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Blade Choice Matters by Alton Jones
How do I know when to use a willow leaf vs. a Colorado blade on my spinnerbaits and what difference does it make? It's important to consider that the different blades of a spinnerbait are simply different tools. You wouldn't change the spark plugs in your car with a hammer because it's not the proper tool for the job. It's equally important to select the right tools in our fishing. Here are a couple of simple ideas that I use to help me select the right spinnerbait blades.
Willow leaf blades - These are the ultimate flash generators. Any time I'm in clear water (visibility 
over 2 feet) I'm using a willow leaf blade. In clear conditions bass are primarily sight feeders and this helps draw more visible attention to the bait. The shape of these blades closely resembles that of a shad or other small baitfish.
Colorado blades - Colorado blades produce the most vibration so they are quite well suited for 
stained or muddy water conditions. The additional thump will help the bass realize that your bait is around and it will allow him to hone in on it much quicker. It's also very effective in night fishing and low-light situations.
Blade Color - The basic rule of thumb is to use silver blades in clear water and switch to gold for stained or muddy water. But the bass have never read the book about which blades to eat so it can be good to try different colors regardless of conditions. I change my blade color more often than I change my skirt color because the blade is the most important part of the bait. Try changing the blade color first if you are getting short strikes or losing fish. You'll be amazed at just how much difference this can make.
Alton Jones is one of the most consistent and accomplished professional bass anglers of all-time. Alton, who is an 8-time Bassmaster Classic contender (consecutive 1996-2003), has career winnings over $1,000,000. Alton's most recent victory was a 2003 Bassmaster Tour win at Clear Lake, Calif.