Walmart spinnerbaits

[billmac]

Any thoughts on the cheap Walmart spinnerbaits and buzzbaits?  I normally fish a jig and spinner when I want something spinner-bait-ish, so I don't use them alot, but I should probably have some on hand.  And I like buzzbaits for pike.

[Finessegenics]

They work, though I imagine they can be bent out of shape pretty easily. The hooks on them arent the sharpest either but that can be fixed with a hook file. 

[plawren53202]

I've caught many fish on the Walmart spinnerbaits.  Longevity tends to be my biggest issue with them; on some of them, the skirt falls apart too early.  Having said that, I have had some where there skirt lasted plenty long, especially given how much they cost.  

 

I've had less good luck with the buzzbaits.  My main complaint with the Walmart buzzbaits is that with most of them, it seems like it takes too long for them to rise to the surface.  I.e., I have to reel for a lot longer than "quality" buzzbaits before the bait starts buzzing on the surface.  

[scaleface]

They will catch  fish  all  right . The blade wont turn when it is paused or dropped because of the cheap swivel but for a cast and crank  lure they will do .

[Dirtyeggroll]

Caught thousands of bass with them. Spent the first 10 years of my fishing experience throw them almost exclusively.

[Bird]

Been catching bass for decades with with Walmart spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, Stikeking I believe. 

 

Hint:

Both baits need to be moving before they hit the water for improved success. 

[WRB]

With a cheap spinnerbait you get cheap components unless a name brand is being closed out. Quality spinnerbait have good quality free spinning swivel very important, good quality hook and balanced head,  tuned wire frame to run straight. Skirts and blades are important and can be changed. Price range around $5-$7 gives you good quality, not that expensive.

Tom

[Fishes in trees]

I guess they work, mainly because other guys on this board say they use them.  I think that the premium spinner baits work as well or better.  My current faves are War Eagle and Terminators.  A couple of years ago I had a day on the Gasconade River in southern Missouri where every time I threw into a current seam with the War Eagle Screaming Eagle spinnerbait (that is the one that is the size of a quarter ounce bait but actually weighs a little over half an ounce), I got bit by a 12" to 17" smallmouth.

[Bluebasser86]

You can get some much better quality baits for a dollar or two more. If you don't fish them much, you don't need many. Get a couple white ones, and a couple chartreuse ones and you're pretty well set. Just an example, Academy sells the Wahoo brand spinnerbait that comes in a "pro" series that has a ball bearing swivel (much better than a crane swivel the Wal-Mart spinnerbaits come with), and are only $2.99 each. They also have a Wahoo buzzbait that's $1.99 each that I've used and has a nice sharp hook and tracks well.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/wahoo-pro-select-3-8-oz-spinnerbait-201120656#repChildCatSku=021396221

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/wahoo-promo-buzz-3-8-oz-buzzbait#repChildCatSku=021394671

[islandbass]

Two words: they work

 

they also regularly catch bass.  
 

may not exactly be durable but for a dollar? No brainer. You could probably get 5 bass on them. I’ve a had “higher, real” spinnerbaits be destroyed after on bass so go figure. 

[Bankbeater]

You can catch fish on them, but a big fish will tear them up.

[Topwaterdude]

I've used them in past alot and they caught alot of fish for me, I think the profile size was why they ate it but they are very cheaply made constantly bending them back into shape to run true, got a few fish out of one of them unless it was a big fish than it was one and done I've had snakeheads and mudfish absolutely destroy them beyond repair.