I Think They Are Hitting The Blades

[Jig Man]

I've been catching several bass on spinnerbaits lately but missing several also.  I don't use a trailer and have put trailer hooks on to see it that helped.  It didn't.

 

Last time out I caught some under the "chin".  That makes me think that they are hitting the blades.  I'm not quite sure what to do about it.  I'm going back this afternoon and may try some dull colored blades and see if that helps.

 

Any other ideas?

[Jigfishn10]

When that happens to me, I end up speeding up the retrieve. Don't give the fish time abort the mission, make them react faster. IMHO, if the fish are hitting the blades, then your lure is the right lure, tweak the presentation.

[A-Jay]

I hate that.

 

I've had to upgrade the split ring which aren't very heavy to begin with, to keep from losing a few each trip.

 

Try putting the scent of your choice on the  head /body of the bait and if your not "buring the bait" try using a scent loaded swim bait style trailer.

 

That gives them a nice "Target" to focus their strike on.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[.ghoti.]

Sometimes they just hit the blades. It is what it is.

Had a trip to Trophy Country a few weeks ago, with Long Mike. I got quite a few fish on a SEIBERT OUTDOORS spinnerbait, and only about half had the hook in their mouth. I hooked one right between the eyes. The hook went in inside one eye, and came out inside the other eye. The hook did not touch either eye, it went right through the bone between the eyes. I have no idea how that fish hit the bait. Wish I had taken a picture.

[Montanaro]

sounds like the bass are just hitting it in anger not hunger. at least in the last post. try different color skirts and trailers. or go with a swimjig

[J Francho]

When you stick them in the chin, especially with a trailer hook, they are definitely hitting the blades.  You can downsize the blade, and go to a single blade, but it's just gonna take patience.

[quanjig]

Wait till you start getting your bait back with the split ring attached to the hook! Those are the biggun's!!

[derekxec]

lol or you could just switch to a spoon

[plumworm]

Try using a 3 in. grub as a trailer. It gives the fish something to hit other than the blades. I have used this for years with great results.

[J Francho]

lol or you could just switch to a spoon

 

You can try, but to me a spoon is a completely different profile, rhythm, and sound.  It does share flash, but little else.  It's worth a try, if the cover allows.

[MCS]

lol or you could just switch to a spoon

 

aqua dream...

[smalljaw67]

When you have bass hitting spinner blades you need to go with a different color. I see this happen a lot in clear water when throwing chartreuse or white spinnerbaits.  Use a bait that has a white or pearl head with a translucent skirt, a good one at fishingskirts * is #522, clear silver neon, and the best part is you buy some material and make some skirts to take with you. This situation is why I like to use bands for my personal spinnerbait skirts rather than tying them on, you will have a day in which the fish begin banging the blades and you either need to go to a more natural color or a really bright color. The next time that happens go to a different color bait, you'll be glad you did.

[merc1997]

a whizjig is a good choice to switch to when bass are hitting blades.  this bait is a jig with the blade attached to the hook.  most of the time when they hit the blade they will also get the hook.

 

bo

[WRB]

The first thing to do is put a trailer on the spinnerbait to give the bass something to strike besides the blades. The blades attract bass the trailer attracts strikes.

We call whiz jigs Mattie's; swim jig with a blade added for a trailer, works good!

Another option is use a underspin like a Sworming Hornet that has a blade on the underside or a Little Geogre style tailspinner.

Lots of options with blade types; take off the trailing willow blade and replace with a Indiana blade for example.

Tom

[Glenn]

When bass are just slapping your bait, short striking, or following but not hitting, they're telling you something.  You're close, but something isn't quite right.  Almost without fail, it's color in these instances. 

 

Change the blade color, skirt color, or trailer color - one at a time - until you find out what it is.  Sometimes it takes just a subtle change.  Remember, you're almost there, so don't make huge changes.

 

Hope that helps!

[roadwarrior]

When bass are just slapping your bait, short striking, or following but not hitting, they're telling you something.  You're close, but something isn't quite right.  Almost without fail, it's color in these instances. 

 

Change the blade color, skirt color, or trailer color - one at a time - until you find out what it is.  Sometimes it takes just a subtle change.  Remember, you're almost there, so don't make huge changes.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Listen up boys. This is from a guy who I watched fight the biggest largemouth bass I have EVER seen in person.

Spinnerbait was a Siebert Outdoors Cosmic Spinnerbait,  White/ Double Willow Silver Blades.

 

Edit: Hey Mike!  I don't see white on the website.

[shanksmare]

Spinnerbaits are by far my favorite lure. I have been using them since the late sixties. I even used to make them myself. My current PB was caught on a spinnerbait.

You can generally tell if the fish are hitting the blades of a spinnerbait because they will either stretch the swivel split ring or pull the blade completely off. This was a fairly regular occurance when I fished up north.

More recently I've been bank fishing a pond down south which was some sort of a quarry so the edge has a sharp drop off. The fish seem to hit near shore a lot. I often see them striking the spinnerbait. Interestingly enough there are times when they hit the spinnerbait with their mouthes closed, probably out of anger. So what I had thought were short strikes actually weren't. The use of a trailer hook in this instance only produces the occassional hook up in odd places (under the  chin, top of the head, eye). Switching to a lure that is less obtrusive such as a super fluke or swim jig usually results in hook ups.

[Jig Man]

Thanks for the ideas.  I'm planning on trying them out this evening.  I have probably 60 targets in mind and usually 20-30 of them have fish so I should be able to experiment and see what works.

 

Here are some of the things I plan to try.

 

[J Francho]

I like the swim jigs with the spinner.

[Catt]

When bass are just slapping your bait, short striking, or following but not hitting, they're telling you something. You're close, but something isn't quite right. Almost without fail, it's color in these instances.

Change the blade color, skirt color, or trailer color - one at a time - until you find out what it is. Sometimes it takes just a subtle change. Remember, you're almost there, so don't make huge changes.

Hope that helps!

[Catt]

The correct answer is listed above