Spinner Blades

[boostr]

Do you use smaller blades in the spring (fry, Yearlings), and then go larger thru the season?

[a1712]

Ya, but I usually let the fish dictate what they want. Sometimes fronts will make me go small, the water I'm on will make me switch size and sometimes the depth/speed I want to fish will choose for me. But I agree with your method, the same goes for Crankbait size. Brian.

[RustyShackleford]

I never change. Got a whole tackle box dedicated to my Terminator T1s and the only thing that changes is color or weight (1/4 or 3/8) Found the bass on my water absolutely love the Oklahoma blade they came with. Can't wait to see how they perform when spawn arrives.

[papajoe222]

No, I actually go to a different style blade (Colorado or Indiana), or upsize in the spring.  I'm attempting to slow down the retrieve speed and still maintain a shallow running depth. I'll downsize back to the original after post spawn and upsize again in the fall sticking with a willow blade.

[scaleface]

I do the opposite. Larger blades in spring small blades in summer .

[boostr]

So the blades basically gives it the flash, and depth travel  of the bait. 

[papajoe222]

The baldes provide flash and lift. A willow blade provides the most flash and the least amount of lift and a Colorado provides the least flash and the most lift. The Indiana is somewhere inbetween in both areas.  Keep in mind that you can also add lift by increasing the size of the blade, so if you still want the flash of a willow blade and need to keep the bait high you can go a size or two larger. There is a limit as to how big you can go with any style blade before your bait will start running on it's side, but I think you get the idea.

There is no need to spend a bundle on spinnerbaits if you're just starting out or just getting into using them. A few in different size weights and colors, a pair of split ring pliers (or strong fingernails) and an assortment of blades and you have any number of varieties that you can show the fish. BTW, you can change out blades while the bait is still tied on to explore a different depth and or give the fish a different look.  It takes about the same amount of time as cutting one bait off and tieing on another.

[Bluebasser86]

I do the opposite. Larger blades in spring small blades in summer .

This is what I do as well. Your baitfish don't spawn until later in spring/early summer, so early on the fish are feeding on last years baitfish still which means the average size of the bait that fish are feeding on should be at it's largest it will be all year. Once the shad/bluegill or whatever baitfish are in your lake spawn, then you have millions of inch long baitfish in the water that the fish can feed on. Although I'll often stick with the larger baits/blades to try to target larger fish, there are times when they're really keyed on those little baitfish and smaller blades are a must. 

[boostr]

This is what I do as well. Your baitfish don't spawn until later in spring/early summer, so early on the fish are feeding on last years baitfish still which means the average size of the bait that fish are feeding on should be at it's largest it will be all year. Once the shad/bluegill or whatever baitfish are in your lake spawn, then you have millions of inch long baitfish in the water that the fish can feed on. Although I'll often stick with the larger baits/blades to try to target larger fish, there are times when they're really keyed on those little baitfish and smaller blades are a must. 

 

Ok, That's what I was trying to figure out. The main forage over here where I fish are Bluegill, perch, and sunnies. Do these guys spawn in that late spring early Summer?

[boostr]

So when the bass are in pree spawn use willows, then when they are in the shallows spawning or guarding start using colorados?

[Cgolf]

Tried something I read in an article from KVD. Last year got hit with a big front and put a size 7 willow on a 3/16 oz bleeding bait. I left the small front blade alone, only replaced the back blade. I needed a trailer hook on it to get a hook near the end of the blade, but it worked well.

This was northern wi in early July with water temps in the low 60's in clear water. Wouldn't toss it all the time, but something about it triggered the fish to bite in tough conditions.

Just to add, normally with the 3/16 it is small blades that time of year.

[boostr]

The baldes provide flash and lift. A willow blade provides the most flash and the least amount of lift and a Colorado provides the least flash and the most lift. The Indiana is somewhere inbetween in both areas.  Keep in mind that you can also add lift by increasing the size of the blade, so if you still want the flash of a willow blade and need to keep the bait high you can go a size or two larger. There is a limit as to how big you can go with any style blade before your bait will start running on it's side, but I think you get the idea.

There is no need to spend a bundle on spinnerbaits if you're just starting out or just getting into using them. A few in different size weights and colors, a pair of split ring pliers (or strong fingernails) and an assortment of blades and you have any number of varieties that you can show the fish. BTW, you can change out blades while the bait is still tied on to explore a different depth and or give the fish a different look.  It takes about the same amount of time as cutting one bait off and tieing on another.

 

That's what I'm trying to start doing, I have a bunch of spinners I don't us any more so I'm gonna take off the blades, and use them to swap out.

[boostr]

How do you size the blades? I know they use numbers. So what size is an 1, an 2, an 3 and so on?

[Bluebasser86]

Ok, That's what I was trying to figure out. The main forage over here where I fish are Bluegill, perch, and sunnies. Do these guys spawn in that late spring early Summer?

Yes, they'll pretty much all spawn late spring but in some areas they will spawn a second time later in the summer so if you're seeing very small baitfish still that may be why.

 

How do you size the blades? I know they use numbers. So what size is an 1, an 2, an 3 and so on?

Google a spinner size chart and print it off. 

[RoLo]

Do you use smaller blades in the spring (fry, Yearlings), and then go larger thru the season?

 

No

I choose blade size according to the 'Vibration' and 'Flash' I want (water clarity, sky clarity, surface turbulence ~ ~).

Although the fry-of-the-year are smaller in spring, bass feed less frequently in coldwater

and prefer larger prey that'll tide them over a long time.

 

Roger

[boostr]

Google a spinner size chart and print it off.

Thanks for the heads up. I used the Googler and printed an actual size size chart... Man I wish I knew about the googler before... Derp!