Burning a Spinnerbait

[LrgmouthShad]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Works for both but you know I'm partial to Brown Bass.

Also the OP's avatar pic @bigspiritlooks like a brown bass too.

A-Jay

Thanks. I was asking mostly for myself. I think OP could do quite well following your suggestions for brown bass 

[WRB]

Down size the front willow blade if you want speed, less water resistance.

Tom

[GReb]

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I am used to the notion of needing to listen to @Catt. It's why the stanley wedge is on my wishlist and why as stubborn as I am about not wanting to wake a spinnerbait because I think it's still too fast, I may considering doing it sometime. But my guts also say to stick to reeling spinnerbaits slow but still horizontal to the bottom.... when fishing for largemouth.

 

Bass tend to feed up in the fall so I typically fish in the top 1/3 of water column most days. If you are fishing in 1-3 ft of water like I am, waking a spinnerbait is one of the more productive options. I do not burn it though. Just a steady retrieve with a 1/4 oz bait with smaller willow blades

 

If the fish want something quick I burn a 1/4 oz lipless or flat sided squarebill 

[bigspirit]

Wow, had no idea I would get this many opinions! I really appreciate every reply too. 
 

Unfortunately, I will not be doing this for smallmouth. My profile picture is a brown bass but I just relocated and have shifted my focus to spotted bass, largemouth, and stripers for now. So far in my limited experience, the spots have appeared similar in aggression to smallmouth. I spent some time throwing the A rig last weekend and did well, it’s just a workout to throw for any extended amount of time so was hoping a spinnerbait burned through the water would draw some of those bites without wearing out my wrist. 

[TnRiver46]

I was burning a spinnerbait yesterday , the smallmouth just watched and laughed until I picked up a worm

 

also got skunked spinnerbaiting on Monday 

 

im really not even sure why I try anymore 

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I was burning a spinnerbait yesterday , the smallmouth just watched and laughed until I picked up a worm

 

also got skunked spinnerbaiting on Monday 

 

im really not even sure why I try anymore 

I think if you’re catching 5lb smallies on jig head worms, you’re doin pretty good and ain’t gotta worry about spinnerbaits ?.

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I think if you’re catching 5lb smallies on jig head worms, you’re doin pretty good and ain’t gotta worry about spinnerbaits ?.

It’s been that way since I was about……. 16 years old haha. Now I’m 37……. One day they have to hit the spinnerbait 

[WRB]

Friend of mine catches big Smallmouth bass on the TVA reservoirs using a single spin thumper spinnerbait at night  anywhere he can locate stumps.  Definitely not burning them.

Tom

PS, his favorite color is red.

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

Friend of mine catches big Smallmouth bass on the TVA reservoirs using a single spin thumper spinnerbait at night  anywhere he can locate stumps.  Definitely not burning them.

Tom

PS, his favorite color is red.

That’s a very common thing to hear around these parts. Impossible to accomplish but common to hear 

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

That’s a very common thing to hear around these parts. Impossible to accomplish but common to hear 

Spinnerbait fisherman when they realize  @TnRiver46could discover that no one actually ever catches fish on spinnerbaits:

 

[king fisher]

7 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I was burning a spinnerbait yesterday , the smallmouth just watched and laughed until I picked up a worm

 

also got skunked spinnerbaiting on Monday 

 

im really not even sure why I try anymore 

Come fish with me in Mexico.  I will show you some unpressured giant bass, that would rather chase down a spinnerbait, then eat soft plastic.  No subtle bites, bump the spinnerbait against some wood and hold on.

[TnRiver46]

53 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Come fish with me in Mexico.  I will show you some unpressured giant bass, that would rather chase down a spinnerbait, then eat soft plastic.  No subtle bites, bump the spinnerbait against some wood and hold on.

I’d love to!!!

[LrgmouthShad]

48 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Come fish with me in Mexico

I mean if you’re offering….

 

 

[Bankbeater]

When the bass want a spinnerbait around here it's usually slow rolled along the bottom, or just up off the bottom. 

[king fisher]

54 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I mean if you’re offering….

 

 

I live 3 hour drive from the lake, and only have a kayak, but I would gladly show you the lake and loan you some gear.  Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and frogs all winter.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

I live 3 hour drive from the lake, and only have a kayak, but I would gladly show you the lake and loan you some gear.  Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and frogs all winter.

Well, I’ll shoot you a PM now but I’ll say publicly on this thread that Im humbled to receive this offer seriously; I just can’t make it work in the short term but that you seem like such a generous man and thanks very much for the offer

[Munkin]

Since you asked for a bait off the shelf I would go with the War Eagle Screaming Eagle in 1/2 or 3/4. Screaming Eagle baits have smaller blades and frame size. This causes 2 things; bait can be reeled faster without rolling, or it will fish deeper given a standard retrieval. 

 

Allen 

[MassBass]

in-lines...

[T-Billy]

On 10/28/2021 at 1:21 PM, TnRiver46 said:

That’s a very common thing to hear around these parts. Impossible to accomplish but common to hear 

I've not done well with smallies on a spinnerbait at night either. Crawling a chatterbait around the rocks at night is a whole nother story. They LOVE that thing!!!

[jimmyjoe]

On 10/27/2021 at 1:12 PM, GReb said:

Do you actually want to burn it or just walk it? Because you can walk a spinnerbait without burning it.

 

   This was my first thought when I read the OP. I use big-blade s'baits over and among lake timber to get strikes. That's slow stuff. The War Eagle Wake s'bait is one of the best. It has big blades yet it doesn't cant sideways (or sink if you retrieve it slow.)

   OTOH, if you really want speed, just take your favorite s'bait and add weight. Most s'baits have a keeper barb behind the head. Add lead wire to it. That way you get the advantage of a s'bait that you're familiar with and know, and you get the ability to speed it up.

   You can go to a completely new s'bait, but it's a complete gamble whether it works the way you want or not, including whether it catches fish the way your old ones do.

 

  Either way .......... good luck!  ?            jj