Spinner Baits

[abkeenan]

I am a novice at best with the blade. Couple of questions:

1. Are you throwing more parallel to the bank or throwing shallow and working it back to the boat in the deep?

2. Are you burning it just under the surface? moderate speed at 5ft? 10ft? slow rolling on near the bottom? etc?

3. What size (3/8 or 1/2) would you recommend?

-Brett

[rps]

The blade bait I use the most is a twin spin, so my response must be considered in that context. Burn just under the surface, steady mid column of the water, walk along the bottom with the blades barely turning, and fishing it as a jig with flash are all different techniques with the same bait. Which I choose is a matter of time of year and fish preference. Is that any help?

[exiledguide]

I like a 1/2oz Terminator with willow blades or at times a 1/2oz short arm spinner bait like a Zorro Agravator with a big colorado bait. I throw them into the heaviest cover I can find and make sure I'm pulling it off the wood. If I'm fishing the Agravator I'll stop it when it comes off the brush and let it helicoptor on a tight line. I try to fish cover that I can see even under the surface, even if I'm fishing in deep water treetops.I never have had much sucess slow rolling or fishing a spinner bait on the bottom in deep water. I know a lot fish a spinner bait like that and have good luck but not me.

[Tfsh4bass]

I am a novice at best with the blade. Couple of questions:

1. Are you throwing more parallel to the bank or throwing shallow and working it back to the boat in the deep?

2. Are you burning it just under the surface? moderate speed at 5ft? 10ft? slow rolling on near the bottom? etc?

3. What size (3/8 or 1/2) would you recommend?

-Brett

1. I like to fish 45 degree angles most of the time so I can cover bank, ledge and offshore cover in one cast. I will get up tight some but mostly in the back of creeks. Also, I make very long cast most of the time.

2. I use a 7.1:1 reel and burn it as fast as I can from September until the water gets below 50. Also, I don't just cast it out and reel it back...I do some different stuff.

3. I use a 3/4oz spinnerbait but I usually have double #4 willow leaf blades on it. I also burn a 1oz with a #7 willow and #3 colorado on it but I usually don't break that out until Nov/Dec. It will wear you out but when you get bit it is usually worth catching.

4. You didn't ask but the key is patience especially on the days they aren't biting that good. When I throw a blade I don't expect a lot of bites (unless all the planets are aligned which doesn't happen often) and just keep fishing without worrying about numbers. I fished 6 hrs the other day and caught 9 fish on a blade....can't tell you how many cast I made to catch 9 fish but I would fire 7-8 times at 1 isolated tree before I moved on. I cover a ton of water but slow down when I get bit or if there is some good cover.

[Champ188]

Good stuff, T. You said a mouthful in No. 4. I'm convinced that a lot of the reason some folks don't fare well with a spinnerbait is they don't commit to it. To me, it's a matter of putting your head down, putting everything else in the rod box and saying I'm gonna catch em this way or not at all. I'm not even sure it's ever the most attractive bait in the world to a bass, but there's nothing more attractive that you can cover as much water with, and therein lies the beauty of the blade.

[Chunk Rock]

well said champ

[Guest Buck Creek Mike]

Good stuff, T. You said a mouthful in No. 4. I'm convinced that a lot of the reason some folks don't fare well with a spinnerbait is they don't commit to it. To me, it's a matter of putting your head down, putting everything else in the rod box and saying I'm gonna catch em this way or not at all. I'm not even sure it's ever the most attractive bait in the world to a bass, but there's nothing more attractive that you can cover as much water with, and therein lies the beauty of the blade.

For some reason I've never been much of a spinnerbait guy (I know, you are supposed to versatile, but i just don't use them). I always prefer cranks if I'm going to burn something in. I know some people slow roll or crawl tem on the bottom, but in that situation I will use a jig or some other similar bait. Do you guys think they take the place the affroementioned lures or are just something to use in addtion to them? In other words have I been doing it all wrong all these years, and now I need to start using a spiinerbait, or are there just certain conditions to use them like when shad are in the backs of the creeks in the fall for example?

[abkeenan]

Thanks for all the info TFish, Champ and RPS. You guys are the best. I will hopefully get down there this weekend and give the Screamin Eagle a work out and see what I can get to nip me.

[Tfsh4bass]

Good stuff, T. You said a mouthful in No. 4. I'm convinced that a lot of the reason some folks don't fare well with a spinnerbait is they don't commit to it. To me, it's a matter of putting your head down, putting everything else in the rod box and saying I'm gonna catch em this way or not at all. I'm not even sure it's ever the most attractive bait in the world to a bass, but there's nothing more attractive that you can cover as much water with, and therein lies the beauty of the blade.

Thanks and well said Champ!

[Tfsh4bass]

For some reason I've never been much of a spinnerbait guy (I know, you are supposed to versatile, but i just don't use them). I always prefer cranks if I'm going to burn something in. I know some people slow roll or crawl tem on the bottom, but in that situation I will use a jig or some other similar bait. Do you guys think they take the place the affroementioned lures or are just something to use in addtion to them? In other words have I been doing it all wrong all these years, and now I need to start using a spiinerbait, or are there just certain conditions to use them like when shad are in the backs of the creeks in the fall for example?

It is different for everyone but it is just an additional tool IMO. I have one on deck 12 months out of the year but I am a crazy