Berkley Blade Dancer

[charkins]

Anyone else fishing Berkley Blade Dancer? I caught 5 bass from 3 to 5 1/2 pounds on this lure the first trip out. First cast I caught a fish on this lure. It has a really wild action on the fall or the retrieve.

Is there anyone on TU making anything like this? It shouldn't be hard to make a mold of the soft plastic body. The spoon part might be another story.

[Sandz]

I am a mod on another bass site, I was so impressed by this lure that I wrote a report on it. Since the article over 100 fish have been caught on this lure for me. GREAT top water and the heavier jig is killllller.

Date: 2/07/06

Tackle type: Lures

Manufacturer: Berkley Bait Company

Reviewer: Per Anderton (Sandz)

Type: Spoon/Swim Bait

Depth: 0-20ft

Class: Free Falling

Size: 1/16, 3/16, 5/16 and 3/8 oz

Colors/Patterns: Approximately 15

MSRP: $4.99

Video Introduction: Berkley Promo Video

Introduction: Everyone has heard of Berkley Power Bait, at least I would assume so. The new Berkley Blade Dancer is an innovation and a combination of multiple aspects of fishing. In short, its five baits in one. Described HERE the Blade Dancer is a combo of a classic spoon and swim bait.

Impressions: I found this bait while searching through the random shops down in Jacksonville, Florida. Looking for something new, this weird colored spoon was hanging on the wall and a TV set up adjacent to it was talking about how this new product would work. I passed it by and kept one in my hand to sort of analyze it as I walked. Iíve fished several Berkley products and trust the brand so I took one home for a demo.

Taking it out of the box, I was first taken back by the odd spoon shape that was chosen for this bait. Its inverse shape seems odd but at the same time allows a handle for you to get some extra leverage when unhooking your catch. (HINT: GOOD FOR YOUNGSTERS TO TEACH UNHOOKING) Along with that, the color patterns that were on each different bait were quite interesting. The actual spoon is painted on a lot of the baits and that spurs the debate of 'For the fish? Or for the fisherman?'. Read my results in the column for my conclusions on that

Test rig for the Blade Dancer:

Rod: 7ft Fenwick HMG Med

Reel: Diawa Procaster Spinning

Line: 12 lb test Strenn mono

The Field Tests: I rigged the Blade Dancer up with my typical light setup that I had with me down in Florida. The test was conducted in clear, murky, and brackish waters along the St. Johns River. The colors used were: Firetiger, Bloodshot, and Shiner.

Casting/Pitching: Because of the weight of the bait I was using (3/16oz.) I chose to use a spinning reel for max casting ability. I didn't have a bait caster available to demo this on but will demo it on my new Viento soon. I was pleased that I got on avg. 30 yards in no wind with this bait. It flies like a bullet through the air and doesn't make a large water entry. The shape of the bait allows it to be chucked, skipped, pitched, and flipped in just about any situation.

Presentation: The key to this bait is that it is the MOST versatile thing I have ever used. It literally is 5 baits in one, and I used every presentation possible, and on a side note, I also caught fish with each presentation!

You can jig it:

You can swim it:

You can stop and go with it:

You can fish vertically:

And lastly you can walk the dog with it:

All references to how to fish these different rigs can be found HERE

Weedlessness: This bait is COMPLETLY weedless. I tried to hang the sucker up and it just didn't want to! The spoon bill pushed everything out of the way and guides the dancer up and over so that just about any brush can be recovered from.

Durability: With the baits heavy spoon and the tough plastic this bait will last you a long time. After catching over 20 fish on one bait I don't have but a few scrapes on the metal and the plastic is still fine. A quick rinse when done with salt or brackish water and you are good to go.

Application & Effectiveness: This bait caught me multiple species of fish. I caught LMB, Red Bass, Permit, Trout (Speckled and Yellow Fin), Catfish, Crappie, and Sheepshead in multiple situations and areas of cover. This bait is a take anywhere, do anything type of bait that will be in my box for years to come.

Conclusions:

Construction/Quality 8 : Overall this bait is hard to break, I found nothing wrong in the plastics or the spoons even when left without clean for up to 4 days after fishing salt water.

Performance 8.5: It catches fish in all environments, what else can I say?

Price 9: Easily attainable for the weekend angler that wants a little kick in the tackle box. At $5.00 the spoon and 3 replacement soft plastics SHOULD last you a good long while.

Design 9.5: For all classic spoon lovers and new age swim bait lovers alike, this bait is for you. Varied range in weight and size makes this bait a target for almost anything that eats fish!

Application 9.5: You can use it anywhere!!!! I can't stress this enough! It caught Red bass on oyster beds, Speck's in the current seems, Bass over down timber AND in lily pad heavy cover! It is the ultimate versatile bang for your buck.

Overall Conclusion: This bait's many aspects add on each new way to fish it. Earlier I made a comment about 'For the fish or for the fisherman?' Well I am here to say that the differences on the blade are definatly for the fish. In fishing the multiple colorations I learned that depending on what you are targeting, and the water conditions a flashy blade will give you less bites then say a Perch coloration. Berkley really did their homework with this bait!

OVERALL SCORE: 9.0

[willie525]

the 2 we bought had incredibly dull hooks

[Cranky Fish]

I'm glad someone else is catching fish with these things. Mine are just stinky paper weights.