I got out fishing for a couple of hours today after filming a shooting video with a Umarex USA, Inc. NXG rifle and Henry Repeating Arms Frontier Long Barrel, and then later shooting my Browning Arms Company 1911-22 Grey for sight adjustment. So, there wasn’t a lot of time remaining to fish, but it turned out great.
The wind was from the north about 15 mph, with much cooler temperature, including a water temp drop. With this I decided to try a Blitz Lures LLC 1 ounce Blade in the yellow perch color, which was what had been doing good with the Rat-L-Trap. Sure enough, the Blade claimed the first fish of the day, which was a 20 inch bass.
Things then slowed down a little so I started moving around, and trying other lures. Time was running down, so thought I would go to the perch colored Rat-L-Trap, and it paid off, or at least until I snagged into a 59 inch grass carp, which snapped it off as I reached down where I had it up to shore. How did I know it was 59 inches, well I measured it with my 8’6″ Air Rod, and then took a tape measure to check it from there. Unfortunately that was the only yellow perch Rat-L-Trap that I had.
I thought that I would then try a few other things, including a swim bait and smaller 1/4 ounce apricot Mini Trap, but nothing worked.
Next I looked in the box and grabbed a Gizzard Shad colored Rat-L-Trap, and started retrieving it with quick 1 to 2 feet jerks and the rod tip parallel to the water, after allowing it to sink to the bottom in scattered weed beds no less. Bingo! It started working very well with the largest hitting 23 inches, with a weight of 6 lbs. 14 ozs. This was my 192nd state award fish.
Fishing a Trap and Blade are about the same thing when it comes to retrieves, and when the water starts cooling they both can do very well. In fact, the Blitz Blade is “the king” when it comes to fishing cool and cold water as the season progress, and then in the very late winter and early spring. I’ve caught several nice bass with the Blade in under 40 degree water, and just above freezing.
There are about as many types of retrieves that you can use on these baits as can be used on jigs and soft plastics. I’ve done a video on retrieves for Blitz Blades, which you can see on this page or the Dan’s Fish ‘N’ Tales® You Tube channel.
In all, I caught 10 bass in the two hour trip. It was then time for Pepper and me to head home.
Until next time, get out on the water, and enjoy a great day of fishing.
By Dan’s Fish ‘N’ Tales with Host/Writer Dan Galusha