Blade baits for hard water fishing!!

[REW]

On a recent northerly trip, we had very good luck using Zip lures, as well as Ciccadia lures for walleye catches.

It is remarkable how often fish - of every species will hit these lures made of flashy metal.

Use a stiff rod, braided no stretch line, a 12-20 inch lift drop or so, with a very hard lift. You will feel the violent vibrations on the lift of these baits.

Every now and then, pause, and you will often see a line on the depth finder move close to your lure. Give it a slight jig and often the fish will slam the lure. Typically, when the fish hit these lures, they completely inhale the lures - none of which have any bait on them.

Another great lure that was working well was the Salmo lure.
Again, a similar action, but of course you simply get the nice circular action of the salmo rather than the violent vibration of the blade baits.

Again, when the fish hit the Salmo's they normally, completely inhale the lures. Nothing tentative about these bites.

Take care and good fishing.
REW

[CI_Guy]

Some one on LOW showed me this technique a few years ago. He called it "ripping" and said it was popular on Devils Lake. It seemed to work best in the early afternoon.

[macblade]

Here in Ohio the VIBE is a basic staple in our walleye arsenal. For ice or not. From Oct.-April these are the first baits pulled out. We only switch when these fail which isn't often. My favorite lake averages 5' and full of big saugeyes. Using an underwater camera you'd be amazed at how violently they hit bladebaits.

[Backwater Eddy]

I like the Heddon Rattling Sonar (as it has 3 adjustable connection points to trim the desired action needed), the Zip...a good basic blade, not so much the Cicada as they tend to fowl up on the line for me in current.