Let’s take a look at the two major blade designs first; the original Indiana blade and the
Willow blade.
- The original Indiana blade is wide and features a heavy “cup”.
This blade bites a lot of water for its size and generates a good “thump” vibration and sound as it turns. This
means it’s the best blade choice for s-l-o-w presentations. It’s my favorite for fishing shallow, Shellcracker
beds for example. The additional sound this blade produces makes it a great choice for dirty or darker waters. What you can’t
see is important too. Our original blade is nickel-over-brass construction for maximum sound while many cheaper, knock-offs
are just steel. (You get what you pay for.)
- A willow blade bites less water and thus
has less water to throw. This means the willow blade is a better choice for deeper or swifter waters. While the willow makes
less noise; it still produces sound, vibration and flash. It’s ideal for deeper presentations.
Gold or silver colored blades?
Because shad and minnows are mostly silver
in color; nickel colored blades are still the number one choice of most anglers. However in deeper or darker situations the
silver color of most baitfish, takes on a copper or gold hue. This is especially true in cypress-stained waters. Darker conditions
warrant a darker or perhaps a larger blade as well.
Why have a blade at all?
Attracting fish by sight alone is okay, but wouldn’t it make sense to appeal to more senses? In addition
to sight; blades offer contrast, sound, flash and vibration. Vibration is not to be confused with sound. It’s truly
a different sense. There’s more too. Gill-flash is a phenomenon that simulates feeding, to other fish. Thanks to the
blade’s position on a Road Runner, gill-flash is built in. It looks pre-occupied, feeding.
Now
that you’re an expert in blade designs and their materials, you’ll make better choices on the water and catch
more fish.