|
|
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. |
Just finished watching that "Zip Blade Bait" info-mercial on the Outdoor channel for about the 5th time. Of course, similar to the Banjo Minnow info-mercial, the fish just can't seem to resist it's magic fish catching charm on TV. Not being a Bass fisherman I never got the urge to order the Banjo, but have seen the Zip Lure in action and have to say, they work.
About seven years ago I started chartering this Brother-in-law team on the Tittabawassee River and always on the Mothers Day weekend. The one brother-in-law (with his wife) would come all the way from Illinois and visit his wifes mother who lived near Detroit. The two guys, not wanting to partake in the shopping spree that the mother and her two daughters always planned the day before mothers day, chartered me for a day of fishing.
Well, this guy from Illinois brings along a whole box of these Zip Blade Baits. And even though fan-casting holding areas along the shore line as we drift is a technique I like to use, Blade Baits have never been at the top my list of productive lures to do so with. With lot's of logs and other debris in realitivley shallow water, anything with a lead body and sharp pointed hooks pointing downward seemed like a waste of expensive baits and time to me.
Well, instead of making this post into a book, I'll simply state this guy in the past 7 mothers day trips on the river with me, has made me a believer in Zip Blades for anything that swims. He's caught walleyes, pike and every bass speice thats swims in the Tittabawassee River on these little rascles. And I must say, he does it better than I can.
I consider myself a pretty good stick when it comes to finesse fishing. Few people can quarter cast a jig and detect the suttle little takes that I can. Of course a lot of it is knowing where to cast. But he hardly ever gets a snag in the thickest brush, and he will cast his blade right on top of my blade and pick up a walleye or bass right behind me. He pumps the blade in versus swimming or popping it. I've tried my best to imitate his motions, but he outfishes me 5 to 1 everytime. He likes to leave me a couple of his best color for that particular trip and shows up the next year with a new color and outfishes me again. Can't wait to see what he brings this year.
Heres a picture of him last year on May 9th with 1 of the three walleyes he caught that day on the Zip Blade.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424169-med.JP...
Edited by walleye express 4/19/2004 5:40 PM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 299
Location: Wind lake, Wi | Them ol timers always out fish me too. Actually Ive had really good sucess quarter casting silver buddies at lake Erie, but we cast towards the drift at a 45 degree angle from the boat and snap the rod tip about a foot keeping up with the drift. This works real well in the spring time on the reefs and usually out fishes live bait and a jig about 3 to 1. I've used Zips for since they made an apperance in a local sport shop. Some days vertical jigging the zip will out produce anything while other days you can leave it in your box and forget about it. It's all about thr presentation of the blade that will make the fish want it. The small zips work great for ice fishing crappies and perch. Or go out on the big pond and hammer brown trout, smaller zips work great for lake Mich. perch. I'll never leave home with out my assorted box of zips because you never know when you'll need them.
ps. Dan what happens when he picks up a fish right behind you is, the fish is reacting to your bait but then sees a easy offering coming so he takes the second offering instead of chasing yours. This is what we experienced on lake erie for years. Next time, cast behind him about five secinds and you'll improve your catch ratio.
Edited by eyefever 4/19/2004 6:26 PM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Fever.
Thanks for the ego booster. I knew it couldn't have just been me......Ya right.  | |
| |
|
Fan Casting Blade Baits.