The blade bait is common down here for white bass. Green backs or brown back are rare on those here in the south

Living in Texas we do not have many draw downs unless they are pulling water to feed another system or doing dam repairs. Now when they do pull the water I like to slow down. Depending on the current, I have found fish sitting behind anything that breaks the current. They use that cover as an ambush point. They can sit steady behind the current break so they attack anything being carried by the current.

It's a wiggle wart. Just like Brian said, if it is an original which it looks like one you better keep it!