Part 1

The next best thing to fishing is having opportunity to talk or write about it.

Sometimes these days I don’t get on the water as often as I’d like. But the opportunity to talk or write about fishing hasn’t stopped.  It started when I wrote my first newspaper fishing column way back in 1946.  I’m still at it.  Often the “talking” comes in endeavoring to answer questions readers have regarding one or another of the subjects I’ve written about.

What brings this to mind are the questions I get regarding the increasingly popular Smile Blades marketed by Mack’s Lure.  These easy spinning Mylar plastic spinner blades are attracting more and more attention from anglers all over the country with each passing year.

With that increased interest comes an increase in related questions.  I can predict without hesitation what the first questions will be whenever Smile Blades are the subject.  Here they are: “I want to give those Smile Blades I’ve been hearing about a try.  What size and color should I get?”

I have to ask a few questions of my own whenever I attempt to provide a meaningful answer.  One of my first and most important questions is to find out what species the angler who asks them is planning to fish for.

If you’ve looked over the Smile Blades pictured in the products listing right here at this website---and if you haven’t I urge you to do so---you’re aware Smile Blades come in a variety of sizes and colors.

As this picture shows, Smile Blades come in a variety of sizes and colors.  Fish won't always prefer the same shade or size from one time to the next.  Let 'em tell you what they want.

If it’s panfish like crappie you’re after you’ll want to go with the smallest sizes.  If you’re heading into Alaska on a salmon fishing adventure you’ll want to consider the larger blades.

Once I get the answers to the questions I’ve mentioned it’s easier to come up with an answer as to size.  Providing the answers where colors are concerned is even more difficult. 

Over more than a half century of using and writing about fishing lures I’ve found there is one thing that it’s always wise to check out where lure colors are concerned.  It applies whether it’s Smile Blades, Zara Spooks, Senkos or any other popular fishing lure.

What is that one thing?  It’s to find out what are the best selling colors of the lures or baits in which you have interest.  It’s not always easy to do this, but it really does provide a great place to start.  It’s no accident that certain colors are selling better than others.  They’re selling most often because they’re catching the most fish.

As I’ve indicated, I’ve found it a tad difficult now and then to come up with this information.  Lure sellers market a variety of colors and they’re sometimes reluctant to say this shade or that one is better than others.

I don’t totally disagree with the lure marketers who take this stand.  We all have our favorites. Some are more consistently productive than others.   But if you’ve read my columns regularly you’re aware I maintain that determining in advance that only one size or a single color is “always” going to be all you need is among the biggest mistakes an angler can make.

I’d like to have a couple of bucks for the countless times I’ve written about how this or that guy put more fish in the boat by taking a different approach in bait size, color or presentation.  Sometimes they’ve done it when just fishing for fun. Other times it has been in some of the major professional fishing tournaments.

As I may have already said too many times, “always” should be eliminated from a fisherman’s vocabulary.  Again---making up your mind before you ever get on the water exactly which lure, spinner blade or approach is the one way to go is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

Sure it’s all right to have favorite lures, favorite colors and a favored way to present them to the fish you are after.  But don’t set that approach in concrete. The best possible approach is to let the fish tell you what they want. 

You Can bet Kimberly Loomis changes the size or shape of her Smile Blades if she doesn't get results with what she started.

The best size or the best color may vary from one location to another.  It also often depends to a large degree on the type of forage that’s available.  If the fish won’t show interest in what you start with, keep changing lures, colors, sizes and the manner in which they are presented until you start getting hits.

Be that as it may, if you’re getting into using Smile Blades for the very first time you’ll likely welcome any information you can get.  That’s entirely understandable.  You’ll find many of the answers right here at this website.

One way to do this is to check out some of the tactics and tips that are shared here by the members of the Mack’s Lure Pro Staff.  Another is to spend some time with my column archives.  You’ll find details in them on using Smile Blades for everything from panfish to salmon.

No spinner is as easy to use as a Mack's Lure Smile Blade.  There are many different ways to employ them.  Basically, once you have your hook tied on just slide a bead or two onto your leader, add a Smile Blade and you're in business.

I’ve mentioned the best selling sizes and colors as one yardstick to consider when looking for a place to start.  The executives here at Mack’s Lure, unlike some lure marketers I’ve encountered, won’t go hide someplace when they’re asked to provide that information.

They’ve shared it with me.  And in my next column I’ll share what they’ve told me with you.  Watch for that column beginning March 1.

-To Be Continued-