Author Topic: Spinnerbaits??? (Read 2092 times)

1911crazy · « **on:** February 23, 2003, 09:04:42 AM »

Have you tried spinnerbaits from shore with no success??? I have learned from another guy who runs a bass fishing forum what exactly I was doing wrong. Number one my bait was too big(1/4oz to 3/8oz) I downed sized to 1/8oz my second thing wrong is i wasn't using a single colorado blade and the last thing is I was told to use white skirt with a gold blade. Ordered a Manns Ti HP classic and tried it and it didn't catch anything so now I had to find out on my own what really works I got the size and the colors correct. First I changed the skirt to the strike king white that changes colors and added a uncle josh white pork trailer 3/8"X4" I cut the trailer "vee" up higher to about an inch giving it more swimming action.
Giving this lure a shot of YUM shad scent I have caught fish in clear to slightly stained water this is the hot setup. Now at the same place when the water became more stained to muddy I switched to a chartruese twin blade spinnerbait willow/colorado and a MrTwister split double tail trailer and a shot of YUM shad scent and i caught fish again. I always wear polorized sun glasses because I was watching a Bill Dance show and from where the camera was positioned I could see flashes behind his lure and the fish were actually missing and he didn't even know it they didn't break the surface. You can see fish in the water and see your lure presentation more clearly when it gets closer when using a spinnerbait I like to use it first with a slow reel presentation then after a few casts with no strikes I switch to a reel and pause presentation which looks awesome when you can see the lure it swims then dives down then comes up and swims and repeats. I also like to have another rod setup with a different bait incase of a strike and a miss if he doesn't hit the spinnerbait again go to the other rod setup(crankbait or minnowbait) and catch that fish. Small bodies of water small spinnerbaits we just never know what will work just don't forget the small spinnerbaits when the bigger ones fail to work.
TiteLines&BigFish BigBill

Polorized glasses and my lucky hat I never leave home without them!!!!!

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2003, 11:52:00 AM »

Downsizing works from boats too. During the early spring and whenever the bass are touchy about that's when I go to smaller baits. Spinnerbaits, in-line spinners and buzzbaits in the 1/8 oz. size work great. Same with jerk baits and crank baits. Nothing over 1/4 oz. can make the difference between getting skunked or scoring. I use Terminator Tiny T spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in 1/8 oz. because I got tired of breaking wire on baits when going small. I make my own in-line spinners in 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz. sizes. I go to Willow leaf blades when the bass are deeper and Oklahoma when they are shallower. I use just three basic skirt colors; white, blue/white/chartreuse and chartreuse/white. I always carry a good supply of small baits and jigs in white color as I hate to get skunked. Lawdog

1911crazy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2003, 11:48:00 AM »

Your right about inline spinners they have been great here too, Mepps, panther martins, and the new "joesflies" super strikers 1/4oz bass size have been awesome here too. I had so much great success with the new joesflies i contacted him about making them in 3/8oz and 1/2oz size too. I hope he does soon. I have also used Terminator inline spinners too and I have just seen them in BassProShops catalog has them and their very similiar to joesflies. I have used the terminator with the silver blade with the black skirt that different blade seems to give off a different vibration it pays to have different stuff for sure its the difference between catching fish and getting skunked for sure!!!! BigBill

Just don't forget the scents!!!!!

Skipper · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2003, 05:25:21 PM »

I guess I'm a little bit different. I'm a Bubba Basser by nature. In the last few years, our spinnerbaits have been going the other way in size. There are times when we use 1.5 oz baits with #7 blades. Whoever told you that a Colorado blade is the only one to use is full of it. All of the spinnerbait blades have a place and a time. The idea with a spinner bait is to make the bait run at the depth the fish are and the blade turn at the speed you are reeling. In the spring, I use a lot of tandem willow baits. At that time of year, I'm usually fishing a lot faster and much shallower. After the spawn, the willows usually get put up in favor of the larger Colorado blades. I generally use from a #4 and #6 blade depending on what I need the bait to do. That's when we go to those heavy bodies as well. At night in the summer, you are trying to fish deep, sometimes 30 feet or so. The heavy bait stays down when the others ride up out of the strike zone. In the late fall, I have a special spinnerbait that I use and designed, the wire is much much lighter than normal. It gives the bait a slightly different wiggle. While the bait won't survive many catches, it will catch fish.

Critical on a spinner bait, at least when fished deep is feel. You have go to feel the blade turn. When it stops set it.

Skipper

1911crazy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2003, 01:35:35 AM »

I have over 100 spinnerbaits from small 1/8oz to large 1 1/2oz all different setups. I have never seen anyone using spinnerbaits here with me ever catch anything? I have watched them throwing 3/8oz double willow chartruese and leave skunked. Don't forget I'm fishing from shore maybe size matters in shallower waters I'm not sure. I didn't hit pay dirt until I started using the 1/8oz here. Maybe its a seasonal thing too like they say small baits in the spring working up to large baits by the fall. My biggest problem is I stay with whats working and don't try other stuff long enough which hurts me when the fishing gets tough knowing another pattern enough to the point where I can apply it successfully may change when a slump occurs. When you stay fishing long enough 5 to 6 days a week there are highs and lows but you really can't let that bother you too much either. You have to stay positive, motivated and focused and keep trying sometimes I will pull out that bait I have never tried yet and I'm back in the groove again. There are so many tricks out there with spinnerbaits everyone has their own way of setting them up. I found out that they just don't work out of the package you have to tune it make sure it runs straight, add a trailer, a trailer hook maybe change the skirt and use scents. You have to adjust to what works in you area. At one place it will work at another it won't each place is different. But I have had better success with inlines at every place at times they seem to be more successful and dependable. I'm starting to lean towards cheaper smaller spinnerbaits with bigger, better quality skirts works too. You make that smaller bait look larger and fatter while it still short add the 4" trailer and it gives it the swimming effect and your good to go just a shot of YUM!!! Another big thing is putting on the trailer it has to be perfectly straight, the bait has to look perfect too. Once I put a trailer on crooked and after afew casts I noticed it running off to one side. I took the trailer off straightened it out threw it back out and caught a fish right away. This comming season I'll have to try the larger spinnerbaits more and see if they can be successful from shore too. I like testing baits to see if they work or not but you just never know I'm sure they all catch fish its just a matter of when, where and how!!! BigBill

If you have success and want to add your tip on what to do feel free we can all improve and be better fisherman.

Skipper · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:47:31 AM »

There are times when I use a 1/8 spinnerbait, normally when fishing in the river for smaller fish and sometimes on clearer lakes like Norris I will downsize to 1/8, but that's not normal. Typically my go to blade is a half ounce or 5/8. Personally, I have 2 brands that I use on a regular basis, Stan Sloan and LC's. Stan makes a great night fishing spinnerbait and still produces the short armed Aggrivator. I really like the head design of his baits, they seem to perform better. LC uses a very similar head design, and I typically use his baits for some specific applications. He's a local builder, and the one I get to custom build me some bodies.

As far as price goes, cheap isn't the way to go on a spinnerbait. Cheap normally means Cheap swivel. Cheap swivel means blade doesn't turn, and that's not good. I never thought I would see the day a spinnerbait cost $5, but its here in a big way anymore. The Titanium wire baits are upwards of $6 or $7. Something they used to make and works real well is vinyl skirts. You can't find them much anymore. Most are silicone, but when someone around here gets a shipment in of the vinyl skirt baits, you better be quick. I guarantee the guy that opened the box diverted a dozen to his own boat.

Skipper

1911crazy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2003, 09:22:13 AM »

Sorry I say cheap I mean the strike king 1/8oz spinnerbait at walmart in chartruese its about $2.50 the other white one I use is a manns which is more $6 each. And yes I do have $10 dollar spinnerbaits the Quad ones but they haven't worked yet I'm sure they will in time. BigBill

Skipper · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2003, 01:21:15 PM »

2 key ingredients in a spinnerbait are the swivel and the hook. When you go to a cheaper bait, the first thing they cheapen up is the swivel. Sampo IMHO makes the best swivel by far, and about any way you slice it, a Sampo swivel costs a dollar. There are other brands. The Worth Swivels are pretty good as well, but also nearly the same price. Then you get to the imported stuff, and its more or less junk, but it also only costs about a quarter. The cheapest of all swivels is the barrel swivel (about a nickle). By design, it doesn't make much difference who made it, they are all about the same.

Another key ingredient is the hook. Sorry hooks cost you fish, and I'm sorry but I don't have time to piddle around with a stone sharpening hooks, besides, If I'm twice as good at hook sharpening as I am at knife sharpening, It won't make much difference anyhow. I trust the higher end Mustad hooks, the Gamagatsus, and Owner. I don't trust the hook of the month. Good hooks cost about a dime each in quantity, cheap hooks can be had for less than a penny.

Buying spinnerbaits is a pretty much you get what you pay for proposition.

Skipper

1911crazy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2003, 07:08:32 AM »

Skipper your getting ahead of me now "hooks" is another new post we need to talk about I have noticed my crankbaits and other lures and the hooks are actually getting dull. Now do most change thier hooks to new ones? Or just sharpen/hone the old hooks? If you change your hooks on lures do you add split rings too?? I'm just looking for your thoughts and ideas as some of my stuff gets older. I don't have any rusted hooks I solved that problem by leaving my tacklebox open after every trip or just leaving the baits I used out to dry so no rust occurs in the tackle box or with other tackle too. Just a few other thoughts on why we have rust problems in the past but after buying and invested in new tackle I had to avoid the rust for sure and figure out why it happens now all my baits still look like new and their years old too, but with less sharper hooks is the only draw back now. But while its still snowing here and still cold now is the time to address "dull hooks" ?? BigBill

Skipper · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2003, 09:26:53 AM »

I go through my baits every winter and check the hooks on them. Some you can sharpen, others are rusted or broken. The rusted and broken I replace. I order trebles in bulk from Jan's or Stamina or Barlow's, usually Mustad Tripple Grips or Gamas If I can find them reasonable. Sometimes I save the split rings and just put hooks on, but its time consuming for a half cent item. You can buy a couple hundred split rings from the above places for less than 5 bucks. Most of the time I cut them off with side cutters and just put new on. I also replace the split ring on the line tie with a snap. It eliminates the split part that your line can get under and cause it to break.

Skipper