Spinnerbaits: closed eye vs R bend

[WRB]

I don't know which lure company stared using slip on rubber shirts possibly Fred Arbogast in the 40's? I know vinyl slip on skirts were availble in the early 60's for jigs and white vinyl skirt was used the '61 spinnerbait mentioned. The Roosevelt spinnerbait also has a willow blade that was to me at the time, although I have antique spinners with fluted willow type badges that date back to 1900's.

Tom

[Captain Phil]

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

I don't know which lure company stared using slip on rubber shirts possibly Fred Arbogast in the 40's? I know vinyl slip on skirts were availble in the early 60's for jigs and white vinyl skirt was used the '61 spinnerbait mentioned. The Roosevelt spinnerbait also has a willow blade that was to me at the time, although I have antique spinners with fluted willow type badges that date back to 1900's.

Tom

I believe you are right about Arbogast.  It seems the first rubber slip on skirt I remember was on a Hawaiian Wiggler.  Tough bait to find with the skirt still intact.  I have a Buel arrowhead spinner in my collection with an 1852 patent date stamped in it.  

[WRB]

The H & H spinnerbait looks very simalar to the spinnerbait from Roosevelt, same wire bend and head design a closest design I've run across except smaller and not molded onto a jig hook. H & H also sell replacement slip on rubber skirts that fit Arbodast vintage lures.

Tom

[Catt]

2 hours ago, GReb said:

Wasn’t Lonnie the first to create jigs and spinnerbaits with interchangeable skirts? 
 

His spinnerbaits have landed a bunch of nice fish for me. I’ve tried other brands but nothing compares

 

Lonnie was the first to use skirt collars, multi colored shirts, silicone skirts, glitter in shirts, tapered shafts, tapered blades, & struck a deal with Mustad to create the first needle point hook.

[Bird]

I usually direct tie a spinnerbait but seldom have issues with a clip with casting gear.

Throw spinnerbaits year around, mostly KVD and Terminator. 

 

Wish there were a fishing tackle hall of fame......spinnerbait would have been inducted. 

[WRB]

To me the the R bend should be formed on the wire going to the spinnerbait head not the wire going to the blades. Reason is your line can't slide towards the blades because the line force pulling the lure towards the angler. However the line can slide down the straight wire towards the head because it is handling downwards when a bass strikes.

Just food for thought.

Tom

[zell_pop1]

On 10/16/2020 at 4:54 PM, Captain Phil said:

If I had to catch a bass and I only had one bait to use, it would be a spinnerbait.

 

There is a lot more to spinnerbait fishing than most anglers imagine.  I use Hildebrandt spinnerbaits exclusively.  They are made with quality components.  They are not cheap or easy to find.  I order them online. If you hold a cheap Walmart spinnerbait in your hand next to one of these baits, you can see the difference.  The blades are gold plated, which gives more flash.  The top blade is easily changed as I often downsize or upsize my blades.  The wire is thin and bent just right giving off more vibration.  The hooks are sharp.  They use ball bearing swivels so the blades turn no matter how slow I fish them.  They are without a doubt the best spinnerbait on the market.  If I had to pick second place, it would be a Terminator.

 

I don't concern myself with the cost of baits that catch fish. Why spend your hard earned money on a boat, a truck to tow it with, rods, reels and tackle so you can miss out on fish by fishing with cheap baits? 

 

 

Hildebrandt use to be made in my hometown in Indiana and I use to catch alot of fish on em, then Yakima bought them and are made in Mexico ?

[Bluebasser86]

I don't really care either way but if I could choose, I'd probably go closed eye.

[Captain Phil]

On 10/18/2020 at 3:01 AM, zell_pop1 said:

Hildebrandt use to be made in my hometown in Indiana and I use to catch alot of fish on em, then Yakima bought them and are made in Mexico ?

Florida bass must speak Spanish?  ?

[dopey]

Twisted but if you have a hand wire former put the R in between the pegs and wrap the R into a loop like a beetle spin  - problem solved.  

[jbsoonerfan]

I just saw this thread or I would have replied sooner. I throw a spinnerbait a lot and I use a clip. I was searching for a closed loop and came across the Greenfish Tackle Ballistic Blade HD and it is one of the best spinnerbaits I have ever used. I probably have upwards of 60-70 of them. You cannot hardly beat the Sun Gill pattern in this area in the Spring.