The Spinnerbait has been one of the most effective bass fishing lures ever developed. Starting out as an in-line spinner, where the blade rotated around the shaft on a clevis, to the open safety pin design we know of today. In fact, spinnerbaits have accounted for 76 wins (20%) out of the 375 BassMaster Tournaments (as of when this article was written). It is second to plastic worms with 89. And to me, it is easy to see why.
Spinnerbaits have great versatility. And we all know, we have to be versatile if we plan to catch Mr.Bass on every outing, and we can't even do that. So we have to learn how to use our tools wisely, to catch bass even when the conditions are against you.
Choosing a spinnerbait to match the conditions your are faced with out on the water is not as perplexing as one may think. With all the possible combinations in blade size, color, skirts, total weight, and design, we can match any situation we have to encounter. Below are some guidelines on choosing a spinnerbait to match a certain condition.
Sizes
Most spinnerbait fisherman throw their baits in relatively shallow water. Since the definition of shallow changes from region to region and water to water, I will say shallow is 1-6ft. For shallow water fishing, I rely on 1/4oz. to 1/2oz. spinnerbaits. When I want to fish my spinnerbait, so I can see it at all times, I will throw a 1/4oz. But If I want to get a tad deeper, a couple feet down, I will tie on a 1/2oz spinnerbait. A 1/2oz. spinnerbait can be hard to keep up near the surface, especially if your retrieve is slow. For spinnerbaiting the deeper waters, under 6ft. a 1/2oz. to 1oz. would do. You need the weight to keep the bait falling as you retrieve. You will not be able to burn spinnerbaits in deep water, but slow-rolling has proved be a deadly tactic, one that is not seen to much.
Blades
Along with the weight, the blades play an important role in fishing various depths. Colorado, Indiana, and Willowleaf blades are the most popular. The colorado blades are rounded and create the maximum amount of lift, hence providing maximum lift at slow speeds. The popular willowleaf blade is a longer tapered blade that allows fisherman to get deep quickly and easily. They also provide more flash, and an extra weedless alternative. Willowleafs can be burned with low water resistance and in my opinion, offers the most natural looking imitation. The Indiana blade is a mix of both colorado and willowleaf. These are a great choice if you are fishing a bank that has various structure at various depths.
Spinnerbaits in Muddy Water
I think one of the biggest dilemmas fisherman face when fishing spinnerbaits, is determining what blade colors and skirt colors do well in clear, stained, and muddy water. I fish rivers all the time, so I have seen all the colors come and go day after day. Muddy water is one of the best times to fish a spinnerbait. Even though the bass' strike vision is limited, you can maximize your chances by combining two important things. One, colorado blades. Colorado blades allow you to slow down and keep the bait close to the surface. They also give you maximum vibration, to help bass home in on your lure. Number two, light spinnerbait. One-eighth to quarter ounce spinnerbaits will let you keep the bait high, while still retrieving at slow speeds. You don't want to move your spinnerbait to fast in muddy water. If bass can only see 2 feet in front of them, they will only have a split second to react. If the spinnerbait catches their eye too late, your going to be making another cast instead of landing a biggun'. Blade colors can help, but I have not made it my norm in muddy water. Red has been the best color for muddy water, but still, the ol' silver or gold blades work for me. Hammered blades can do well also.
Spinnerbaits in Stained Water
In stained water, you have more choices of where, and how to fish your baits. I like to throw in 1-5ft depths, but going deeper can do well also. I like to fish a tandem spinnerbait, either two colorados, or a willow/colorado (tandem) combo. Again, stick with your silver and gold blades, but naturally painted (opaque) blades can produce too. If you have an Indiana blade spinnerbait, this is a great time to throw it. It combines both the vibration and flash that is needed.
Spinnerbaits in Clear Water
Clear water increases a bass' visibility range, so you want to get a reaction strike, not giving the bass time to check out your lure. To do so, faster retrieves with double willow blades (1/4oz. to 1/2oz.) give your baits a schooling minnow cadence. If the waters you are fishing are "super" clear, you may want to look into the new plastic transparent blades, that don't give off a scary flash that a silver or gold would.
Spinnerbaiting Wood
Laydowns, standing timber, stumps, and brush are great to target with a spinnerbait. You can cover water very quickly, looking for quick, reaction strikes, and minimize snags and break-offs greatly, due to their weedless design. One of the most important things I have learned in all my years of bass fishing, is angles are EVERYTHING. If you come up on a log that extends 10ft into the water, you can make 25 casts perpendicular to it, bump the lure on the wood, and retrieve it in without a fish. But then you make 5 casts parallel and you will pull out 5 fish. The angles of your casts to the cover you are fishing is very important. When fishing shallow wood cover, I stick to a 1/4oz. willow/colorado combo. I like to pump the spinnerbait as I retrieve it, making it swim anyway but in a steady straight line.
Spinnerbaiting Grass
Hydrilla, Eurasian milfoil, and other submerged aquatic plants can produce fish on spinnerbaits through the time it begins to grow, through the time it first begins to die. When grass dies in late fall, it robs the water of oxygen, forcing bass to seek shelter on other forms of structure. Slow rolling spinnerbaits in and out of open pockets can prove deadly. And when the grass bed has a well defined edge, you have it made! Always try to look at grass beds as bottom contour. Fish the irregularities and changing densities.
Line
Line size plays a big role in spinnerbaiting. Heavier pound tests will keep your baits riding closer to the surface, while smaller pound tests will let your baits get deeper quicker and easier. I really like Trilene Tournament Strength line for spinnerbaiting. This monofilament gives you good sensitivity. It has great castability, abrasion resistance, and knot strength as well. You can get away with heavier lines if you are planning to buzz the spinnerbait on the surface, because there is only a little line visible in the water.
Finishing Up
Spinnerbaits are an invaluable tool for catching bass year round. Their great versatility allows fisherman to adapt to every condition faced with, and provide limits on even the most demanding days. Learn to use your lures to their maximum ability. Because if you don't, your fishin' buddy or the guy up on the tournament board will!