Lets follow the rules and release these fish. Just my 2 cents.
Dabears! What a good and timely post!
Just last week I was fishing with Putz and he foul hooked this nice size sheephead. I had a heck of a time getting him to return it.
Actually I think crank baits foul hook more fish…when you have three trebles and one is close to the mouth…that usually falls into …that’s close enough catagory.
Did you actually SEE that fish go back in the water, Brian?
not only are these fish to be released it is against the law to keep a snagged fish!!! so if you do use zip lures or sonars please be legal and let them go 
Amen to that WalleyeFool!
I’ve used a sonar once…maybe twice…never caught anything on it…but my question is…
What percent of the eyes actually have the hook in there mouths? Every fish I’ve seen caught with a sonar has been snagged. I’m sure some have to actually hit it but what is it…? One out of 10?
I have a tray full of blade baits that I haven’t used in years. The reason is cause down here in our muddy river they foul hook too many fish that may have struck at the bait but missed and got hooked on my uplift. I didn’t use a drastic uplift so the damage to the fish was very small. But I’ve seen people raising these blades with what seemed a purpose to snag, and snag fish they do.
Ok, the law says to put them back if foul hooked. Fine.
But really, how many of these fish, with rips in their bellys and sides, and a gut hanging out, are going to survive? Does it happen that often? Is it a big waste of the resource? I’ve read several posts on this site, and a few articles about the proper usage of blade baits, and they were very informative. And they do work if used properly. But do the majority pay any attention to this? Do they care? Do you?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to see them restricted or outlawed or anything like that, because they are a very usefull fishing tool when used right.
Have a nice day 
I don’t know how Wisconsin and Minnesota’s fishing regulations read but here is Iowa a fish has to be hooked in front of the gills to be a legally caught fish. I do have a few blade baits in my tackle and I have used them. They seem to work OK when you have the clear water in the winter time. Then you don’t snag too-many fish. They do catch fish but I don’t fish them much. I tend to stay with vertical jigging plastics or pulling rapalas. Most people I see fishing blade baits are jerking them up so hard that what they really are doing is snagging. Just like the guys who snag paddlefish out of the deep holes in winter. I will bet that their arms get pretty sore after jerking all day long. Try lifting the blade bait up slower and then letting it drop. The fish will hit it on the way down and you will catch them in the mouth.
Eyehunter
I use all of the above mentioned baits at times.
They catch alot of fish..
I haved snagged fish with Phelps floaters,while trolling plugs. While live bait rigging.
Blade baits were designed as an attaction bait..if you fish them enough you will catch plenty of fish in the mouth and deep in the gullet.
I do alot of snap jigging all season long and I foul hook plenty of fish…I also catch plenty in the mouth.
The best time of year is coming at least my favorite..and that if vertical snapping plastics..and I am looking for a reaction bite…from those big fat bellied gals that are full of dying shad…and they just can’t sit and watch my bait jumping bby there heads…. 
You just have to release them if not hooked in the mouth..
But the blade baits were not designed to snag fish.
Just my input…
Good luck and let the breeders go.
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