Thoughts on these spinnerbaits?

[softwateronly]

44 minutes ago, J Francho said:

If they're that keyed in on the bait, why not run that trailer bait on it's own?  Honest question, and I don't know what trailer you're using, so that might be impossible if it's one of those skinny deals like this:

I've been using a spunk shad, fluke, zako, single tail grub, etc as trailers.  I believe it's an honest question for sure and it cuts to the core of my spinnerbait fishing, it's not super effective for me.  I basically think of texas rigged 4-5" swimbaits, open hook swimbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, underspins, and spinnerbaits as doing the same thing but working different depths and levels of weed cover.  Just roughstimates...t-rigged 50%, chatterbaits 30%, open hook 10%, underspin, swim jigs and spinnerbaits make up the rest.  Chatterbaits have dominated the 12'+ water, open hook has been 5-10' down over the weed tops, and t-rigged is in all depths.  

 

Where spinnerbaits have been effective is post spawn/early summer when the deep weeds haven't come all the way up.  I throw uphill and roll it down hill, and find it's best post memorial day when the water gets stirred up from recreational users.  This bite seems to last 2-4 weeks at most.  This year, I plan to use swim jigs a lot more frequently, including the deep weed clumps.  My time in deep water with chatterbaits ripping grass has told me that the painted blades are more effective which leads me to believe painted blade spinnerbaits might be the ticket on these lakes.  Taking it a step further, I think the vibration and displacement in clear water can be a plus, and so can flash albeit much less frequently.    

 

So a real long answer, that should have said.....You're correct, I throw the trailer only, a majority of the time.

 

scott

[J Francho]

Your comment made me say "Huh..." out loud.  I had a couple days where it was breezy, warm, prefrontal, with intermittent clouds blocking the sun.  I noticed when the sun was bright, a Skinny Dipper on a belly weighted hook was fully hooking fish that were missing a spinnerbait.  Seemed like they were crashing the blades, because they were throwing a ton of slack when striking.  When the clouds blocked the sun, the Dipper was ignored, but the spinnerbait was crushed.  It never occurred to me try combining a plastic trailer and spinnerbait, because I never had any reason to, but I'm rethinking when that might have been the better thing.

[softwateronly]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Your comment made me say "Huh..." out loud.  I had a couple days where it was breezy, warm, prefrontal, with intermittent clouds blocking the sun.  I noticed when the sun was bright, a Skinny Dipper on a belly weighted hook was fully hooking fish that were missing a spinnerbait.  Seemed like they were crashing the blades, because they were throwing a ton of slack when striking.  When the clouds blocked the sun, the Dipper was ignored, but the spinnerbait was crushed.  It never occurred to me try combining a plastic trailer and spinnerbait, because I never had any reason to, but I'm rethinking when that might have been the better thing.

Someone earlier in this thread said and glide baits prove this, that Bass take center mass and head shots very frequently.  More than I realized until last year.  I'm guessing that the bulk of a trailer lowers the center of "displacement" and improves their targeting.

 

Making me type that out, just made me regret only picking up bladed a-rigs.  A-rigs are new to me and I can't wait to give it a shot.  Now, more shopping

 

scott

[J Francho]

The only thing I've done that's close to a blades on an umbrella rig is put a spoon on the center wire.  Truth be told, I felt like the spoon alone would have been enough.

[softwateronly]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

The only thing I've done that's close to a blades on an umbrella rig is put a spoon on the center wire.  Truth be told, I felt like the spoon alone would have been enough.

I like that thinking though!  My wallet is hurting a bit, maybe I'll sharpie up the blades on one of my rigs instead.  Plus shipping the last few weeks has been a crapshoot.  A non-bladed a-rig might not show up till the 4th of Juy!  If that doesn't work, dykes do!

 

scott

[Deleted account]

26 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Your comment made me say "Huh..." out loud.  I had a couple days where it was breezy, warm, prefrontal, with intermittent clouds blocking the sun.  I noticed when the sun was bright, a Skinny Dipper on a belly weighted hook was fully hooking fish that were missing a spinnerbait.  Seemed like they were crashing the blades, because they were throwing a ton of slack when striking.  When the clouds blocked the sun, the Dipper was ignored, but the spinnerbait was crushed.  It never occurred to me try combining a plastic trailer and spinnerbait, because I never had any reason to, but I'm rethinking when that might have been the better thing.

I've seen this cloud to sun to cloud affect trout bite significantly, not so much bass, but up your way I can see that being more of a factor in clear water. Gonna keep an eye on it more. I fish a swim jig with a  skinny dipper and a trailer hook quite a bit, started doing that after I took the blades off a spinnerbait with a big trailer and fish liked it. I still prefer fishing a spinnerbait best, if they'll bite it.

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

but up your way I can see that being more of a factor in clear water

Most of the water I fish up here is not that clear, but this particular lake is VERY clear.

 

5 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

I still prefer fishing a spinnerbait best, if they'll bite it

Agreed, 100%.