What Am I Doing With All These Spinnerbaits?

[TotalNoob]

So I was first to the $1.99 Booyah Spinnerbait rack at BPS this morning. This is a top presentation I'm looking to learn/throw this year. I know they are a proven fish catcher. 

 

I'm not 100% sure what happened but I seemed to have lost control of the part of my brain that controls reasoning and discipline. It all happened so quickly... There was a small crowd of 6-8 people behind me. I panicked or something and next thing I know I've got 21 spinnerbaits in my basket! I wasn't even counting, I didn't know how many I had until I checked out.

 

Seven of them are 1/2oz the other fourteen are 3/8oz. I figure I can change out blades as needed to match willow on willow etc. It doesn't seem like a bad haul for $42 bucks even in retrospect ... I just need to figure out how I'm going to throw these (trailers, line, rod/reel gear ratio). 

 

My reservoir has a Gizzard Shad forage base and has mostly Smallies, some Spotteds, a small population of Largemouths, and some Wipers. 

 

I'm VERY open to any thoughts on what kinds kinds of trailers you would put on these, what type of rod/reel you'd use (action/power and gear ratio), what kind of line you'd use, and if you wanted to throw in tips on what sorts of conditions you're most likely to throw these (windy, sunny, etc) it would be much appreciated. 

 

[scaleface]

3 minutes ago, TotalNoob said:

This is a top presentation I'm looking to learn/throw this year.

There is nothing easier to throw. Cast around and in thick  cover where bass like to hang out . They are pretty snag-less , thats what makes them so effective  .

[MIbassyaker]

Good haul.  They'll eventually get bent up, worn out, skirts will fall off with use, so nothing at all wrong with stocking up.

[Bluebasser86]

I carry probably around 75 in my boat, no way I could pare that down to 21.

 

I like to put a bright chartreuse trailer on the white baits for contrast, great for smallies and spots. A 3.8-4.8 fat impact is good on any of them. I fish mine with no trailer most often. A medium to MH MF to F with 12-17 pound copolymer is what I like to throw them on.

[Scott F]

Almost all of those in the pictures have willow leaf blades. 21 baits and NONE with Colorado blades? 

[pauldconyers]

1 minute ago, Scott F said:

Almost all of those in the pictures have willow leaf blades. 21 baits and NONE with Colorado blades? 

My BPS had some with single Colorado blades and some with a small Colorado with a willow blade on it as well.

[thinkingredneck]

Wind rippled water, sun.  When plastics don't work is when I use them.

[TotalNoob]

8 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Almost all of those in the pictures have willow leaf blades. 21 baits and NONE with Colorado blades? 

There was a huge mix in Willow and Colorado blades, even in the same color/weight. I tried to grab as much diversification of blades/colors as possible without the folks behind me getting upset!

 

A lot of them have both a Willow and Colorado. 

[thinkingredneck]

You done good

[Scott F]

I know I do it all wrong, but most of the time, the spinnerbaits I am most successful with have only Colorado blades and no willow leaf. I think few guys use them because stores like bass pro barely stock them.

[TotalNoob]

20 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I carry probably around 75 in my boat, no way I could pare that down to 21.

 

I like to put a bright chartreuse trailer on the white baits for contrast, great for smallies and spots. A 3.8-4.8 fat impact is good on any of them. I fish mine with no trailer most often. A medium to MH MF to F with 12-17 pound copolymer is what I like to throw them on.

1) Would you like a Rage Swimmer for a trailer here vs Keitechs? I have Keitechs ... I ask though because they had SK Rage Swimmers on sale, too, and I kinda went a little nuts on this Ghost Shad color. I'm not married to these Rage Swimmers at all .. in fact I've never used them, I've been using Keitechs. I picked up the Rage Swimmers (on sale) knowing I could get some feedback on them and return them if need be. 

 

2) Can you recommend a budget a copolymer line? I have some Spiderwire "EZ Mono/Co-Polymer Construction" line - is this good enough or are there other lines with better/different properties I should consider? 

[Gundog]

Just the beginning of an addiction. Get help now! The bait monkey has you in his sites. 

[pauldconyers]

1 hour ago, thinkingredneck said:

Wind rippled water, sun.  When plastics don't work is when I use them.

While everyone says this while I understand it all kind of works together I have never understood how windy conditions affect what fish under water will bite at.

[MIbassyaker]

58 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I know I do it all wrong, but most of the time, the spinnerbaits I am most successful with have only Colorado blades and no willow leaf. I think few guys use them because stores like bass pro barely stock them.

Lindner-era In-Fisherman used to insist on colorado blades over willow blades in most situations, and especially in current.

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

While everyone says this while I understand it all kind of works together I have never understood how windy conditions affect what fish under water will bite at.

Don't fight it man ~ 

Just believe the hype . . . 

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, TotalNoob said:

1) Would you like a Rage Swimmer for a trailer here vs Keitechs? I have Keitechs ... I ask though because they had SK Rage Swimmers on sale, too, and I kinda went a little nuts on this Ghost Shad color. I'm not married to these Rage Swimmers at all .. in fact I've never used them, I've been using Keitechs. I picked up the Rage Swimmers (on sale) knowing I could get some feedback on them and return them if need be. 

 

2) Can you recommend a budget a copolymer line? I have some Spiderwire "EZ Mono/Co-Polymer Construction" line - is this good enough or are there other lines with better/different properties I should consider? 

Sure, Rage swimmer is great too and I use both. They're probably a better option because they're a touch more durable. 

 

Hi-SEAS Grand Slam is excellent and affordable. Pline CXX is great too.

[Columbia Craw]

You did very well. Good colors and blade configurations. Grab a sevenish MH fast rod and a 6 to something reel and spool up some 12 to 16 line and you are hot to trot.   With early spring coming a spinnerbait is a great pre spawn bait for all species especially small mouth.

[Ppennin986]

Agree pline good bang for the buck it’s good stuff I’ve pulled my boat across the river against the current with 12lbs test when getting snagged on something lol

[AC870]

I played with spinnerbaits really for first time last fall and fell in love. I was pinging it through submerged grass. Natural Shad color. No trailer. It was fun. 

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, scaleface said:

Cast around and in thick  cover where bass like to hang out . They are pretty snag-less , thats what makes them so effective  .

To build on this idea, you have 21 of them, so be fearless in throwing them into the gnarliest laydows you come across.  If you fish them aggressively you might loose a third of them in short order, but you will learn exactly what you can get away with and it will take years to lose the rest of them.  

 

[LxVE Bassin]

Next time I would suggest getting different blade combinations. Most of those have willow blades. 

[nascar2428]

Great haul. Most of my spinnerbaits have willow blades. They go through grass much easier. I'm using a 6'6" medium fast casting rod with braid and leader. Overcast and wind are always the best conditions, but not necessary. 

[TotalNoob]

15 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Don't fight it man ~ 

Just believe the hype . . . 

A-Jay

THAT'S what I'm talking about right there ? Very Nice Smallie - That's what I'm hoping to find here.

11 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

To build on this idea, you have 21 of them, so be fearless in throwing them into the gnarliest laydows you come across.  If you fish them aggressively you might loose a third of them in short order, but you will learn exactly what you can get away with and it will take years to lose the rest of them.  

 

I was thinking along the same lines. Doesn't kill me to lose some in the process of figuring out how/where to best place and retrieve these. It's not a $15 jerkbait that I have to baby around cover.

4 hours ago, LxVE Bassin said:

Next time I would suggest getting different blade combinations. Most of those have willow blades. 

I'll have to go back and look but I'm almost positive that at least half of them have a willow/Colorado combination. 

 

I haven't modified spinnerbaits yet but as I understand it's not difficult to swap blades to customize. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[BigAngus752]

17 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I carry probably around 75 in my boat

Three words for you, brother...Betty Ford Center.  

[Bankbeater]

Nice find. You are set for spring.