Spinnerbait Help

[Broke bass fisherman]

Ok, I know spinners catch fish. I know they catch a lot of fish. What I don't know is why I don't catch fish with them. I have tried cast and retrieve I have tried a irregular pattern where I reel I in let it drop, real it in let it drop, I have tried banging them across to bottom, I have tried banging them into all sorts of structure. I have tried chartrues and red, white, black, black and purple, Colorado blades, willow blades, single, tandems.

What am I missing? Why am I not having much luck?

[smalljaw67]

Ok, I know spinners catch fish. I know they catch a lot of fish. What I don't know is why I don't catch fish with them. I have tried cast and retrieve I have tried a irregular pattern where I reel I in let it drop, real it in let it drop, I have tried banging them across to bottom, I have tried banging them into all sorts of structure. I have tried chartrues and red, white, black, black and purple, Colorado blades, willow blades, single, tandems.

What am I missing? Why am I not having much luck?

You are either using them where there aren't any fish or the times you are using them the fish aren't aggressive or actively feeding. As for what you described, it sounds as if you doing things correctly and that is mixing up retreive speeds and fishing it at different levels. What kind of water are you throwing them in? Is it clear or stained or dirty? A lot of variables and by knowing the conditions we can help you by recommending blade finishes and type along with overall bait size to give you the best possible chance. I know you don't believe it right now but the spinnerbait, which is my favorite by the way, is one of the most verstile baits you can use because you can fish it shallow or deep, fast or slow but you must let the fish determine how they want it and once the specifics are known you will get some good advise and help.

[Broke bass fisherman]

I can't really give specifics because I have been fishing them in a lot of conditions. I try to chose color according to water clarity as you would most baits, bit no luck. Today the water was tea stained slightly with 2-3 feet of visibility so I tried a purple and black skirt with tandem willow blades, alternating retrieve styles. Then moves to chartreuse and red with double colorados. No luck with either. Think it's possible I am just amazing and picking the wrong time to throw them.

[smalljaw67]

In the area you are fishing them, are you able to catch them on other lures and if so which ones? Typically if I'm fishing stained water with at least 2 feet of visibility I'm using an indiana main blade with a colorado secondary blade. I normally throw 1/2oz spinnerbaits but I have had success downsizing to 3/8oz and 1/4oz when the bite is tough. Years ago I was having a tough time getting fish to hit the spinnerbait in clear water and so I worked on it until I found a way that works and that is willow leaf blades with a fast retrieve and translucent skirt colors like pearl or clear blue illusion, as those mimic hues of natural baitfish. Use nickel finish blades in sunny conditions and gold or brass in cluody conditions, those are just fundamental things that you probably know. Another thing is wind, if you are out and get a good breeze that puts a ripple on the water, that is the time for the spinnerbait, the ripples distort the light which keeps the fish from getting a good look, while I'm not sure on that reason for it working I can tell you it produces big time in wind.

[Nitrofreak]

I think it's most likely there are no fish wherever you are tossing them...or if you really think about it, a spinner is just a fancy jig in my opinion, try tossing it out and just let it sink to the bottom, wait a couple of seconds and pick it up a few feet and let it fall again.

On hot days when the fish are not active enough to chase a bait, this really gets their attention.

[Mike L]

All very good responces!

The only thing i would add is while you're cranking fast, slow roll, shallow or deep, every few seconds give it a hard horizontal pull..crank a little more and pull again.

Mike

[DILLY07]

When I fish with the spinnerbait. I usually throw in White/Chartreuse with somewhat lightly sparkly skirt with gold and silver/chrome willows. It's just my to go bait when I use spinnerbait. It works well with a stained water and or clear with visibility . Or its my luck. When I throw it, I usually sink it the bottom then retrieve slowly then cast it out again do the same thing. Works for me.

Learning bass fishing never ends.

[countryfried]

try fishing it around standing grass, it does fantastic espcially when the shad are spawning, this is how i caught my first fish on a spinnerbait, i use to hate S.baits, but i do like them now.

[Glenn]

This will help:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/spinnerbaits-bass-fishing.html

Enjoy!

[Broke bass fisherman]

Thanks everyone. I will try these suggestions out.