Which blade for different conditions - by TJ Stallings

Original blade and willow blade, Road Runners
Among the many questions I field during my travels; I’m often asked why we offer different blades on the various Road Runner heads and lures.
Let’s take a look at the two major blade designs first; the original Indiana blade and the willow blade.

• The original Indiana blade is wide and features a heavy “cup”. This blade bites a lot of water for its size and generates a good “thump” vibration and sound as it turns. This means it’s the best blade choice for s-l-o-w presentations. It’s my favorite for fishing shallow, Shellcracker beds for example. The additional sound this blade produces makes it a great choice for dirty or darker waters. What you can’t see is important too. Our original blade is nickel-over-brass construction for maximum sound while many cheaper, knock-offs are just steel. (You get what you pay for.)
• A willow blade bites less water and thus has less water to throw. This means the willow blade is a better choice for deeper or swifter waters. While the willow makes less noise; it still produces sound, vibration and flash. It’s ideal for deeper presentations.

Gold or silver colored blades?
Because shad and minnows are mostly silver in color; nickel colored blades are still the number one choice of most anglers. However in deeper or darker situations the silver color of most baitfish, takes on a copper or gold hue. This is especially true in cypress-stained waters. Darker conditions warrant a darker or perhaps a larger blade as well.
Why have a blade at all?
Attracting fish by sight alone is okay, but wouldn’t it make sense to appeal to more senses? In addition to sight; blades offer contrast, sound, flash and vibration. Vibration is not to be confused with sound. It’s truly a different sense. There’s more too. Gill-flash is a phenomenon that simulates feeding, to other fish. Thanks to the blade’s position on a Road Runner, gill-flash is built in. It looks pre-occupied, feeding.
Now that you’re an expert in blade designs and their materials, you’ll make better choices on the water and catch more fish.
Blessings, -TJ