blades for trolling

[rebs]

do many of you guys use a single colorado blade or double willow leaf blades for trolling ? How do you determin when to use what kind of blade and how many ?
I have had success using a single size 7 thumper blade also.

[Terroreyes]

I do about 75% of my trolling around here with single colorados. Only time I'll try willows is in the fall. Around here they attract way too many garbage fish any other time of the year. White/silver bass really love willow blades!

[fishinmachine2]

I use mainly single colorados and single willows!! I fish mainly Saginaw Bay and some down in Lake Erie!! I like colorados earlier in the yr then go to willows in mid summer give or take a bit!!

Scott

[rebs]

what about in the fall

[fishinmachine2]

what about in the fall


I like pulling cranks in the fall!! Deep little rippers in the bay and big reef runners in Erie!!

Scott

[orchard frank]

I pull about everything at one time or another, but I tend to prefer the #4 Indianas here on LBDN area. Big Colorados produce for sure, no doubt, Willows can be buzzed right along, a real advantage at times. The #4 Indianas seem to be a good compromise for me, big enough to put out a good vibration, but can be pulled at speeds up to 1.5 and still work well. Sometimes I'll start with cranks on one side, harnesses on the other, see what might show a preference. Side by side with other stuff, they seem to hold their own, and are often the best producers. I will also go smaller, down to 2's and 3's in both Colorados and Indianas. I've caught enough big fish on these small set-ups to be convinced that it isn't always a big bait-big fish connection. One thing for me is to always (almost) have a white bead or two in the set, I'm convinced on that.

[Terroreyes]

Here's a twist on running double blades. "CowGirl" style, stolen from muskie lures. Worked pretty well for myself and a few others who tried them this year. Very flashy and "big" presentation. Tended to take the bigger fish.

[rebs]

Here's a twist on running double blades. "CowGirl" style, stolen from muskie lures. Worked pretty well for myself and a few others who tried them this year. Very flashy and "big" presentation. Tended to take the bigger fish.

those look like deep cup blades, do you use a lot of the deep cup ?
the color of those blades would work at this end of the lake

[Terroreyes]

those look like deep cup blades, do you use a lot of the deep cup ?
the color of those blades would work at this end of the lake


Yep, deep cup. I've started to use more deep cups around here in the last few years. Seem to fit into my trolling habits (on the slower side and in combo with cranks) better.

Those are trout custom blades. :)

[schram24]

http://www.myfishingpartner.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=23&Itemid=99

There is a nice guide to blade types about half way down the page. It will help you determine what type of blades to use and when.

[rebs]

Tyhanks to all you guys foir the information, I appreciate it

[old erie guy]

Hi Rebs,

I fish all Ohio waters of erie. Blade type, size, and color can all be huge. I currently mostly fish crankbaits but used to focus on harness fishing. I always used single Colorado's and Indiana's in slower speed presentations (occasionally smiley blades) with bouncers and in-lines/snap weights. Mid -speeds for suspended fish could go single or double Indiana or Colorado's or maybe single big willows. Fast = willows.

Back before all the cool color patterns were available, we pretty much had chrome, gold, copper, red, orange, green, yellow, white, and black colors to work with. Hammered, plain, prism tape. Harness length and lead length (even with bouncers) were the other factors besides speed. It was pretty common to start with 4 different blades and harness lengths & end up running all lines virtually the same. Where I'm going with this is if you experiment, you will dial in favorites for the season. Last yrs favorite is a starting point for the next yr. You can get some pretty good hints by seeing what sells at your local well stocked erie baitshop. Fishermens preferences vary substantially from one end of the lake to the other and probably for good reason . IMO, you'll see more willows being run in the Central & Eastern Basins because more guys fish faster over that way.

I agree with the guy that said he likes cranks in the fall, why get worm dirt under your fingernails when you don't need to? lol