Which spinner blade configuration?

[Can't Catch Bass]

Hello,

 

I've been going to a new lake.

 

The lake seems to have a good number of shad to forage.

 

The water is stained. Some areas have better visibility, up to 3 feet, but for the most part visibility stops at 1ft.

 

The lake, for large part, is shallow and weedy. The weeds are especially heavy in areas under 6ft in depth.

 

I would like to find a spinner bait  (and this might require 2 different baits) to imitate the shad. It would need it to be able to burned over the heavily weeded areas (I'm guessing 1-2' depth where the weeds permit) and/or be able to fish the edge of the weeds... I'm guessing 6-10ft depth.

 

I was thinking a dual Indiana or Indiana/Colorado spinner might work best for this, but I wanted to hear what you all would think.

 

Also, I had another question... Would solid chartreuse be best for stained water or is chartreuse and white more easily seen?

[Bluebasser86]

I think you're right on track. I like a Colorado/Indiana tandem to be able to fish quickly but still have good thump in stained water. I use a lot of gold and copper blades also. Color, that's all up to the fish, but solid white is usually a solid choice. 

[smalljaw67]

I'm going with something similar to what Bluebasser86 mentioned. I'd have an Indiana as the top blade on the swivel and a small Colorado kicker, it will lean to one side if you burn it but that blade combination will stay up near the surface on a nice moderate pace retrieve. It also gives off enough flash for the clearer areas yet produces enough vibration and water displacement that it is still effective being slow rolled in deeper/dirtier water. I make my own spinnerbaits and I make that exact bait in both a 3/8oz and 1/2oz for a lake with similar conditions only the forage fish are alewives in the deeper water and 'gills in the shallows. I lie to use other colors than the standard chartreuse and white but in your case a solid white would work best, it shows up well in dingy or off color water and it is still natural that it doesn't deter in clearer water either.

[roadwarrior]

https://www.bassresource.com/hank-parker-fishing/spinnerbait-tips.html

[A-Jay]

Maybe this could help ~ 

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

I use the 3/8 oz. War Eagle double willow a lot of the time. It's light enough to retrieve slowly when you want without it digging into weeds and the blades are big enough give off a lot of vibration. I think you can use it 3/4 of the year around here. The gold/gold is my favorite color.

http://www.wareaglelures.com/g05-gold-shiner.html

 

[Fishes in trees]

IMO - 2 different situations require 2 different baits - maybe more.  Skimming the tops of weeds = some kind of tandem bait, willow/willow blade, willow/colorado blade, whatever.  I wouldn't ignore the old McCollum Bush Hog, which has 2 fairly large Colorado blades and is designed to "bulge" the surface.   I use half ounce baits the vast majority of the time.

 

For the deeper weed line situation I prefer a single Colorado blade - reduced visibility requires more "thump" IMO so that is what I nearly always go for..  Color is up to you - sooner or later any color will work - colors that work for you might not work for me.  I've seen that.  Having said that, my favorite low visibility color is a half ounce chartreuse/purple bait with a fairly large copper Colorado blade.  I want the blade above and slightly behind the hook.   Not a big fan of the "short arm" spinner baits, however I've seen many where I thought the blade arm was too long.   

 

Anyway, that is what I use.  Now, having said that, I think that a brightly colored chatter bait works better for skimming over the tops of weeds than a spinner bait does, (because I can see it and feel it better)  or a wake bait like a Minus 1, maybe with the down hook of the trebles snipped off to reduce snagging a little bit.  You've got options ..

[detroit1]

In the clear waters I fish my "burner" spinbait would be 1/2 or 3/4 oz, mostly white skirt, and 2 #3 gold willowleafs. The heavy head forces you to speed retrieve over the weeds, which ideally are 2 to 3 ft below the surface. If I want a smaller profile I use a 1/4 oz head with a 1/4 oz. hook weight on the shank. ( I"assemble" my own)

[WRB]

Just use the standard nickle willow/gold Colorado blade combo in charteuse/white color, 3/4 oz spinnerbait. 

Tom

[papajoe222]

You don't need to burn a spinnerbait to keep it over the weed tops, but if that is your intention, I'd go with a 1/2oz. double willow. I'd also go with the 1/2oz. but with a Colorado/Indiana combo. 

All blades would be gold. 

[Can't Catch Bass]

Thanks everyone for the responses. They've all been helpful.

 

I think I'm going to go with a 1/2oz nickel war eagle in mouse color with a front gold Colorado and a rear nickel Indiana blade.

 

I'm also thinking about picking up some nickel Picasso thunder Willow blades to try in place of the Indiana. 

 

Does anyone have experience with the spinner and the blades?

[bigbill]

I mainly fish from shore. I throw a few different spinnerbaits.

Bluebird days with clear water conditions,

1. Manns classic spinnerbaits, 1/8oz white skirt,  single gold Indiana blade, mister twister split double tail white grub trailer with a trailer hook.

2. Manns classic spinnerbaits,  1/4oz  white skirt, double gold Indiana blades, mister twister white split double tail grub trailer with a trailer hook.

Overcast days with stained to muddy water conditions.,

1. Manns classic spinnerbaits, 1/8oz chartreuse skirt, single Indiana blade, mister twister chartreuse split double tail trailer with a trailer hook.

2. Manns classic spinnerbaits, 1/4oz chartreuse skirt, double gold Indiana blades, mister twister chartreuse split double tail trailer with a trailer hook.

 

the white skirts are actually blue glimmer.

the chartreuse skirts are hot chartreuse.

 

dont forget a shot of bass scent.

 

using the mister twister 4" split double tail grub actually make the spinnerbaits look alive and swimming.

 

i adjust my line speed to fish above the sight line were we can see the spinnerbaits near the surface. A go slower so it's below the sight line as to where we can see it. Sometimes the bass will come up above the sight line to strike it and other times their shy and will only strike below the sight line. I never burn a spinnerbaits. I reel just enough to the blades spin.