Eyes on Spinnerbaits

toppwatr · 09-30-09, 04:25 PM

I just went to the tackle shop and bought a handmade spinner bait, but it has no eyes and I know that when bass go for something they mainly target the eye of the fish. Can I use Sharpie to draw an eye on it or will that deter the fish because of the scent?

AUFred · 09-30-09, 04:33 PM

I do a good bit of sharpie work myself. Never noticed it was a problem.

Jim80 · 09-30-09, 05:26 PM

I doubt the bait not having eyes will effect how it catches fish, most the time your hits come at the back of the spinnerbait. Hence why a lot of people add a trailer hook to avoid missing fish. Most of your strikes on a spinner will be reaction based but if coloring on some eyes will make you more confident in the bait then go for it.

Jim

BigBassin144 · 09-30-09, 05:33 PM

I agree with Jim, I don't think having eyes effects its ability to catch fish, but if you think it does, and it'll give you more confidence, draw some eyes or buy some stick-on ones.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/reflect...es/309013.aspx

Acutally, I've got a buddy who has a lucky spinnerbait. We call it the "One-eyed Sexy Shad" cause one of the eyes fell off, lol.

BB

keithdog · 09-30-09, 06:29 PM

I have a spinnerbait I have been casting all year and doing great with it. The eyes came off not long after I caught a few fish on it. However, I have continured to catch fish on this spinnerbait just as well as when it had eyes. I doubt the bass or any other fish even see's the eyes, but rather the flash of the blade first and then the body. But as Jim said, if having eyes on the lure makes you feel better about the lure, then by all means add them. Confidence is 80% of the game IMHO. You can buy stick on eyes that look great too.

Bassboss · 09-30-09, 07:20 PM

IMO, you don't need them. It's the movement, the flash, and vibration, and basic shade, of a spinnerbait the catches the fish. Not the eyes, gill shape (how ever if they are painted red this may help) etc. that catch the bass. I honestly think that the "realistic eyes" eye's on spinnerbaits or crankbaits is just a big marketing scam. How ever if these eyes are red, I do think that they may add some red flash to bait, which I do think can help trigger a strike. Other than that, it's just something that may add confidance, and if it does, do it!

I don't think it helps, or dampens you chances of catching a fish!

BassMoJo · 09-30-09, 09:49 PM

I'd return it! If it doesn't have eyes it wont catch fish period. That's like throwing a rattle trap or crankbait after an eye falls off its just not productive....lol

zooker · 10-01-09, 10:46 AM

I paint mine on with an air brush. However, I beat the living daylights out of a spinner bait. Do I believe the eye matters? No... Half the time most of the paint is gone from my spinner baits.

zooker

MallenManson · 10-01-09, 06:41 PM

I have a spinnerbait that lost not only the eye, but the entire left side of it's face. It still catches fish.
Really though, if you're worried about the eyes, put down the marker and buy stick-ons.

I buy my spinnerbait heads pre-painted with the eyes in place but if I had to buy eyes, I'd probably agree with bigb on jannsnetcraft. Really great site and I've never waited beyond the 3rd day to receive an item I ordered from them

BeaverIslander · 10-01-09, 06:44 PM

I agree with Bassboss. Eyes don't matter when it's a reaction strike IMO. I used to paint red gills on all my spinners, topwaters and cranks with red nail polish, but I'm not too sure it added any appeal to the faster lures. I do still do it to slower cranks and topwaters.

Half of my spinners, especially the titanium ones that last longer, have less than 50% of the paint on the head because sometimes I like to throw them on the rocky banks and wake them back to the boat. Some have no paint at all.

gonefishin3 · 10-03-09, 10:01 PM

Usually the spinnerbait is a reaction strike. Unless your slow rolling it along the bottom it shouldn't need an eye ^_^ and sharpie shouldn't hurt it.
GF3

Culln5 · 10-06-09, 08:36 AM

Spinnerbaits are my "go to" baits and I can tell you from experience that a spinnerbait without an eye will catch as many fish as one with eyes. The basic premise behind a spinnerbait is "big fish chasing small fish". All the pretty packaging is to catch us.... LOL

Love of the Sport · 10-07-09, 07:19 PM

Spinners always seem to work better for me once they are old and beatup with most of the paint missing.

09-30-09, 04:25 PM	#1
toppwatr BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 215	Eyes on Spinnerbaits I just went to the tackle shop and bought a handmade spinner bait, but it has no eyes and I know that when bass go for something they mainly target the eye of the fish. Can I use Sharpie to draw an eye on it or will that deter the fish because of the scent?

09-30-09, 05:26 PM	#3
Jim80 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thomaston CT Posts: 3,862	I doubt the bait not having eyes will effect how it catches fish, most the time your hits come at the back of the spinnerbait. Hence why a lot of people add a trailer hook to avoid missing fish. Most of your strikes on a spinner will be reaction based but if coloring on some eyes will make you more confident in the bait then go for it. Jim __________________ In memory of Zooker 1/11/73-7/2/2010. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

09-30-09, 05:33 PM	#4
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	I agree with Jim, I don't think having eyes effects its ability to catch fish, but if you think it does, and it'll give you more confidence, draw some eyes or buy some stick-on ones. http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/reflect...es/309013.aspx Acutally, I've got a buddy who has a lucky spinnerbait. We call it the "One-eyed Sexy Shad" cause one of the eyes fell off, lol. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

09-30-09, 07:20 PM	#6
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	IMO, you don't need them. It's the movement, the flash, and vibration, and basic shade, of a spinnerbait the catches the fish. Not the eyes, gill shape (how ever if they are painted red this may help) etc. that catch the bass. I honestly think that the "realistic eyes" eye's on spinnerbaits or crankbaits is just a big marketing scam. How ever if these eyes are red, I do think that they may add some red flash to bait, which I do think can help trigger a strike. Other than that, it's just something that may add confidance, and if it does, do it! I don't think it helps, or dampens you chances of catching a fish! __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

09-30-09, 09:49 PM	#7
BassMoJo BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, MD Posts: 801	I'd return it! If it doesn't have eyes it wont catch fish period. That's like throwing a rattle trap or crankbait after an eye falls off its just not productive....lol __________________ This is my Signature there are many like it, but this one is mine.

09-30-09, 04:33 PM	#2
AUFred BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Prattville, Alabama Posts: 803	I do a good bit of sharpie work myself. Never noticed it was a problem.

09-30-09, 06:29 PM	#5
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	I have a spinnerbait I have been casting all year and doing great with it. The eyes came off not long after I caught a few fish on it. However, I have continured to catch fish on this spinnerbait just as well as when it had eyes. I doubt the bass or any other fish even see's the eyes, but rather the flash of the blade first and then the body. But as Jim said, if having eyes on the lure makes you feel better about the lure, then by all means add them. Confidence is 80% of the game IMHO. You can buy stick on eyes that look great too.

10-01-09, 10:46 AM	#8
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	I paint mine on with an air brush. However, I beat the living daylights out of a spinner bait. Do I believe the eye matters? No... Half the time most of the paint is gone from my spinner baits. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

10-01-09, 06:41 PM	#9
MallenManson BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Beulah, Michigan Posts: 6,431	I have a spinnerbait that lost not only the eye, but the entire left side of it's face. It still catches fish. Really though, if you're worried about the eyes, put down the marker and buy stick-ons. I buy my spinnerbait heads pre-painted with the eyes in place but if I had to buy eyes, I'd probably agree with bigb on jannsnetcraft. Really great site and I've never waited beyond the 3rd day to receive an item I ordered from them __________________ Bass fear me. Women pepperspray me.....

10-01-09, 06:44 PM	#10
BeaverIslander BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota Posts: 275	I agree with Bassboss. Eyes don't matter when it's a reaction strike IMO. I used to paint red gills on all my spinners, topwaters and cranks with red nail polish, but I'm not too sure it added any appeal to the faster lures. I do still do it to slower cranks and topwaters. Half of my spinners, especially the titanium ones that last longer, have less than 50% of the paint on the head because sometimes I like to throw them on the rocky banks and wake them back to the boat. Some have no paint at all.

10-03-09, 10:01 PM	#11
gonefishin3 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 227	Usually the spinnerbait is a reaction strike. Unless your slow rolling it along the bottom it shouldn't need an eye ^_^ and sharpie shouldn't hurt it. GF3

10-06-09, 08:36 AM	#12
Culln5 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 139	Spinnerbaits are my "go to" baits and I can tell you from experience that a spinnerbait without an eye will catch as many fish as one with eyes. The basic premise behind a spinnerbait is "big fish chasing small fish". All the pretty packaging is to catch us.... LOL __________________ George - GEO Industries

10-07-09, 07:19 PM	#13
Love of the Sport BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Baton Rouge Louisiana Posts: 236	Spinners always seem to work better for me once they are old and beatup with most of the paint missing.

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