WalMart $1 Spinnerbaits - Anybody Use 'Em?

[pasadenafishin]

its funny ive noticed a pretty obvious theme here everyone keeps saying "i bought them to fish heavy cover because i wasnt scared of losing them" then they go on to say that they caught fish on them. It seems as though the reason people are doing soo well on them is that they arent scared to lost them.

[Goose52]

its funny ive noticed a pretty obvious theme here everyone keeps saying "i bought them to fish heavy cover because i wasnt scared of losing them" then they go on to say that they caught fish on them. It seems as though the reason people are doing soo well on them is that they arent scared to lost them.

Sure - you're fishing the bait where the fish are... ;D I think the message you get out of this thread though is that you can catch fish on them... 8-)

Now, do you catch as many fish on these as on a $6 spinnerbait? Maybe not, but they're certainly cost effective !

[K_Mac]

its funny ive noticed a pretty obvious theme here everyone keeps saying "i bought them to fish heavy cover because i wasnt scared of losing them" then they go on to say that they caught fish on them. It seems as though the reason people are doing soo well on them is that they arent scared to lost them.

I think this is a very good point. I have fished with guys who would not throw a jig into the thick of things because they did not want to loose a "good" jig, and then brag about using the same jig for several trips. If it is too good/expensive to throw into nasty cover, find something cheaper. If your not loosing a few baits, your probably not fishing them right.

[Dave P]

I have to confess that out of all the dozens of spinnerbaits that I've had, lost and thrown away, the only one's that I've ever had major blade rotation issues with have been expensive ones. Primarily ones with titanium arms...

[Bluebasser86]

I've never had a problem with the $1 spinnerbaits blades at slow speeds. Slow rolling them in the spring is the way I caught all my fish with them when I fished them. I don't have a problem with throwing my expensive spinnerbaits into the brush since they are pretty snag resistant. That's where the fish are usually at anyways! Most of the spinnerbaits I go through aren't because I lost them, it's because the wire bent and broke because I'd caught too many fish with them  ;D

[mrbassky]

The big thing I noticed about spinnerbaits and jigs is the cheap ones compete pretty well with the expensive ones out of the box. But the skirts hold moisture and after a year or two the cheap baits skirts are falling apart and the components are starting to rust. I am not saying you need $15 baits but quality ones. I have learned its cheaper in the long run to go with baits that have quality components. At least thats the way I see it.

[Goose52]

The big thing I noticed about spinnerbaits and jigs is the cheap ones compete pretty well with the expensive ones out of the box. But the skirts hold moisture and after a year or two the cheap baits skirts are falling apart and the components are starting to rust. I am not saying you need $15 baits but quality ones. I have learned its cheaper in the long run to go with baits that have quality components. At least thats the way I see it.

That's right for sure. For $1, you're obviously sacrificing the quality of the components. But, if you're fishing risky water, and are likely to lose the bait in a short period of time anyway, there won't be time for the bait to degrade before being lost... :

[zbigbadaaron]

I use them whenever i'm fishing around snaggy areas, and don't want to risk losing one of my more expensive lures. They produce just as well for me. Exept that they tend to fall apart easier. Gander Mountain has some $1 spinnerbaits also.

[Wurming67]

The reason I started using them cause snake heads would destroy my expensive ones, but than I started using them. In areas that there wasn't any snake heads and caught plenty of bass on them only issue I have with them is with bass is skirts dont  last long but you can buy skirts at bps for them, the only other problem is my Walmart doesn't get them on shelf fast enough for me so I talked to sporting goods Mgr and now he orders me plenty  

[Airman4754]

Yes, but I swap out the swivel so they don't roll over.

[Raul]

Son of a gun, it's getting creepy here lately, all these corpse threads resurrecting from beyond the grave, first a 10 year old post, now a six year old post ...... must be cabin fever.

[riverbasser]

6 minutes ago, Raul said:

Son of a gun, it's getting creepy here lately, all these corpse threads resurrecting from beyond the grave, first a 10 year old post, now a six year old post ...... must be cabin fever.

Not only do they resurrect them but he just answered the question as of the OP was still looking for a response lol.

[Jeff H]

18 hours ago, riverbasser said:

Not only do they resurrect them but he just answered the question as of the OP was still looking for a response lol.

(following response not directed at you riverbasser)

LOL... I agree that is funny!

Well, by some peoples standards he's done right by using the search feature, obviously.  This is what that brings us.  I've said that for many years now and here's proof.  Blow all the dust away and if their question is answered they still might want to add their opinion, so they do and voila, ancient archived secrets!

 

"Use the search, this question has been beat to death here", "Use the search,this has been discussed many times!",  "Use the search blah blah blah"...so this here is what you get.   Be careful what you ask for!

[Outdoor Zack]

I like the cheap spinnerbaits from cabelas and gander mountain (like $1.69 each). I have one from cabelas that is one of my favorites

 

But I like bargain-bin spinnerbaits too.  I have a 1/8 oz. bomber bushwhacker that I've gotten more fish om than any of my other spinnerbaits.  Paid $1.39 for it last summer

[scaleface]

I have some Wal Mart spinnerbaits that I bought six years ago ,so this topic is still relevant . They suck .

[Mumbly]

I have tried the walmart $1 spinnerbaits. They seem decent for $1 and made by Strike King (at least that is what the tags on mine said). The $1 buzzbaits on the other hand, I just can't seem to get them to work well.

[Oklahoma Mike]

I tied on a Walmart spinnerbait to start the season last year because it was the only one I had in my bag of its color (black and yellow). I caught so many fish with it that I left it tied on for a couple weeks and didn't bother to throw anything else at all during that time. So yes, they absolutely catch fish, and yes, the components are sub-par and will likely degrade/wear out faster.

[Choporoz]

I love the necro-posts...as long as new posts are relevant to OP....I still use WM spinnerbaits, but I do so a lot less than I did a few years ago.  I've gotten more demanding and the Monkey has done a good job of convincing me that I need more and better fishing stuff.  The skirts don't last for two reasons: the collars are junk and the 'collar-stay lip' is too small/shallow/subtle; and the hook points aren't all that great....not difficult to sharpen, but more 'work' than the more expensive kinds.  Besides, I've decided I like the strike-back innovation of MegaStrike -- whether it makes a 'real' difference in buttoning, I don't know...but I seem to think it does

[roadwarrior]

On 1/16/2017 at 7:20 PM, Wurming67 said:

The reason I started using them cause snake heads would destroy my expensive ones, but than I started using them. In areas that there wasn't any snake heads and caught plenty of bass on them only issue I have with them is with bass is skirts dont  last long but you can buy skirts at bps for them, the only other problem is my Walmart doesn't get them on shelf fast enough for me so I talked to sporting goods Mgr and now he orders me plenty  

 

Man, there is NOTHING wrong with using the search function and this topic is still "current".

Thanks!

 

p.s. To answer the OP, NO.

 

[Jar11591]

Are my local Walmarts the only ones on the planet that don't have their own brand of fishing tackle? Never in my life have I seen a "Walmart spinner bait". I've seen spinner baits at Walmart, but they are name brands that are sold at every other store that sells tackle. It always confused me when people mention "cheap Walmart" fishing gear. Every bit of tackle at my local Walmart is name-brand. 

[Raul]

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Are my local Walmarts the only ones on the planet that don't have their own brand of fishing tackle? Never in my life have I seen a "Walmart spinner bait". I've seen spinner baits at Walmart, but they are name brands that are sold at every other store that sells tackle. It always confused me when people mention "cheap Walmart" fishing gear. Every bit of tackle at my local Walmart is name-brand. 

 

Walmart spinnerbaits aren't Walmart "brand", hell, they are not even in a package, they just hang them on the display. 

[Jar11591]

1 minute ago, Raul said:

 

Walmart spinnerbaits aren't Walmart "brand", hell, they are not even in a package, they just hang them on the display. 

 

what "brand" are they?

[WRB]

I avoid Walmart because they put local mom and pop stores out if business.

Spent about 4 months working for K Mart back in '69, they would put seasonal clearance items on "blue light" specials to reduce inventory. K Marts business model was everything must turn over a minimum of 5 times annually or it must go regardless of the brands.

All fishing tackle lures were sold for 97 cents during clearance sales, great buys for name brand lures.

Walmart buys in volume from suppliers who make things off shore for less money, these are not name brands, they are knock offs. If name brands are being cleared for $1, buy them, good deal. 

Tom

[S. Sass]

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Are my local Walmarts the only ones on the planet that don't have their own brand of fishing tackle? Never in my life have I seen a "Walmart spinner bait". I've seen spinner baits at Walmart, but they are name brands that are sold at every other store that sells tackle. It always confused me when people mention "cheap Walmart" fishing gear. Every bit of tackle at my local Walmart is name-brand. 

I'm pretty sure its a "China" knockoff made lure. They are usually at the very bottom near the name brand ones but very low on the wall. 

 

I haven't used a WM one lately but they catch fish like any other Spinnerbait. I have used them and the guy I fish with uses them exclusively and never does anything but take the sticker off the hook. Sure one may roll or a skirt come off but if you look at the ones you're thinking of buying prior to buying it you can usually tell if it's bent. You can also test to see if the swivel spins freely. Sure it won't spin as much as a name brand one but it's pretty obvious if it turns freely. The water does the turning so it doesn't have to be a freaking perfect bearing. And last look at the skirt collar and make sure it's snug. If any of the key points are messed up grab a different one.

 

A few things that make them a little better and don't take long to do or make them cost anywhere near what a name brand one costs. A little superglue under the skirt collar will make them last a little longer. Also a small zip tie or tie with wire before use will also help.  You can purchase bulk quality swivels and replace the swivel if you just have to have the bearing.  And a few strokes with a rock might sharpen the hook enough to suit the perfectionist. 

 

Considering a name brand spinnerbait lure runs roughly $5 and up and you can upgrade these for less than a buck you can have at least 2 of these with quality bearings a skirt that will stay on and a sharp hook for under what 1 name brand one costs.  Of course there will the perfectionist that thinks the wire diameter has to be bla, or the skirt material has to be bla, and that is fine. Don't buy a $1 Walmart bait if that is your perception. 

 

 

[gim]

I looked at my local wal mart for one of these $1 specials everyone is referring to and by god they had a few so I bought one.  I tied it on one trip last summer in a weedy area known to have a ton of small annoying pike that'll bite anything.  Sure enough, first toss, I can feel the blade turning, THUMP, it gets hammered by a pike.  Bout halfway in I could see that the pike had inhaled the lure and then the line broke and my $1 wal mart spinnerbait is now gone forever.