Fresh Baits for Salty Applications - Part 2: Blade Baits

(Editor's note: This is part 2 of a multi-part series about using freshwater baits and tactics for inshore species. If you missed part 1, you can catch up by clicking here. Part 2 covers spinnerbaits and bladed jigs. While spinnerbaits and bladed jigs are technically two completely different lures, their characteristics and applications are very similar when it comes to saltwater species, which is why we lumped them both into one article.)

Spinnerbaits and bladed swim jigs (also known as Chatterbaits) have slowly gained popularity with saltwater anglers, especially tournament redfish anglers, in recent years. Yet in spite of becoming staples in the tackle selections of some of the country's top inshore tournament pros, many coastal anglers have yet to give these baits a chance in the salt. 

Spinnerbaits and bladed swim jigs are amazingly versatile offerings that can be used to target virtually any species of fish in any depth range. Redfish, trout, snook and even flounder are susceptible to the flash, vibration and erratic action these baits are known for.

Tips and Tricks for Blades in the Bay

• One instance when bladed jigs will always outshine spinnerbaits is when there's floating grass suspended in the water column. The protruding arm and blade on a spinnerbait acts like a magnet for any floating debris. The bladed jig is a more streamlined offering and swims through grass easier. When you hang a bladed jig in grass, simply rip the rod upward to pop the jig free. This is a great way to trigger strikes.

• Experiment with blade shape, size and color on your spinnerbaits. The small assortment of saltwater-grade spinnerbaits on the market tend to be cookie-cutter offerings, all sharing roughly the same set of characteristics. Most feature a gold Colorado blade and a paddletail-style plastic attached to a free-swinging 1/8-, 1/4- or 3/8-ounce jighead. This configuration works fine in a variety of conditions, but don't hesitate to spice things up with different blade and body styles if the standard setup isn't drawing strikes.

• Colorado blades have a signature thump that tends to work well in dirty-water situations. The Colorado blade also excels in choppy or windy conditions when fish may have a hard time finding a subtler offering. In calm or clear-water situations, or when fish are spooky, try going to a smaller willowleaf blade in silver or black. The willowleaf still puts out plenty of flash and vibration, but it's not as imposing as the bulkier Colorado blade.

• The clearer the water, the faster you'll want to retrieve your blade baits. Don't let wary fish in clear water get a good look at your lure. You can coax a reaction strike out of inactive or highly pressured fish by forcing them to pounce on a fast-moving bait before it gets away. 

• Sometimes it pays to neglect your bladed jigs a little. Once the blade develops a slight bit of corrosion it will start making a loud squeaking noise as it vibrates against the line tie. This extra sound can be the ticket to getting more bites, especially in dirty water. 

• To fish a spinnerbait faster without rolling, bend the blade arm down towards the point of the hook. For a slower retrieve, open the arm up so that the blade is further from the hook. 

• Spinnerbaits tend to outperform bladed jigs in deeper water. Spinners are deadly when slow-rolled over mid-bay reefs and other deep structure. You can also fish a spinnerbait vertically by letting it flutter down near jetty rocks, channel markers, bridge pilings and other fish-holding structure adjacent to deep water. Let the spinnerbait fall on a semi-slack line and pay attention to the thump of the blade. Often times the only indication of a strike comes when the blade suddenly stops turning. 

• Don't get lulled into relying on a standard cast-and-wind retrieve. Some days a straightforward retrieve is best, but often times a quick pause or erratic twitch is what it takes to get bites. There's no wrong way to fish a bladed bait. You can swim it, jig it, hop it, burn it or drag it. Keep changing things up until you draw a strike.

• If you're getting bites on a spinnerbait but can't get a hookup, it's possible that fish are keying in on the blade and missing your bait. Try going to a larger or brighter plastic, changing the color of the blade or bending the blade arm down so that the blade is closer to the hook.