Custom Spinnerbaits

[Brian_Reeves]

I've had it up to my ears with generic spinnerbaits that every bass sees every day.  At department stores, even Academy, I can't get my colors and blades to match up and when I do, the blades are a size that would make a baracuda scream like a 4 year old girl.  I can't get them to match the hatch without getting a small spinnerbait that I can't cast into the wind any darned way when I do want to fish a spinner.

So when enough is enough, it's time to take matters into your own hands.

Therefore, I'm making my own spinnerbaits.  I'm not pouring my own lead and creating my own wires, but I got an idea and wondered if anyone has some other tips on customizing the "most versitile lure in a tacklebox" as KVD would say.

So far, I started out with cheap-o wal-mart $1 spinnerbaits.  They come with a silver willow leaf blade.  I like the size, it's pretty big but doesn't look like the crome version of the loch ness monster coming through the water.  Since the lakes that I fish are bottled spring water clear, I think that the flash of the silver blades is a little much.  So I took some heavy duty sandpaper and sanded it in arches and curves, giving it a surprisingly good scaley look to the blades.  I bought some strike king skirts (not the rubberband garbage but the good kind) with the magic tails.  I downsized those mugs with a good pair of scissors.  I now have shad and perch colored spinnerbaits that match the colors of these Texas lakes beautifully.  

Here's my problem.  The hooks on these Cheap-O's are the same great-white spooking crome that apparently is a turn-off in these highly pressured lakes.  What kind of paint to I use to paint the hooks without adding a funky fish-killing odor.  I'd like to stay away from using artificial scents if at all possible.  I'll use garlic if I absolutely must, but don't wanna use any kind of Yum spray on or anything like that.  Any good ideas for hook/blade paint?  I need a good solid blood red and a good shiny gold paint for the blades (for my lower visability spinnerbaits)

When I get back from my next training event with the Army, I'll post some pictures up.  If these things actually work, I'm going to be hitting you bait-making guys up about spinnerbait molds and wire guages and whatnot.  Thanks y'all.

[WCCT]

I would take a look at Stamina for tackle components.  You can get some amazingly detailed heads for really cheap.  These also come with quality hooks.  They also have just about everthing else a guy needs to make anykind of spinnerbait  imaginable.  

[Siebert Outdoors]

I would take a look at Stamina for tackle components. You can get some amazingly detailed heads for really cheap. These also come with quality hooks. They also have just about everthing else a guy needs to make anykind of spinnerbait imaginable.

Thats what I would do too.  I know when I make more of them I will be buying the heads and adding the blades.  Stamina has some good ones and good blades etc. for cheap.

[bassnleo]

I've had same issues and decided I could make my own to my liking. I order componenets from Stamina and build my own baits so I can customize them to exactly how I want them plus it's fun/rewarding to catch fish of stuff you made.

[Brian_Reeves]

Sounds like these Stamina guys have it figured out.  I'm about to google their website.  

I know what you mean about catching fish on your own creations.  I really tweaked a swimming jig today and went to the hardest lake on Fort Hood to fish.  I've been there a dozen times and never got a bite....and that's throwing every bait in the box.  I sat there and watched them hit topwater for an hour (some 4lb+ bass coming clear out of the water) and threw poppers, frogs, buzzbaits, walk-the-dogs, torpedos, and waked a spinnerbait.  NADDA.  Talk about frusteration.  Today, after almost a year, I went back and played around with a jig that I tuned, tweaked, spiked, and added a grub trailer.  BAM...got bit....and then the sucker wrapped up in a tree limb and broke my derned line.  But at least I accomplished something that I never have in a lake that has been bothering me for a year.  I will definitely go back and pitch some more customized jigs.  

I really wanna create some quality spinnerbaits and start pulling up hawgs on those.  Talk about a fun, rewarding reward!  Thanks for the help!

[Guest whittler]

Stamina, Jann's Netcraft and Barlows all have the components yor looking for and they are all great to do business with. All three have free catalogs.