By: Strict Lee
When looking to buy a spinnerbait at first glance they look very similar
with two distinguishing characteristics. The first thing most people notice
is the size and then the color when they see a spinnerbait. Knowing what
you are looking for when buying a spinnerbait is the key to buying what
you need and not ending up with a spinnerbait that will just sit in a
tackle box. Knowing the correct spinnerbait head to look for is important.
The heads vary in size and weight, depending on the type of fishing you
are doing will dictate what size of spinnerbait head you choose. The next
thing to look at is the silicone skirt color. The water where you are
fishing will dictate the color of spinnerbait skirt used. There are definately
more than 3 spinnerbait blade types. Popular blades include;
The Oklahoma, Chopper, Oval Willow and Fluted blades. Terminal tackle
is the phrase that refers to fishing equipment that includes such items
as bobbers, stops, floats, fishing hooks, rigs, swivels, snaps, clevises,
fishing sinkers, weights and wire leaders. Baits are grouped into three
main categories hard baits, wire baits and soft baits. Hard baits include
crank baits, minnows, topwater, muskie. Wire Baits consist of spinnerbaits,
inline spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Examples of soft baits are worms, trailers,
grubs, craws, lizards, tubes, jerk baits, frogs and topwater baits. Tackle
boxes come in many styles and types to include accessory boxes, tackle
bags, tackle boxes, hard tackle boxes, soft tackle boxes, tackle binders
or utility boxes, reel storage and cases.
Skirts
The choice of skirt color can be as important as the choice of blade shapes,
sizes and colors. A chartreuse and white skirt is by far the most popular
choice. A solid white skirt (with optional color accent strands or various
flakes) is popular too. A solid black skirt (optionally with blue, red,
purple or chartreuse accent strands) can work anywhere, any time from
gin clear to jet black water. I like fire tiger skirts when water is muddier
than usual or in grass beds with limited visibility due to dense vegetation.
Fire tiger also works well in early spring and late fall when bass are
up shallow and aggressive. Lots of people use solid chartreuse, but I
personally don't like it. I have seen a few too many fish bolt and run
from solid chartreuse spinnerbaits, only to circle back and smoke something
more natural. However, I do like half chartreuse skirts, with half another
color. At night, I consistently use a solid white or solid black skirt
(optionally with blue, red, purple or chartreuse accent strands in it)
Sizes
Light Spinnerbaits. I tend use the 1/4 oz spinnerbait for super slow presentations
(such as in cold water), in super shallow bodies of water, or in downsized
environments such as small streams and farm ponds. A 1/4 oz is not a lot
of weight to counterbalance blade torque, so a 1/4 oz spinnerbait is more
temperamental and prone to roll up on its side more than heavier spinnerbaits.
A 1/4 oz is usually built with shorter wire arms and smaller blades to
counteract roll. If light line is appropriate for the fishing conditions,
then lighter line (for example, 8 lb test) can help add stability with
a 1/4 oz spinnerbait. The shorter wire arms, smaller head shape, smaller
hook (3/0 is often ideal), smaller blades plus trimming the skirt short
gives you a super compact, super slow-moving presentation for wary bass
in shallow water.
Medium Light. I tend to use a 3/8 oz spinnerbait to ride high, tossed
tight up on the very shoreline or over emergent shoals. This is the smallest
size I go with most days. This size I use more slowly and I tend to keep
it up high near the surface. This gives me slowness, smallness and more
of a high-floating, free-swimming buoyant presentation. I'll tend to pick
this size for shallow water, say anything under six feet deep. Since I
am using this size in shallow water, which often has a lot of cover, there
are often panfish present. So I often use sunfish colors here, or a watermelon/brown
color. This 3/8 oz spinnerbait is a "fixture" for me, meaning
I rarely take it off. It is always worth a few casts in any fishing spot.
Because it has a smaller, more natural presence.
Medium Spinnerbaits. The 1/2 oz spinnerbait serves me best most of the
time. It's ideal when depth ranges from 6 to 18 feet deep. Averaged over
a season, there is no doubt I make more casts with the 1/2 oz than with
all other spinnerbait sizes. On days when I have had a good morning bite
with the 1/2 oz, but the bite starts to shut down, that is when I tend
to try the 5/8 oz, especially in a hidden head style. The 5/8 oz will
run a little deeper, a little faster, and I will tend to fish it a little
further out from shore after a shallow morning spinnerbait bite disappears.
Medium/Heavy Spinnerbaits. I make fewer casts with the 3/4 oz on an average
day. Even still, it is invaluable whenever I need a slightly deeper retrieve,
faster speed or a little extra bulk. Keep in mind, a 3/4 oz has a bigger
head, bigger hook, can handle more skirt and counterbalance more blade
force than a 1/2 oz. What I mean is, the 3/4 oz can take more or bigger
blades than the 1/2 oz. Also, when it becomes very windy, it may become
necessary to go to the 3/4 oz. The 1/2 oz can be less effective at those
times in terms of being able to cast it, control the line and feel the
spinnerbait.
Heavy Spinnerbaits. I make much use of 1 oz spinnerbaits - even in one
foot of water. In shallow water, the 1 oz spinnerbait has a ton of presence.
It is a big fish bait. Most anglers will never try this. So if you dare
to try it, you can have all the 1 oz spinnerbait biters all to yourself
in shallow water. Trust me, it works. I've hauled in many monster bass
on 1 oz spinnerbaits in 1-2 feet of water.
Blades
Oklahoma. This modern design is a Willow that has been widened to add
more vibration to the Willow's flash effect. Still, the way it feels on
the end of a rod is more like a Willow than anything else, just wider.
This is a great shape match for tiny shad. The version used on Bassdozer's
spinnerbaits has a superior design in that it is creased down the centerline
to further enhance vibration, flash and visibility. This blade is awesome
on the drop. Let it helicopter down and pop the rod tip occasionally.
Chopper. This completely flat blade has no concave cup, except for a cupped
lower edge. The shape is remindful of the Shannon Twin Spinner that used
blades like the Chopper as early as 1915. This blade spins smoothly with
low vibration, almost a finesse effect. I tend to use the Chopper for
flat calm water or for highly pressured fish.
Oval Willow. This popular in-line spinner blade swings smoothly and easily.
Fluted. At first you may mistaken this for an Indiana blade. Actually,
the Fluted blade is a much-improved modern design favored for pike and
musky spinners. Larger sizes make superior blades for Ultimate
fishing lures big bass and night fishing.
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