Spinnerbait - painted blades

[Guest avid]

I hooked and lost a decent bass on white bladed/skirted spinnerbait today.

This is the exception rather than the rule for me.

when do y'all use painted blades and do prefer white, chartruese or what?

[Vyron]

clear water = white

stained =   chart

[jomatty]

i never use anything but gold or silver blades but am interested in the replies as this is something i prob should add to my repertoire.

[KenDammit28]

clear water

extra spooky fish

when flash isn't working but I'm getting smacked at

stained water when I want a little more visibility of my lure

[justfishin]

Avid, I can tell you that for the big river smallies here I use a 1/2oz gold Indiana bladed white spinner bait 99% of the time. It just works when they are on the blade bite but, at times, especially in the low water summer months along the big grass beds on the Susquehanna in Harrisburg a chartruese bladed spinner bait burned can be a killer tactic. I look for the shad boiling on the minnows and that seems to be the time for these chartruese bladed baits. We just burn them and the bass chase them down like cheetahs on a gazelle. I also like them for green bass in the tidal waters of the Lower Potomac in MD in the early spring when the water is dirty. I don't think they are a everyday good choice but, circumstances like the above mentioned can lend them as the best choice at times.

[bassnleo]

Avid, I can tell you that for the big river smallies here I use a 1/2oz gold Indiana bladed white spinner bait 99% of the time. It just works when they are on the blade bite but, at times, especially in the low water summer months along the big grass beds on the Susquehanna in Harrisburg a chartruese bladed spinner bait burned can be a killer tactic. I look for the shad boiling on the minnows and that seems to be the time for these chartruese bladed baits. We just burn them and the bass chase them down like cheetahs on a gazelle. I also like them for green bass in the tidal waters of the Lower Potomac in MD in the early spring when the water is dirty. I don't think they are a everyday good choice but, circumstances like the above mentioned can lend them as the best choice at times.

If you ever get to Presque Isle (Lake Erie) that old chartruese deal will work there too

[Stringjam]

Big fan of painted blades.  They seem to perform equally well in dirty or clear water, and for sm, spots, and largemouths.  Where they really seem to excel (for me) is during low light conditions.  

I started spending more time with painted blades after fishing a local tournament with one of my friends - and being schooled with a painted double willow bait.  I have put a lot of miles on painted blades over the last 12 years since then, and probably use them 80% of the time I'm throwing a spinnerbait - - they're just very consistent on my home waters.  

Don't limit yourself to just white, however.  I have done VERY well at times using a black spinnerbait with black blades - a look fish rarely see.      

[justfishin]

Its funny you mentioned the black bladed baits. I use a black buzz bait for smallies in the first light conditions in the early morning and had success using them so I experimented with black bladed spinner baits without much luck until I used it one morning on a gin clear lake near me for green bass. It was the ticket for that clear water for me in the early first light conditions. I have since used it for this certain time of the day with much luck. Why? who knows but, it seems to work well. Any opinions on why this would work? My opinion is the black color makes it a more of a reaction strike because of its low visibility. Sometimes a non-gaudy color is the answer.

[Garnet]

I fish Chart/White blades and Chart/White skirt a lot. Works for smallies and largies. When I trim the skirt for speed it will be all white or all Chart depends on the look .

In my area you have less problems with Musky's and Northern Pike that just love flashy $10 spinnerbaits.

Garnet

[flyphisher #]

Pre-spawn, I like a small orange colorado blade w/ a big white willow or gold colorado on the back in muddy water.Fish kill the orange blade for some reason.

Post spawn- 2 white, willowleaf blades.(shad spawn)

[Triton_Mike]

I don't think I own a gold or silver blade anymore.  In clear water white and chart blades have out produced the gold and silver.  My favorite blade is made by www.soblures.com (mini Me) in Allatoona Special color.  It has a dirty bird skirt and one chart and one white blade.  

Mike

[Nick]

I also like the white and chartreuse blades esp. in darker lakes and murky rivers. In clear northern waters with a chop on the water the same blade combo is a killer for smallies. The copper blade is another consideration (choice) other than the gold or silver blade. I tend to use willows about 90% of the time, except in very muddy waters where the big colorado blades are used with a pretty light head. In water temps above 60, I don't get hung up on retrieve speeds, but in cooler waters, better monitor your speed of retrieve.

[Fishing Doug]

What other brands of spinnerbaits are you guys using with painted blades?  Do any of you buy baits with silver/gold and change the blades?

FD