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blade bait down into that school regardless of what I’m seeing on the graph; because, the big fish are never too far away.
BLADE BAIT GEAR
There are several different rod and reel setups that work for blade baits: two of them are spinning and one is casting.
For spinning gear, a 7’, medium- heavy with braided mainline and 10- to 12-pound fluorocarbon leader works best. The other spinning option is something like my Alpha Angler 7’6” TAC-Mag that is most widely known as a tube or fluke rod. The length and power are a great fit for blade baits and the longer rod really allows me greater leverage.
For casting rods, many anglers use 7’, medium-heavy models. The reason I usually avoid this route is because blade baits can introduce line twist into the equation. If you’re just trying to get into blade baits, don’t be afraid to buy a couple lures to try on your casting gear.
Much like other techniques, you can dial in your gear as you expand your experience and results.
For line, braided main line is crucial. Pair your 20-pound braid with 10, 12 or 15-pound fluorocarbon leader for an already tested and approved
combination. Not only does the fluorocarbon leader help with line-shy fish, it also helps with impact absorption; so, make sure to tie a good leader knot and let ‘er rip.
From dropping straight down onto the fish to casting horizontally and covering water with the yo-yo presentation, odds are you will run into your personal best if you give the blade bait a chance this winter.
MODIFICATIONS
While most blade baits come with
quality terminal tackle, I began changing and
adding specific split rings and hooks to my
baits, because of the size of fish that I was
catching.
Smallmouth that are five or six-pounds
and larger tend to pull very hard with their
head shakes. On each Norisada Blade Bait,
I remove the original hooks and add: P-line
Duo-lock Snap, Size 1 or 2 (middle hole on
blade bait), Spro Power Split Rings, Size 2
(front and back of bait), Mustad KVD Elite
Triple Grip Trebles, Size 4 Hooks (same size
front and back of bait) *You can exchange brands on the snaps and rings, but stick with the Triple Grip Hooks
If you are chasing the biggest fish, it only makes sense to ensure the hookup and the landing. Make sure you are ready! •