Field Guide

Blade Baits

Cold-water metal for winter schools, rock transitions, and deep baitfish-oriented bass.

Confidence

WinterSpringFall1/4 oz3/8 oz1/2 oz

Gear

Rod

Cashion ELEMENT Z2 Multi-Purpose Spinning 7'0" Medium / Fast — sensitive enough for the light vibration and soft winter bites.

Reel

Shimano Sedona FJ 2500 — smooth drag, enough pickup for controlled lift-fall.

Line

Sufix 832 Braid Neon Lime 15 lb mainline (easy to watch on the fall) → Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon 8 lb leader. Step up for sharp rock or bigger fish.

60-Second Refresher

Knot: Double Uni braid-to-fluoro leader; Palomar leader-to-bait. Retie after rock contact.

Lift: Lift until you feel several sharp vibrations, then follow it down on semi-slack.

Hookset: Lean into fish — small trebles need steady pressure, not a crack.

Watch the line: A jump, twitch, or sudden slack often means a bite on the fall.

When to Throw

Good Water

Water below 60°F, late fall through early spring. Bass grouped on shad over points, channel swings, bluff walls, rock transitions. Wind or light stain.

Bad Water

Thick grass, brush piles, heavy wood — small trebles hang constantly. Warm-water shallow target fishing.

Bait & Weights

Same bait, same color, three depths

Damiki Vault in Black Holo, three weights: 1/4 oz for shallower / finesse / soft-drop fish; 3/8 oz as the default starting point; 1/2 oz for deeper water, wind, current, and vertical work in 15–30+ ft.

Damiki Vault — 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 oz

Black Holo

Carry all three weights — adjust to depth and mood

Line-Tie Holes

Tune the action

FRONT hole = tightest, most subtle — cold/clear water, pressured fish. MIDDLE = balanced default for most casting and vertical work. REAR = most vibration — dirty water, aggressive fish, when you need a harder thump.

Where to Throw Each

Rock transitions

Chunk to pea gravel, rock to mud — anywhere the bottom changes.

Channel swings

Where deep water pushes tight to the bank.

Bluff walls

Work the bait down stair-step ledges and steep winter banks.

45° banks

Ideal angle for casting, lifting, and tracking the bait downhill.

Long points

3/8 or 1/2 oz to follow contour breaks and bait schools.

Deep bait + bass

Best when shad are present and bass are grouped below them.

Cheat Sheet

Don't know the depth or mood

Start 3/8 oz Black Holo, middle hole.

Need more thump

Move line tie to rear hole — or step up to 1/2 oz.

Pressured / clear / cold

Front hole, slower lift, 1/4 oz.

Vertical over 15–30 ft

1/2 oz, short 6–24" lifts, drop on semi-slack.

Bites barely felt

Watch the line — most strikes come on the fall.