Its harness making time again, that time of the year between ice fishing and hitting the open water for walleyes out on the big lakes. It’s an old question, but one worth looking at again because of new introductions lately. What blade should I use for making my harnesses?
Hands down my favorite blade is the colorado blade. This type of blades produces that most thump and flash in pure combination. Thump/vibration/noise are key for fishing down low, and everyone knows that more walleyes can be found hugging bottom than anywhere else in the water column.
For running high in the water column, noise is not the goal when using a willow leaf. What the willow will give you is the maximum amount of flash available on any blade produced. The action on the blades also allows the rig to ride high in the water column with little effort.
The tweener in the group of blades available, is the indiana blade. It gives you a little of both. It is actually my least favorite blade because it accomplishes both characteristics poorly. I would much rather have one do one thing well, then have a blade that does both not very well at all.