Ep. 67: Nate Stilinovich & Loss Prevention Lures on Blade Baits & the Spotty Bowl

Guest: Nate Stilinovich (Loss Prevention Lures) | Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

Nate Stilinovich came back for his second appearance in Episode 67, recorded live on December 3, 2024 — deep into Spotty Bowl season, and talking blade baits. His framework: spinner baits and blade baits fire differently by season, and winter is specifically when blade tackle outperforms. He’s been entered in the Spotty Bowl group and running a tournament-focused approach with War Blade and crankbait.

In This Episode

• Blade bait in winter — Nate’s seasonal framework: blade baits outperform in winter conditions. Fish are relating more to vibration and noise in colder, sometimes dirtier water. The spinner bait and bladed swim jig are his go-to presentations from December through February
• Spinner bait in summer — the flip side: spinner baits produce better in warmer months when fish are more willing to chase. The blade bait and spinner bait as seasonal tools, not year-round defaults
• War Blade tournament setup — Nate won multiple tournaments on the War Blade. The blade as a competition bait that produces fish when other presentations don’t. He was running it alongside a crankbait in the Spotty Bowl format
• Loss Prevention Lures breakdown — Jesse from Loss Prevention discussed on the show. The ability to swap hooks on LP jigs for different presentations — wide variety of baits compatible with the same jig head. Assist hook additions to the EWG-style hook for converting short strikes
• Tube baits and LP compatibility — tube baits as an option for the LP jig head system. The LP design’s versatility with different bait profiles — from tube to craw to grub — and what the hook-swap system enables
• Spotty Bowl update — Nate now entered in the Spotty Bowl competitive circuit. The competition mindset shifting how he thinks about presentation and fish location in the harbor

Beyond the Rod & Reel with Loss Prevention Lures

The seasonal blade bait framework is one of the most directly applicable things in this episode. Most anglers fish blade baits when they feel like it or when they see other people on them. Nate has a specific logic: cold water and low light are when blade tackle earns its keep. The vibration travels further in cold dense water, the noise is more pronounced, and fish that won’t chase a swimbait will react to a blade. That’s not a preference — it’s a condition-based decision.

Nate’s first appearance in Ep. 12 covered depth ranges and universal setups. This one covers tournament-specific blade bait thinking. The arc between the two episodes shows how his fishing has evolved — from building a base of knowledge to applying it competitively.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.