The best of blades?

[Breambo1]

Have been keen to get into blades fishing for a while now, as it's the one method I really neglect when it comes to bream, having only caught on bream on a blade. Could any one suggest names to me? How do the cheapies rate to say VX or TT's? I lose them in a heart beat usually so I can't be bothered using them. How are the Outdoor Expoditions, or Tornado Blades? Losing 4 or 5 to the price of one is much more appealing while I'm getting the basics on blading! Cheers for any advice.

Oh, and as a side note, what are the Tornado Blade stinger hooks (or the fishin.com ones) like? Saw a post from Crab Crusher a few years back where he was using them. Be keen to hear how others rate them.

[benny88]

TTS are cheap and in my opinion are far superior to the competition. Great colors (not that u need another color than red nightmare) and vibe at the lowest speed.

[Pies1010]

I find the outdoor expedition ones snag up on the leader real easy. The lipless vibes are better I reckon, love the strike pro hummers.

Sorry for the hijack - but this is my breakdown on the story...

another self explanatory post...

[yellow door 1]

If you ever want to replace the eyes - they can be bought for cheap

Originally Posted by yellow door 1

If you ever want to replace the eyes - they can be bought for cheap

Not really what I was tending to, but the eye's are worth more than my blades lol...

[timk1111]

I've gotten bulk lots of Berkley Bigeyes on ebay for cheap, and since I have so many, they tend to be what I tie on when I feel like some blading and they work well. Work better with sfactor on them though.The more expensive ones I can never buy quite as many, lose them to a snag and it's game over.

EG, I bought 2 strike pro hummers. No doubt these are an awesome lure and they would catch fish. 3rd cast last kayak trip 1 fouls up and is lost. Didn't even bother trying the 2nd one, sold it to someone that can put it to better use than me. So for me, these lures haven't worked that well, but I'm not willing to put the $$$ into giving them a chance when I've got hundreds of plastics in my kit...

Given their cost vs plastics, I've been on a mission to make my Bigeyes as snag resistant as possible. I'm still experimenting in my local system, but I'm trying 2 things at the moment. Either replace the rear treb with a W hook, or a single hook like a Decoy Pluggin Single and point to hook up, on the supplied split ring. Then, get rid of the bottom treble all together. Haven't had the time to test it properly but looks the goods. I'm expecting less hook ups but less lost lures. Some might remember by pics of these with stingers, the stingers just got tangled as heck in the plano, so ditched that idea...

[mr perch]

Hey SLAZMO those "crappy" blades have caught me many ,many hundreds of fish

Originally Posted by mr perch

Hey SLAZMO those "crappy" blades have caught me many ,many hundreds of fish

Ha ha I dont even use them... The hooks jam, the rings are too big and the body holes are too small!

I know people use them, however the cheap blades I got are far better quality than even those.

[Mark M]

I don't believe for a minute that simradpirate are selling blades with forged wire split rings.

Which wire manufacturer uses a forging (HAMMERING) process to make SS wire to be used in split rings on elcheapo lures, the cost would be prohibitive. Wires are generally drawn through a die to the required diameter and then rolled around a mandrel and machine cut.

Originally Posted by Mark M

I don't believe for a minute that simradpirate are selling blades with forged wire split rings.

Which wire manufacturer uses a forging (HAMMERING) process to make SS wire to be used in split rings on elcheapo lures, the cost would be prohibitive. Wires are generally drawn through a die to the required diameter and then rolled around a mandrel and machine cut.

Yeh well I am not sure either.... but...

See that flat side of the split rings, now google 'forged split rings'. Notice any similarities?

With hooks forging, this usually means a flat sided finish, same as those hooks on those el cheapo blades.

Not being smart here but that is what I have noticed on these blades. Cant say that theyre better than brand x with high carbon steel wire, and made by 'brand x', for old mate on eeebbbaaaayyy...

Just reporting what I have seen in these compared to the branded lures. Not wanting to spoil anyones brand homage or taint future purchases.

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by SLAZMO

Yeh well I am not sure either.... but...

Slazmo, I have learned a great deal from your posts about lubricants and respect your research in that field. However, I think it is important that assertions on the forum are weighed carefully against what is actually known for sure

A split ring with flat sides may be just a product of a die with flat sides.

[crabcrusher]

I love using the Stinger style hooks on my blades, as they will decrease the amount of snags..

Having loss a countless amount of blades to snags, i had no option, but to source a more cost effective option, or file for bankruptcy..

[T Curve]

Stingers are definitely the go, I love them as well.