blade baits

i have caught quite a few walleyes/saugers on blades mostly right at prime pre spawn and post spawn where the fish are(more) active my question is when fishing these real cold water periods are you always feeling the “vibration” of the blade on retrieve or is it acting more like a spoon where it just get pulled up and allowed to flutter. I have had mixed reports of my own on length of pull and amount of force/ how much it vibrates. just cant seem to get it together when it comes to this early season stuff/ clear water blade fishing

Good question and maybe time for some of us blading veterans to share information…

When you see reports from anglers like Eric, Dean, myself and others regarding blades for big prespawn walleyes this time of year into April we are mainly using tiny 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 oz blades and CASTING or PITCHING them some distance from the boat, in relatively shallow pre spawn staging areas, as Eric explained in his 3/4 Report. This is a whole different technique than using 1/2-3/4oz blades, vertical jigging deep water seams for (primarily) Sauger.

There is no right/wrong way…but generally I cast upstream, tightline the blade to the bottom, flick my wrist back slightly, moving the rod tip up about 10″(it takes almost no effort to get these small blades vibrating… reel in the slack almost at the same time to keep tension on the line and eliminating any slack. Very similar to working a hair jig of plastic, only you’ll feel when the blade flutters back and touches bottom(line goes slack)…then restart the rythym. 95% of the time the Walleyes suck it in of the flutter back…anytime you feel sudden resistance…set the hook!

My perfect set up for this is one Dean rigged for me…a St.Croix 6’9″ MLXF(I prefer the Legend Extreme) 30 series Arbor reel, 6# Sufix 832 braid.

I’ve never used a blade bait before so my question is simple. How do you attach one of these to your line? And which hole do you attach your line to?

Thanks

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I’ve never used a blade bait before so my question is simple. How do you attach one of these to your line? And which hole do you attach your line to?

Thanks

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#2 Snap available at Everts Resort, middle hole

I also use blades at these times of year with great success. In the past few years I also use Red Eye Shad spoons. These are great baits and I use them all year round. You work these baits just as you would blades. Just more ammo to add to the arsenal. Check them out. Red Eye Shad Spoons

Josh, great question ! Typically prespawn winter fishing blades is much different due to the river stage & flow being much lower than spring fishing. Blade weight,line diameter,and rod action,contribute equally to the presentation.Yes you should feel the blade vibrate on the lift,fishing lighter weights allow you do that slower than heavier blades.Less than 40 degree water I try to slow the cadence down to as slow as possible.

As good as blade fishing can be,some days it just doesn’t produce….so not just you. Your rotation should always include some bucktail and plastics as well before giving up on your spot! Keep practicing & hope it starts producing for ya soon!

I am by no means as good a blade fishermen as most but a few things I have learned from them and experience. Most people that I have had in my boat work a blade to aggressively. One reason why is the rod they are using dosen`t telegraph the action of the blade bait, they can`t feel the vibration unless they really pull on it. Sometimes those fish only want a slight tick tick of the blade, I might only move my rod tip 6-8 inches. When they do pick up the blade they stop there rod tip and the blade coasts forward, I like to drop my rod tip on a semi tight line and let the blade flutter back towards, any fish that might be following. Vary the retrieve let the fish tell you what they want, as Dean stated it`s not everyday blades work but that is the same as any bait. Blades are not just a cold water bait I fish blades year round.

Dean is the one I have to thank for starting me fishing blade baits before his help I never caught a fish on blades so I never fished them. It is a learning curve, but now blades are one of my go to baits.

Stock up on blades fishing wing dams your going to donate your share, until you learn how to use them

Ahhhh, the wisdom of “the Dean”.
All good points by everyone. Another point is, fish move ALOT–esp. walleyes and saugers–if you are casting to empty water, no bait will work. The majority of the time, people are not catching fish due to fishing “fishless” water. Remember that fact next time you lose confidence in a bait.

All very good points that were mentioned earlier. About the only thing I will add is at this time of year there are not large schools of numerous fish. With the low flow fish can be scattered almost anywhere. One major advantage to pitching a blade is being able to cover a large amount of water in a short time. I strongly believe that covering water at this time of year will greatly increase your odds. As the water warms and flow increases fish will be in tighter schools and more fish will be around so pounding out a few good spots may be better.

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With the low flow fish can be scattered almost anywhere. I strongly believe that covering water at this time of year will greatly increase your odds. As the water warms and flow increases fish will be in tighter schools and more fish will be around so pounding out a few good spots may be better.

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All the little tid bits that are given up here.

why only the middle hole? What are the other 2 for, just for looks ?

why only the middle hole? What are the other 2 for, just for looks ?

i use the third hole,last one away from the head,when i want a wider wobble and the middle hole when i want a more suddle wobble when the fish are more negative.

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i use the third hole,last one away from the head,when i want a wider wobble and the middle hole when i want a more suddle wobble when the fish are more negative.

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Others use the front hole for trolling