Spinner Baits

[Tfsh4bass]

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.

You are welcome and I might be down there Sun so let me know

[The Tactician]

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?

I use spinnerbaits and Love 'em. The main benefit of a spinnerbait in my opinion, is the cover and areas you can fish them in. I can't count how many times I have flipped or cast a blade and thought, well that ones gone, only to have it whip right out of there without getting hung up at all. Also, I have fished some days when the fish are there and biting but are hugging structure like there tied to it. With a little practice, you can whip that blade into spots you wouldn't try anything else. You can knock it into a tree or stump and get the fish's attention and not worry about getting snagged.

Good luck to all!

[Champ188]

You bring up an interesting point, Mike. While you aren't much of a blade guy, I'm not much of a shallow crankbait guy. I think the two are very often interchangeable and that sometimes it becomes (a) a matter of preference and ( a matter of there's only so much time in a day. So many places to cast, so little time. LOL

Not saying there aren't times that the fish prefer a blade over a shallow crankbait and vice versa, but Donna's a pretty good hand with a squarebill and there've been lots of days when I've thrown a blade and she's followed with the squarebill and we've both caught em.

[Guest csfishinfool]

I would say there definitely are conditions when a spinner bait will shine. Usually no wind means no blade for me. The wind chops the surface of the water, making the bait harder to see for the fish. Them not knowing exactly what it is often triggers a reaction. In the fall is a great example of conditions promoting a blade. The fish are aggressive in this part of the country in the fall. When they are willing to chase bait a spinnerbait will usually get them. Also I have found that in the fall especially, the fish are trying to feed on the biggest shad possible. Bass are opportunistic, why chase a bunch of little bait and expend energy, when they can target a slower moving bigger meal. The spinner bait mimics a larger shad.

As far as a crankbait catching the same fish, i don't agree. For example in the fall on tablerock there is a killer blade bite on bluff walls with a spinner bait. How I always catch them is to absolutely burn the bait back to the boat. While you can move a crankbait that fast, you cant keep it up in the first foot of water. A lot of times these fish are looking up, and a crankbait could get down below them resulting in few fish. The sounds and vibration of these two bait are totally different also.

Another reason to fish a blade is because it is so versatile. Many people will just cast and reel. While you will catch fish this way try to very your retrieve. Maybe one day they will want it ran right up to the ceder then killed right when you clear a limb. Other times a hard snap of the rod will get the reaction. Try switching the angle of rod from holding it on your left switching to right. How many time have you seen a shad swim in a straight line, not very often. These changes in direction can pay off. Or even possibly waking the bait some days. When the water gets lower in temp it will usually pay to slow down. Try up sizing your bait to a 3/4 or even a 1 oz bait. Up size your blades to a number 7 willow. And barely get the blades to turn, crawling the thing in 15-20 feet of water. Pay attention to when your bites come, often times it will be when you cross over that one big rock or brush pile.

[abkeenan]

Wow guys, above and beyond. Absolutely great stuff. Thanks again.

[abkeenan]

1 more question for the experts: do you guys use either trailer hooks or a grub/split tail trailer on the main hook at any time?

[OzarkFishman]

I second the question about the trailer hooks and trailer plastics.

One further question ... do you use a trailer plastic with a trailer

hook? If so, do you put the trailer on the main or trailer hook?

Thanks in advance,

OzarkFishman

[Tfsh4bass]

I always use a red Gamakatsu 2/0 trailer hook without any plastic trailer this time of year. If I have a lot of swipes without hook ups I will actually turn my trailer hook down.

In the early Spring when the water is just warming up (45-55) I throw a 1oz big blade set up that I slow roll that I add a grub to the back of...only time I use plastic on the back.

One thing I will mention about burning blades this time of year is to keep your skirts very short and rip off some of the material. My skirt is above the bottom of my main hook and I just have a few strands of material especially in the really clear water. Also, there is no such thing as too fast.

[Champ188]

I will use a Zoom split-tail trailer or an old Mister Twister 6-inch ribbon-tail trailer (I pinch off about an inch) when the water is stained or muddy. Obviously, that isn't very often on Table Rock.

[rps]

Black twin spin, green spot pork frog with the white fat removed back to the hook slot, the remainder of the fat cut in a 1/4 inch diamond pattern, and placed on the hook so the green spot side is down. When you kill it the fog flutters, the removal and scoring of the fat enhances hook ups, and fish looking up see the frog colors.

I only use a trailer with a buzz bait but I will admit I make my twin spins with a size larger VMC hook.

BTW, T said short thin skirt - truth.