Cheap Vs. Expensive Spinnerbaits.

[ThatZX14Fella]

I was curious as to why people spend so much for spinnerbaits. I bought one spinnerbait the other day for around $7 and I bought three of the dollar brand. With buzzbaits I can understand why after using a cheap one compared to the $4 one I have, but with the spinners the only real differences I see is the color of the skirt, skirt style, and blade shine. Are they more durable or does the better shine attract more fish or is it just a confidence thing?

[lmbfisherman]

I was curious as to why people spend so much for spinnerbaits. I bought one spinnerbait the other day for around $7 and I bought three of the dollar brand. With buzzbaits I can understand why after using a cheap one compared to the $4 one I have, but with the spinners the only real differences I see is the color of the skirt, skirt style, and blade shine. Are they more durable or does the better shine attract more fish or is it just a confidence thing?

I noticed when I get a cheap one it is less durable and sometimes the lure doesn't run true.  Why I hesitate buying cheap, however I have found a decent cheap custom made ones though and they run usually 3 for 10 bucks.  So far have not had a durability issue and it doesn't have issues of not running true so far.  Maybe find some one local who builds quality ones for cheap?

[Choporoz]

For years, I only used the ones from the dollar bin at Walmart.  It wasn't until I came here that I found out that they must suck.  lol

 

Honestly, I have more recently bought Booyahs, Strike King, Siebert, Terminator and something else I can't recall....but I can NOT tell you that they catch more or bigger bass than the WM dollar baits.  I will say that they need less fine-tuning, hooks stay sharp longer and the skirts last longer....but I cannot tell a difference in 'catch-rates'.  At all.

 

 

 

Update: After 18 months of using the 'better' spinnerbaits mentioned above (plus MegaStrike Strikebacks), my catch rate HAS improved over the dollar models.  What I have found in addition to points above is that a huge difference is in the action on 'the fall'.  I hadn't fished spinnerbaits with much other than straight retrieves before last year.  The more expensive baits with better swivels have great flutter action on the fall.  The Walmart baits, not so much.  Killing and/or 'dipping' spinnerbaits has increased my 'catch-rate' enormously, and those from Walmart have little or no flutter when dropping - at least not the flash compared to the better lures.

Edited December 2, 2015 by Choporoz

[ThatZX14Fella]

I noticed when I get a cheap one it is less durable and sometimes the lure doesn't run true.  Why I hesitate buying cheap, however I have found a decent cheap custom made ones though and they run usually 3 for 10 bucks.  So far have not had a durability issue and it doesn't have issues of not running true so far.  Maybe find some one local who builds quality ones for cheap?

That sounds like a good idea, just trying to find someone may be difficult. I've noticed the spinner not running 100% all the time with the cheap ones too, but I've never had any problems as far as durability goes.

[ThatZX14Fella]

For years, I only used the ones from the dollar bin at Walmart.  It wasn't until I came here that I found out that they must suck.  lol

 

Honestly, I have more recently bought Booyahs, Strike King, Siebert, Terminator and something else I can't recall....but I can NOT tell you that they catch more or bigger bass than the WM dollar baits.  I will say that they need less fine-tuning, hooks stay sharp longer and the skirts last longer....but I cannot tell a difference in 'catch-rates'.  At all.

I just recently bought my first one that wasn't a dollar, which I mentioned, and it was a War Eagle. I like it but the dollar ones I don't worry about losing, and that one I am skiddish on using because it costed me a pretty penny. Lol the buzzbait I bought was a clacker buzzbait and after using it and seeing how much better it is I know the importance in using a better one of those but I really don't see the point in the spinners. I mean, the majority of the time I lose them before they fall apart anyways. I've had some that lasted long enough that I needed to replace the skirt on but since they were only a dollar I just bought more spinners.

[smalljaw67]

I've been making my own for years, I do everything from pour the heads to bending my own wire and here is what I can tell you. If you are a casual angler then the $1.00 walmart specials will work but if you like to tournament fish or if you like to fish a spinnerbait slow rolled then you need to step up. I use Worth ball bearing swivels, the difference is I can reel my spinnerbait  just enough that it isn't laying on the bottom and my blades will spin but good ball bearing swivels cost money, the only two I would ever use is Sampo and Worth. Then you have the hook, a high quality hook will penetrate, the cheap hook is ok when the fish pounds it but when they swip and just get it in the corner of their mouth , that is when you need a good sharp hook. Even the wire, in stained water you will want more vibration but  you still need flash, a good quality stainless wire will allow you to run a willow leaf blade with a small Colorado kicker blade and you'll get vibration along with the flash, the cheaper bait will need to have a hubcap Colorado blade because they are made on really heavy wire, it will last and it will catch fish but you will get more bites and fish on the better bait more often than not. I'm not exaggerating either, when the fish are hitting a spinnerbait and they are spooky, they will often have what I call the "area of commitment" , if you come through that zone too fast you will get chasers but no takers, but if you have a bait you can reel slowly and still have good blade spin, then you'll get those fish. I have heard the stories on how dollar spinnerbait work really well and I don't question it because I've witnessed it but I also witnessed when the premium model was lighting it up when slow rolled and the dollar special wasn't able to slow down enough, I actually got started making my own because the dollar specials would roll over on me in current and I'd miss fish so I made my own when I could not find one to suit me needs. Here I am 15 years later and the spinnerbait is still my favorite bait and I found that there is no substitute for a high quality spinnerbait, it is the most versatile lure in the box next to a jig.

[Choporoz]

Thanks for taking the time, SJ.  Appreciate the info.

[ThatZX14Fella]

I've been making my own for years, I do everything from pour the heads to bending my own wire and here is what I can tell you. If you are a casual angler then the $1.00 walmart specials will work but if you like to tournament fish or if you like to fish a spinnerbait slow rolled then you need to step up. I use Worth ball bearing swivels, the difference is I can reel my spinnerbait  just enough that it isn't laying on the bottom and my blades will spin but good ball bearing swivels cost money, the only two I would ever use is Sampo and Worth. Then you have the hook, a high quality hook will penetrate, the cheap hook is ok when the fish pounds it but when they swip and just get it in the corner of their mouth , that is when you need a good sharp hook. Even the wire, in stained water you will want more vibration but  you still need flash, a good quality stainless wire will allow you to run a willow leaf blade with a small Colorado kicker blade and you'll get vibration along with the flash, the cheaper bait will need to have a hubcap Colorado blade because they are made on really heavy wire, it will last and it will catch fish but you will get more bites and fish on the better bait more often than not. I'm not exaggerating either, when the fish are hitting a spinnerbait and they are spooky, they will often have what I call the "area of commitment" , if you come through that zone too fast you will get chasers but no takers, but if you have a bait you can reel slowly and still have good blade spin, then you'll get those fish. I have heard the stories on how dollar spinnerbait work really well and I don't question it because I've witnessed it but I also witnessed when the premium model was lighting it up when slow rolled and the dollar special wasn't able to slow down enough, I actually got started making my own because the dollar specials would roll over on me in current and I'd miss fish so I made my own when I could not find one to suit me needs. Here I am 15 years later and the spinnerbait is still my favorite bait and I found that there is no substitute for a high quality spinnerbait, it is the most versatile lure in the box next to a jig.

That's awesome that you make your own spinners, and I plan to start doing tournaments. I really appreciate you taking the time to elaborate the pros of the more expensive spinners. I am on a very tight budget because my only source of income is the lawn care business me and my buddy are trying to start and that's why I buy cheap baits. When you don't have the money for the good ones and you finally do get one it feels great, but it sucks 10x worse when you lose it.

[RoLo]

Price don't enter the picture until you get down to bargain-basement prices.

For many years I used Bass Pro Shop's 'Lazer Eye' spinnerbaits, a middle-of-the-road spinner that featured.
stainless steel wire, 'R' bend eyelet, Worth swivel and Mustad Lazer Sharp hook. 

Today I'm throwing War Eagle spinners that cost about a buck more, but I cannot say

that there's a meaningful difference in catch-rate. Since I'm paying for the lures,

the bass can either like it or lump it, there's lots of fish in the sea    

 

Roger

[Hyrule Bass]

one thing i havent seen mentioned, is that the walmart spinnerbaits come in one weight. the advantages of more expensive spinnerbaits is you can get them in other weights, and also they have a more vast selection of colors.

 

dont get me wrong though, ive caught fish on the walmart ones just fine, but they are what they are, as in limited colors and only having one size. of course my booyah pond magic all-white with a touch of red on the head of the spinnerbait is my best producing color by a far margin...

[ThatZX14Fella]

I like the better color selection and the differently sizes, but when you're on a really tight budget it's hard to buy the good spinners.

[einscodek]

Listen wallyworld also sells Bomber spinnerbaits made in vietnam in 1/4 and 3/8 for 1.50

I bought a bunch on clearance last year a buck a piece.. lifetime supply.

I caught more on these than my KVD spinnerbait.. anotherwords if you know how to customize.. its even better.

Gotta know what yer doin else it aint gonna run true.

[Munkin]

If you don't fish them enough to know the benefits than stick with the $1 Wal_Mart baits until you do. I make most of my own as well but will tell you that the best SB for me so far this year is a "Producers" $1.50 bargain bait that I switched the single blade on.

 

Allen

[ThatZX14Fella]

What? O.o ^

[hooah212002]

The main thing I have noticed with cheap-o's is that the arms bend too easy. especially if you have to hoist the fish onto the shore or into the boat by the line if you can't grab the fish. The higher quality spinnerbaits will return to form. The other thing you gain with higher quality spinner baits is blades that spin better (even when fouled with weeds) and most times, beads to clack along with spinning. Lastly is the skirt quality. use one cheap spinner bait all day and chances are the skirt is toast. This is not to say there is anything wrong with cheapo's; they catch fish just fine and I use them too. But higher price baits more often than not equal confidence and we all know too well how much confidence means when it comes to fishing.

[WVbassin87]

My go to spinner is a cheap Bomber. Runs great and if i lose it it's easily replaced.

[aavery2]

One Man's dollar is another Man's dime, get in where you fit in.  

[Bobby Uhrig]

Buy what you can afford but remember you get what you pay for. I have caught many bass on the dollar spinner baits as well. That's why I came up with the Strike Back.Best quality you can buy.Plus innovation to boot.

[Creekcrappie]

The two spinnerbaits I use are the h2o express spinnerbait in all the sizes, and a local company here called hoppy's lures. Hoppy's has a bigger blade on them than the h2o, so I can fish them faster. 

 

Now a $4 buzzbait is what I call cheap  . I use hoppy's hog buzz and tally whacker because the wire angle they have. Check them out and you will see that they have a u shaped wire to get more action and a better hookset. They are the best buzzbaits I have ever used. 

[BradGuenette]

Custom paint, Wire tied by hand,high quality swivels, the ability to choose your weight and blade size all for $5.00? For me nothing else compares to Siebert Outdoors.

[roadwarrior]

Sweet!

 

 

 

[Catt]

The fish attracting qualities of spinner baits is flash & vibration.

None have more flash & vibration than Stanley!

[WVbassin87]

Custom paint, Wire tied by hand, the ability to choose your weight and blade size all for $5.00? For me nothing else compares to Siebert Outdoors.

well that settles it. the next time i buy a good bit of gear, it'll be from Siebert. everyone here speaks so highly of them. they gotta be great for that kind of word of mouth

[ThatZX14Fella]

I'll stick with my $1 spinners. I had a bad day in the rocks yesterday and lost my $7 spinner, $5 jig, and about three worms.

[WRB]

The spinnerbait is one of the most versatile lures we use for bass fishing.

The inexpensive variety will catch a few bass because bass react to such a vast variety of lures. Spinnerbaits like other lures you need the combination of speed, flash and depth to catch more bass consistently. One size and style doesn't fit all presentations. The obvious is quality components, not so obvious to the angler is why bass strike a spinnerbait or avoid striking it.

Two anglers that are expert spinnerbait anglers are KVD and Rick Clunn and suggest you read whatever they have published on this lure. Last year RC gave a seminar at our local BAT, the year before KVD did the BAT seminar, both talked about the blades used for various applications. What blade to select for the color and size of the baitfish the bass are targeting, plus speed and controlled depth. There is more to spinnerbaits than a inexpensive or one size can offer.

Tom

PS, BAT is Anglers Marine "Bass A Thon" held each year in Nov.

I use Nichols spinnerbaits, not inexpensive, there are several good mfr's available.