Spinner Baits and Blade Types

[BareHook]

Spinner Baits happen to be my lowest confidence bait to use, I've only caught one bass on them, but I know they are much more effective that that and I am determined to learn and gain confidence in their use. I've read several of the articles, but really have a hard time using one for any period of time.

What are the deciding factors for using a particular type of spinner bait blade such as Colorado, Willow etc... as well as color, silver, brass, painted?

I know it must involve water clarity, time of year and other factors, but is there a simplified general guideline?

Thanks! Ken

[scaleface]

You're going to get a lot of different answers . I keep  it very simple . In spring .  I usually go with larger brighter lures and fish them shallow .  Its a good time to use  double Colorado blades . When that bite dies  , I usually go with a single willow blade  and more translucent  colors .  I can fish that lure from shallow to deep. Retrieve it straight , kill it , hop it....Its a versatile lure . I may go heavier for deep water like 1/2 ounce , 1/4 ounce for shallow  , or a 3/8 ounce for an all around bait choice . 

 

One more . At night I use the Strike King Midnight Special with a Colorado blade .

[Bluebasser86]

I like a colorado blade in dirty water and colder water when I need to retrieve slower, or at night. 

Willow leaf I like in clearer water, when I want a faster retrieve, or when I want the bait to run deeper.

Indiana is a good compromise of the two and the blade that I fish a majority of the time because it seems to work most of the time if they're eating a spinnerbait. 

[Team9nine]

14 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like a colorado blade in dirty water and colder water when I need to retrieve slower, or at night. 

Willow leaf I like in clearer water, when I want a faster retrieve, or when I want the bait to run deeper.

Indiana is a good compromise of the two and the blade that I fish a majority of the time because it seems to work most of the time if they're eating a spinnerbait. 

B-I-N-G-O

Think of blade choice in reference to depth and speed control and you'll be way ahead of the game

-T9

[J Francho]

29 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like a colorado blade in dirty water and colder water when I need to retrieve slower, or at night. 

Willow leaf I like in clearer water, when I want a faster retrieve, or when I want the bait to run deeper.

Indiana is a good compromise of the two and the blade that I fish a majority of the time because it seems to work most of the time if they're eating a spinnerbait. 

Perfectly stated.  Can't really add to this, other than I like gold on cloudy days, and silver on clear days.  There's times, and I don't have a good explanation for this, but chartreuse or chartreuse and white work well for smallies.  Seems like a Finger Lakes thing for me.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/spinnerbaits-bass-fishing.html

 

[buzzed bait]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

Perfectly stated.  Can't really add to this, other than I like gold on cloudy days, and silver on clear days.  There's times, and I don't have a good explanation for this, but chartreuse or chartreuse and white work well for smallies.  Seems like a Finger Lakes thing for me.

the chartreuse is a great one for me on the chatahoochee river.... haven't unlocked the mystery as to why myself as it doesn't mimic any of the bait that i've seen....

[bowhunter63]

3/8 War Eagle with willow leaf blades in the mouse color is my go to.Its double blades with one silver and one gold.Caught alot of bass this year on it.

[Rick Howard]

 The more you fish A spinner bait the more you will understands it's subtle nuances.  You have to put the time in though.  I think what helps most is understanding the attributes of the blades.

 Willow leaf will fish deeper ran at the same speed as Colorado.  (Surface area of the blade being alike that is).  Willow leaf flashes more and vibrates less than Colorado.  (Again comparing like surface areas.).  match your blade to the situation you think will cause the fish to bite.  Example like using a Colorado blade in dirty water because it will help the fish find it under the poor visibility.  The variations of these blades are combinations of each.  I pretty much stick to these two options though.

I select color based on the situation and what I think will make them bite it.  Match the bait?  Water clarity?  Sunny or cloudy?  Deep or shallow? I rarely use anything but silver blades but gold is my other option. Color of the skirt fits into these same requirements.

In the end I think this stuff is only a small part of catching fish on a spinner bait.  More important is where you cast it and how you retrieve it.  I find it much more effective in heavy cover than in open water.  Especially when that water is clear.  I pretty much only fish a spinner bait in clear open water when the fish a busting schools or shad.  I use white with a silver willow blade in this case (too me it is the original a -rig).  It comes back to the boat pretty fast then too.  

[papajoe222]

Great info here.  I'll add one obvious thing and one tip.  Vary your retrieve speed either with your reel, or occasionally popping the rod tip up during the retrieve.  In the fall, work a short arm, single willow as a drop bait or fish it horizontally. On the fall, the blade will helicopter and the shorter arm allows for better hook-ups. Oh yea, windy days are spinnerbait days.

[Glenn]

 

[buzzed bait]

23 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

occasionally popping the rod tip up during the retrieve. 

that right there is what made me reconsider the spinnerbait's effectiveness.  i started doing that and started catching fish like never before on the spinnerbait!  i shared that same tip with a good buddy of mine and got an awesome "you're the man" text from him after he caught fire and caught 11 spotted bass in a 30 min span one afternoon popping the spinnerbait!  

[Cmp240]

I like a willow, Colorado combination, silver blades, chartreuse white,,,, I've really only had success with this color,,,, dont ask me why,,,, spring seems to be much better for spinner baits,,,, now buzzbaits, different story,,,, 

[BareHook]

Thank you for all the info! I plan to give these techniques a try this Saturday and will post results next week.

Ken

[Wind Knot]

I usually choose the same spinnerbait color as I would use for a topwater - usually white or black.  I almost never fish them in lakes though.  Just haven't had great luck with them except in ponds.