Blades are typically pieces of steel that flash, vibrate and make noise when included or added-on to a lure.
Why are Blades Important?
Blades are important to:
Increase Lure Visibility: Blades create flash to increase lure visibility, vibration such that bass can feel the lure nearby presence and noise so the bass can hear the lure.
Blade Options
Blade Shapes for Lure Visibility:
Most Vibration = Colorado Blade (also Fished Slowest): [Figure 1] A circular design that produces the most vibration and thus is used in low lure visibility and often shallow. Colorado blades also provide maximum feel of the lure and the slowest to retrieve. Common when muddy shoreline fishing. Colorado blades provide the most “thump”, the term used for the noise produced by the vibrating blade.
Least Vibration = Willow Leaf Blades(also sinks and Fished Fastest): [Figure 2] Long leaf-like design that is narrow and provides the lowest resistance and thus fished fastest typically in high lure visibility. Also, the sink faster, thus better when fishing deep in the water column. Willow leaf blades best support burn retrieve which will keep the lure near the surface.
In-between = Indiana Blade: Tear shaped design that is a balance between colorado and willow leaf.
Tomahawk Blade: Less common, also known as Hatchet Blades, are shaped like the blade of a hockey stick and create a distinct vibration.
Silver: Some suggest silver to maximize the flash of the sun. Some will use two silver blades and some recommend one silver and one gold blade. Some suggest using the burn retrieve to compel a reaction bite and to ensure the bass doesn’t get a good look at the lure.
Gold Blades: To capture low light that gets through either due to medium water clarity or overcast conditions.
Painted Blades: If very little sun gets through for example murky water some suggest blades black, white, chartreuses, orange, red that create more profile to the lure.
Blade Size: Blade size and quantity contribute to the overall profile and thus size of the lure.
Large Blades: Enable slower fishing speed.
Small Blades: Easier to get through grass cover.
Size: Blades generally come in 8 sizes from 00,0, 1….6. Size is inches:
Small: 00 which is .43″, 0 which is .55 ” and 1 which is .75″.
Common: 2 which is .87″, 3 which is 1″, 3 which is 1.13″
Large: 5 which is 1.38″ and 6 which is 1.56″. Largest Blade: Generally, the first blade is the largest one.
Add-On / Trailer Blades: [Figure 5] There are many types of blades that can be added to a lure in various connections depending on the lure type. Common names include Worm Blade, Decoy Blade, Screw Lock Blade, Tuning Blade, Spoon Spinner, Underspin Blade,
Specialty Blades:
Buzzbait Blade: [Figure 6] Blades designed for buzzbaits.
Bladed Jig Blade: [Figure 7] Blades designed for bladed jigs.
Prop Blades: [Figure 8] Propeller blades for prop baits. ,
Figure 1: Nichols Colorado Metal Flake Replacement Blades
