Blade Bait

Blade Bates are cover contact lures known for shimming, vibrating lure action that is hopped in cold water temperature.  Blade Baits don’t technically have a blade but are shaped somewhat like a blade with a weighted nose resulting in a vibration like a blade.  Since blade baits are relatively heavy in relation to their size, they cast far distances when fished horizontally plus they can be jigged vertically. Lure design allows the lure to get deep quickly while fishing slow. Also known for being a heavy but small lure.

Anatomy: Blade lures are treble hook lures that generally features two to four line tie locations with the rear-most line tie creating the most vibration and is best for vertical jigging; conversely, the forward-most line tie is conducive to less vibration some suggest best for casting and retrieving. Some suggest the hooks should be a split rings. Commonly the line is secure to the snap and not tied directly as some suggest the lure design could cut the line. The original blade baits were stamped out of steel with lead weight added to the front which kept the nose down and allowed the lure to hit cover without getting snagged similar to lipped crankbait and a lipless crankbait. 

  • Double Hook: [Figure 5] Double hooks pointing to the rear of the lure designed specifically to help ensure the lure does not get snagged on cover. 
  • Profiles: Generally, two:
    • Longer Slender: Common
    • Shorter Fatter: Less common, some suggest mimics more of a shad bait fish.

Variants & Other Names: 

  • Metal Bait: A less common name.
  • Tail Spinner: Tail Spinner Lures are a different lure type but similar as its blade at the rear of the lure.
  • Rattle: Not common and in some cases it is referred to a silent lure especially when compared to a lipless crankbait.
  • Blade Baiting: A term used to describe fishing a blade bait lure.

Lure Action: Varying degree of shimmies depending on the line tie locations. The closer to the head the larger the wobble while farther back the tighter the wobble. 

Search Bait: Not common. 

Pros’ Choice: Not common.

Figure 1:Cotton Cordell Gay Blade
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When to Fish Blade Baits

Blade Baits are cover contact lures typically selected when:   

  • Targeted Depth is:
    • Deep(Offshore): Common, in some cases vertically close to the boat (jigged) and in most suggest horizontally either directly, hopped retrieve or a yo-yo retrieve. Lure design allows the lure to get deep fast while fishing slow.
      • Suspended: Not common as it is typically hopped off cover or bottom.
    • Shallow: Less common 
  • Fishing Speed is:
    • Slow: Commonly fished slow in the winter by using a hop retrieve. 
    • Fast: Less common to fish fast but the lure has the capacity similar to a lipless crankbait.
  • Lure Visibility is:
    • High Lure Visibility: Common, albeit common in deep water which has limited visibility
    • Low Lure Visibility: Common, and using a vertical presentation, some suggest the vibrations in deeper water will help trigger inactive bass.
      • Engaging Lateral Line: Vibration is the core to the lure’s motion with the amount of vibration influenced as to where line tie is located.
  • Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where blade bait lures are fished similar to lipped crankbait while it looks like a lipless crankbait and is used when contacting:
    • Grass: Less common while some suggest the double hook version [Figure 5] will go through light grass.
    • Rock: Common
    • Wood: Less common. 
    • Dock: Not common 
    • Off Cover: Less common.
  • Soft Bottom vs Hard Bottom: Common to bounce off both soft and hard bottom especially in deep water. 
Figure 2: Megabass Blade Bait DYNA RESPONSE
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Figure 3: Savage VIB BLADE Bait
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Specific Blade Bait Lure Selection

Selecting the Blade Bait Lure Type, as a treble hook lure type, there are the following key decisions:

  • Sink Classification: When provide, common for:
    • Sinking:
  • Size: 
    • Small: 1.5″ to 2″
    • Common: 2″ to 2.5″
    • Large: 2.5″ and over
  • Lure Weight:  .
    • Light: 1/4 oz
    • Common: 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz
    • Heavy: 3/4 oz, 1 oz
Figure 4: 6th Sense Slice Blade Bait - Shad Hammer
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  • Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
Download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic
Rigging Decisions

As a treble hook lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

  • Hook Size: Some suggest replacing the treble hooks with larger, stronger, treble hooks on a split ring.
      • Small: #6
      • Common: #5, #4
      • Large: #3, #2
  • Main Line: Common for fluorocarbon,
    • Light: 8 lb test to 10 lb test to maximize the lure action.
    • Common: 10 lb test to 12 lb test
    • Heavy: 15 lb
  • Leader: Not common unless using braid main line.  
  • Rod:
    • Baitcaster Rod: Common with Power = Medium (some suggest Medium Heavy especially with heavier lures while) and Action(Taper) = Fast (some suggest Moderate Fast or even Moderate to help keep the fish one)
      • Reel: Some suggest high speed 8.1:1 
    • Spinning Rod: Less common when using the lighter blade baits.  
Download Rod Infographic
Blade Bait Presentations

Presentations blade baits are commonly considered for both vertical presentation and a slack line presentation with the following considerations:

Additional Considerations
Figure 5: Stillwater Jackall Keeburn Blade Bait featuring do
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