Mepps: Boring But Deadly

[snake95]

I fished in-line spinners sporadically as a kid.  I was never really into them.

 

I hadn't bothered to tie one back on since I resumed fishing about 5 years ago.

 

However, I just experienced the best numbers day of my life.  The only thing that I have ever done so well with is a Ned rig, but I didn't do any better.

 

Couldn't have been simpler.  Tied on a plain, silver number 2 Mepps Aglia on a med-light rod with 10 lb braid and a short leader.  The setup was intended to fish Ned Rigs, but I tied on the Mepps on a whim, and never got around to taking it off.

 

I was fishing shallow in Georgia ponds.  Air temps about 60 degrees, stained water.  Bass off all sizes were hammering the Mepps like it was their last chance to eat before winter.  Cast and wind, maybe 6-12"inches below surface. Some bites seemed to come as I gave it a slight pause.

 

Caught a dozen largemouths and a white crappie and big bluegill, in less than 2 hours.  Lost a few bass when I didn't lean back on the rod fast enough against their lightning fast strikes.

 

When do you like to fish boring in line spinners?  When do they tend to excel?  I have a feeling the answer is "whenever the water is wet."  

 

 

[Mobasser]

Inlines can be great lures. I have some, but haven't been using them for a few years due to weed, and hydrilla in lakes I fish. They can work very well in more open water areas 

[James Krack]

Mepps are some of my favorite lures. I actually had the best luck with them fishing for rainbow trout. They catch allot of bass too though especially up north in Minnesota the large mouth loved them. 

[Bluebasser86]

They had a resurrection for me this year too, especially when I was taking my son to the creeks fishing for whatever would bite.

[punch]

Everyone went to spinnerbaits, then everyone went to chatterbaits.. the inline spinner has been shelved by most bass fishermen. 

 

It's still alive and well with the pike, musky and trout crowd though. 

[PhishLI]

A No.3 undressed Mepps Black/Yellow saved the day today. I threw it as a last resort. The bass was so small...I just can't show the picture, but the skunk was off the boat! Should've probably thrown it earlier as we had to leave right after that. This isn't the first time I've thrown it as a last resort and had success. I need to remember it.

[LCG]

Inline spinners are fantastic for catching mutli-species. Simple and effective is fine by me. In fact using an inline spinner and a Ned rig is a good combination of fast moving bait and a more subtle approach. Both proven methods that have stood the test of time, nothing boring about it. 

[Jigfishn10]

56 minutes ago, LCG said:

Inline spinners are fantastic for catching mutli-species. Simple and effective is fine by me. In fact using an inline spinner and a Ned rig is a good combination of fast moving bait and a more subtle approach. Both proven methods that have stood the test of time, nothing boring about it. 

Agree on you opinion on the inline. Love your 1 - 2 punch with the Ned Rig!

[Cam R]

I tied a mepps spinner on once this year and a pike broke me off one of my first casts. Will I try it again? Probably next year

[Black Hawk Basser]

I throw inline spinners at the local river a few times a year.  They work well for smallmouth there, but other things tend to do better.

 

I rarely throw them in ponds or lakes, but I probably should more often.  Anything with a treble hook is a no-go for half of the open water season where I live and fish. There actually is a good walleye bite on them in my local lake around May that lasts a week or two.

[redmexican5081]

I fish them on my home pond anytime I just want to catch something.  They work really great when I bring the kids in the canoe.  I cast them out, hand the rod to the kids and paddle in an S pattern trolling them behind as we go down the shore line.  We catch everything that swims in that pond on them.  Its a blast when a 24" pickerel comes dashing out of the weeds and slams it.

[islandbass]

On 10/19/2019 at 7:25 AM, snake95 said:

When do you like to fish boring in line spinners?  When do they tend to excel?  I have a feeling the answer is "whenever the water is wet."  

 

 

I almost always have some in my bag, particularly homemade ones. Chuck and wind is mighty fine when it slays as you experienced. 
 

There can be more to these heavily underrated lures, especially in rivers with current. One awesome method is to let the current “swing” the lure into potential spots that hold fish. Depth and current speed can become factors and this is no longer mindless. Nothing wrong with mindless when it’s catching fish. Glad you “rediscovered” one of the truly universal fish catching lures. ??