SNAGGING W/ZONARS

[Ratskin]

Has anyone ever caught a walleye or sauger IN THE MOUTH with a zonar type lure? All I ever see being done is snagging by so-called sportsmen who are only interested in filling their freezer. Maybe I'm missing something, but what I see disgusts me!!! Any users who can defend this practice?

[Nofish]

Hey Ratskin,

I certainly can tell you these lures catch fish, legally as intended by the manufacturer. I use the Sonar type lure and jigging spoons fairly often.

I can testify that walleye and sauger absolutely do hit a sonar. Sometimes the fish hit them so savagely you'd think they were Pike!

I DO NOT condone using these types of lures with the intent to snag fish. I have seen people using these with oversized hooks and ripping like they are trying to yank the bottom off the river!

I have found, by far, the best method of working a blade bait is by gently lifting just fast enough to make the blade vibrate. I lift only 6 or 7 inches and then follow the lure back down with a semi taught line. Most of the fish clobber the blade as it falls. If I use too much slack I may not feel the fish hit.

The action or movement I use is not much more aggressive than verticle jigging.

Beleive me when I say, they absolutely catch fish, and absolutely legally. (If my word is not enough, I have seen articles in In-Fish that can back me up)

I too am saddened that some anglers will use a valid technique in an illegal method, but then that's what laws are for.

Have fun.......R

[Hutch tackle & guide services]

I agree with both of you guys. Here on thr Mississippi the zonar is the lure of choice for those^&%%#^%$&*& that are only interested in filling their limit. I call em rippers. It's times like this that I wish I had a torpedo launcher in my boat. But on the other hand when fished as Nofish says they can be a very deadly lure. They will crack the lure so hard it's amazing they still have teeth in there mouth. If you ever come across a look a like called the CRAZY BLADE, TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT HUTCH

[Lefty]

We use them almost exclusively this time of year. It is one of the best fall walleye baits I have ever used. We fish them with a jigging action across windy points. We rarely ever snag a walleye and if we do it is in the side of the head from a missed strike. Actually, the Heddon Sonar is not the best blade bait, I prefer one called the VIB-E. I don't know if it is a national lure of only local to Ohio but it seems to have better action than the Sonar or Silver Buddy. Also most other fish hit this bait, usually hard hits, white bass and smallmnouth in particular. Try one, you'll like it.
Lefty

[Lefty]

We use them almost exclusively this time of year in large stained reservoirs of Ohio. It is one of the best fall walleye baits I have ever used. We fish them with a jigging action across windy points. We rarely ever snag a walleye and if we do it is in the side of the head from a missed strike. Actually, the Heddon Sonar is not the best blade bait, I prefer one called the VIB-E. I don't know if it is a national lure of only local to Ohio but it seems to have better action than the Sonar or Silver Buddy. Also most other fish hit this bait, usually hard hits, white bass and smallmnouth in particular. Try one, you'll like it.
Lefty

[Fuzzy]

How many walleye have you 'snagged' or 'foulhooked' while vertical jigging or pulling crankbaits?