What makes a wirebait unique?

[Smells like fish]

Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits! 

 

What sets one manufacturer apart from another?

 

Can anybody point out any unique known or even unproven aspects of a brand or model wirebait? 

 

For example I was listening to Baitman Baxter with Epic Eric the other night and Eric was talking about the Stanley Wedge blades that are made wedge shaped (thicker brass on one side, thin on other end), or the vibra flex wire system by Stanley with tapering wire toward the blades. 

 

If you missed that video id recommend it!

 

So can you share any lore (truth or not) about any certain brand, model, or year of spinner or buzz? 

[JediAmoeba]

There are definitely nuances to spinner baits - different metals(i.e. titanium vs steel) act differently and change the vibration.  Short or long arms also change the vibration and the general rule of thumb is short arms for muddy or dark water and longer arms for clearer water.  But that isnt always the case.  And you have to be careful on smaller spinnerbaits that have arms that meet the hook; a fish can swallow it whole and not get hooked unless you have a trailer hook.  

 

Certain blades reflect light differently.  Everyone makes a different style of blade that creates it's own vibration in combination with the head.  There are different platings that act differently and combinations that seem to work better at times.

 

Sometimes you want small blades to run deep or large blades to keep the bait up.  I have found if you use too large of a blade on titanium the blade will go all over the place and cause the bait to run erratic as the blade deflects off the spinnerbait hook.  

 

If you use too large of a trailer, some spinnerbaits will roll over or run sideways.  Sometimes two blades work well and sometimes only 1 works well.

 

There are different materials of skirts, different colors and how they complement the blades is important sometimes. 

 

I love spinnerbaits but tuning them is important - especially after getting them all bent out of shape after a few fish.  

 

My favorite are the old Titanium Terminator Spinnerbaits.  We are talking the ones from 20 years ago...the ones now just aren't the same.  Currently I am really liking the booyah spinnerbaits. My favorite buzzbait is the tried and true cavitron.  

[Smells like fish]

@JediAmoeba good post man, you told me some things I didn't know. BUT, you didn't tell me your fav spinner and buzz and why you're sweet on that lure. And dude don't tell me the easy answer because they catch fish lol

 

and be careful not to go look at Rattlehead Spinnerbaits. Those lures have the hook dancing around metal on metal in a hollow tube putting out all kinds fine noise I bet. It's got my bait monkey purring like a Tom cat in spring 

 

anybody ordered from Rattlehead lately? Are they still in business?

[A-Jay]

 

The SK Burner spinner bait is fairly unique . . . 

 

 

 

Also, I am of the opinion that if there is anything 'unique' with just about any bait, wire baits included,

it's who is presenting it, along with how, where & when.

 

A-Jay

[scaleface]

In my opinion a spinnerbait is a spinnerbait . I use willow blades even in muddy water when everyone else says to use Colorados . Heres the deal in muddy water . The bass are shallow and close to cover . They are not going to swim a long distance to eat it . The lure has to be close to the bass any way,  so the extra vibration is not needed . A willow is not going to sneak by unnoticed .Thin wire baits break after several fish and might cause you to lose a giant . I pretty much use the same lure all year long . I change skirt colors as needed . I pour my own and have experimented with different designs but I think I could fish the same 1/2 ounce bait for the rest of my life .

 

I dont like thin wires in buzzbaits either . They get bent up by dinks and break after awhile . As long as the buzzer squeaks , I like it . I pour my own buzzers too .

 

I fished in water resembling chocolate milk yesterday and caught thirteen on a willow leaf spinnerbait .

[JediAmoeba]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

In my opinion a spinnerbait is a spinnerbait . I use willow blades even in muddy water when everyone else says to use Colorados . Heres the deal in muddy water . The bass are shallow and close to cover . They are not going to swim a long distance to eat it . The lure has to be close to the bass any way,  so the extra vibration is not needed . A willow is not going to sneak by unnoticed .Thin wire baits break after several fish and might cause you to lose a giant . I pretty much use the same lure all year long . I change skirt colors as needed . I pour my own and have experimented with different designs but I think I could fish the same 1/2 ounce bait for the rest of my life .

 

I dont like thin wires in buzzbaits either . They get bent up by dinks and break after awhile . As long as the buzzer squeaks , I like it . I pour my own buzzers too .

 

I fished in water resembling chocolate milk yesterday and caught thirteen on a willow leaf spinnerbait .

In bluegill and perch dominated forage waters willow blades have not worked well in my experience.  My friend and I would throw them a lot and I would usually land 2 to 1 more fish presenting indiana and colorado blades.  

 

Also, I rarely throw anything over 3/8 oz.  I would rather change the blade/trailer to be able to adjust my retrieve speed.

[Smells like fish]

@scaleface man I'd like to get into making my own spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Can you point me good place get started? What's good and what's bad? Who do you get components from? I already cast my own lead handgun and rifle bullets and reload shells for those and shotgun. So this would be right up my alley

[JediAmoeba]

Do it molds are pretty good.  https://store.do-itmolds.com/Spinner-Jig-Molds_c_151.html

 

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

@scaleface man I'd like to get into making my own spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Can you point me good place get started? What's good and what's bad? Who do you get components from? I already cast my own lead handgun and rifle bullets and reload shells for those and shotgun. So this would be right up my alley

I use molds and components from Barlow Tackle . I also rob components . blades , swivels... from worn out and found spinnerbaits . The ball bearing swivels are the expensive part . I keep an eye open for sales . A few years back a local store had little strike King spinnerbaits on clearance for 25 cents apiece . I bought them all just for the swivels . There are guys in the tackle making section that are way more knowledgeable than I . I dont even paint the heads .

[DitchPanda]

From my experience the wire type and diameter makes a difference. It affects the amount and the severity of the vibration. Thinner wire provides more vibration but the trade off is durability goes down as wire size goes down. Blades like others have said make a lot of difference but most companies offer lots of blade combos. I have lots of brands of spinnerbaits and have caught lots of fish on most of them but the three I reach for the most: booyah, war eagle and nichols. Are they the best? I don't know. Why do I throw them? Confidence

I will go along with Ajay on this..I think the magic isn't in the bait it's the dude ( or dudette) chucking it...spinnerbaits are interesting in that they seem simple which they are..but the more you throw them especially in different conditions the more subtle nuance you discover

[Jig Man]

I make a lot of my own spinner baits and buzz baits.  Most are heavy wire.  However, I like the action of lighter wire.  Of those on the market I like War Eagle best.  The biggest problem with them is the light wire.  Half a dozen fish and the wire would break.  I have come up with something that exponentially increases their life.  Lately I have had to replace worn out skirts while the bait is still going strong.

 

I wrap the R with floral wire then cover it with shrink tubing.  That diminishes the bending problem and gives them longevity without changing the vibration capabilities of the bait.

[MassYak85]

I've been looking for the "perfect" spinner bait and IMO I still haven't found it. What I look for is a quality skirt, preferably tied not banded. The hook has to be good but there's a fine line between too light and too beefy I feel and I don't think a lot of spinner bait makers get it right. A lot of the JDM or "finesse" spinner baits I don't like how light the wire is. To me it's still a good cover bait and the hook doesn't always reflect that. Quality hardware is important, good swivels are a must for quick blade start up. The actual wire arm is another fine line where you want as much action as possible but it's still gotta be thick enough to hold up and pull fish out of cover without straightening out. 

 

And finally my biggest beef with most spinner baits on the market is... Trailer keeper. Some don't even have one and the ones that do I usually find inadequate to hold on trailers for multiple fish. The jackhammer chatterbaits got it right and I wish more companies would incorporate that double wire keeper. I'm tempted to just start buying spinner baits I like and adding my own keepers. 

[Smells like fish]

An article on the Terminator spinnerbaits orgins 

 

https://oklahoman.com/article/2622130/the-tulsa-terminator-dentist-invents-titanium-spinnerbait