Bigger blades = bigger fish?

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya’ll,

 

Another spinnerbait thread from me. Big surprise. Hopefully y’all enjoy these. Seems spinnerbaits have stayed steady in conversation on the tackle side of things here this fall. 
 

My question is about spinnerbait blade sizing. Very simply, do you believe that bigger blades have a greater appeal to bigger fish? Does this depend on seasonal patterns? Or is this just hooey and the fish will bite a spinnerbait if it’s presented right? What about the considerations of bait size?
 

One of the first things I read on spinnerbaits was actually Bill Murphy’s “A Case For Spinnerbaits” section in his book. I love that section and IMO it is indicative of Murphy’s regard for spinnerbaits, even as a trophy bass angler. Anyways, Murphy claims that NORMALLY, he believes smaller blades appeal more to bigger fish. Some of the spinnerbaits he provides photos of as his favorites are worlds apart from the popular models of spinnerbaits today and are very interesting. I seem to recall him saying that he likes around a #3 and a #4 blade size for a single spin. These are relatively small blades today!
 

now, I would be remiss if I didn’t also bring up into the discussion that Murphy was talking about trophy FLORIDA-strain largemouth on clear Cali reservoirs. Most of us fish for Northern-strain largemouth or smallmouth, and, as we know, the behaviors of the fish are different. 
 

I certainly have lots to say about this, but I want to know what the members of BR think.

[papajoe222]

BIG BAITS=BIG FISH is a myth. Putting the right bait where the big girls hang out will get you more big fish than throwing big bait where they don't.  You may catch fewer small fish as they might get spooked by those big blades though. Just my opinion.  Believe what you want and stick to it.

I've caught more big northern strain on small worms than I have on 10in.+ baits and I throw BIG worms a lot.

[Finessegenics]

6 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Believe what you want and stick to it.

This is good advice considering how willing bass are to hit any kind of lure. You can catch them a hundred different ways and everyone’s opinion will be so different, but still true to their experience. 
 

OP, Im of the belief that big blades/baits DO NOT equal bigger fish. In terms of lure size, I like to match the hatch. I throw smaller blades most of the time because a lot of the baitfish in my fishery are small and slender. To me a spinnerbait imitates a baitball. If the bait balls in my area are full of 2”-3” baitfish then I’ll throw a spinnerbait with smaller blades. A huge spinnerbait with monster blades will look unnatural, but doesn’t mean it won’t work. I also usually trim the skirts of my spinnerbaits “bulk wise” but not length wise, if that makes any sense. Still, the argument of “matching the hatch” is not bulletproof and someone else’s experience will conflict with mine. It’s just the way it is. 
 

[Munkin]

Normally I use smaller blades than normal baits.  Only change is the lower Potomac river where the baitfish are bigger. 

 

Allen 

[Bluebasser86]

I'm not saying that big blades always equal bigger fish, but sometimes they do. This bait is a 3/4oz head, 6/0 hook, #6 and #7 or #8 hammered, copper Colorado blades. Just what the big girls want around here in the early spring time. 

 

[Cgolf]

On my fall trip to the northwoods my four largest smallies 21” PB, 2 18”s, and a 17” all came on a 1/4 ounce war eagle that has tiny blades. Up north they appear to favor smaller blades, as heavier baits with larger blades rarely get bit. 

[Deleted account]

15 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Bigger blades = bigger fish?

No. 

[LrgmouthShad]

3 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

No. 

Thank you

[scaleface]

I think they do at times . Other times they discourage bigger fish . Like every other aspect in this sport , there are no rules .

[BassNJake]

Right now at my lake the shad are grouping together by size-

In lots of pockets and channel arms you can find 1 and 2 inch shad

Fish there and you may get a decent bag

 

Find the creek channels and pockets where the 4 and 5 inch shad are grouped up and you increase your chances at catching larger fish. Although, I catch plenty of 12-14 inch fish that are spitting up 4 inch shad.

 

So I like trying to target the areas I can find the larger shad grouped up

which means a lot of graphing in and out of pockets, points and creek channels

Then using larger baits to match what is being fed on

[Bird]

Ha ha, yes lots of talk about spinnerbaits, a top 5 bait of mine for many years. 

I throw this exact bait in 3/8 95% of the time for LM and same bait in white for SM.

Minus the clip.....went back to direct tie. 

 

[QED]

1/4 oz Blue Fox Vibrotail jig on a jig spinner with #3 Hildebrandt blade.  Very similar to the Beetle Spin but much more effective for me.  Caught bass, striper (>10 lb), catfish, crappie, bluegill, catfish, etc. both large and small on UL/BFS gear.  So I don't think the blade size is a huge factor and #3 is my favorite in this application.  The jig is long out of production so ebay is the only source.

 

[Log Catcher]

I have seen some spinnerbait seminars done by Rick Clunn. He emphasizes that the blades need to be the right size and put out the right amount of flash and vibration for the size of the bait. He says if there is too much or too little it will turn the fish off.

[LrgmouthShad]

7 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I have seen some spinnerbait seminars done by Rick Clunn. He emphasizes that the blades need to be the right size and put out the right amount of flash and vibration for the size of the bait. He says if there is too much or too little it will turn the fish off.

I love that you brought up this seminar. Okay, I have some things to discuss about it. Firstly, Rick says this, but how much of it do you believe was about trying to sell his "Trickster" spinnerbait? Think about it, there ain't too many indiana blades on the market, and Rick further tries to distinguish the trickster spinnerbait from other indiana bladed spinnerbaits by touting the "long drop" blades on the trickster. However, he relates the long drop blades to Indiana by saying they are best able to match visual profile and water displacement achieved. I've read elsewhere that Rick did not tout Indiana blades in this fashion... until he could talk about his trickster spinnerbait. Something to think about. 

 

What I will say, though, is that Rick uses some pretty persuasive logic throughout the seminar. The idea that a bass has an idea of the relative size of a spinnerbait before it even sees it and then has this idea tested when it actually sees it is interesting. But how much is Rick trying to think like a fish? And... furthermore, if indiana blades achieve this proper water displacement and are so convincing to a bass, then why do other blades even exist and why are indiana blades the least common? He says willows are the easiest to fish and work better with a larger array of equipment (reel speeds I believe). That might be true, but I doubt it would cause willows to be so much more popular than indianas if indianas or long drop blades are so much better. 

 

He also says that if you want to catch big fish, that you need blades that displace water (implying not willows). I don't know about this. What I will say though, is that old bass are wary. An obnoxious spinnerbait might alert but not attract big bass. Bill Murphy talks about this too. 

 

I think that the sound or frequency that a spinnerbait is throwing off and the speed of the retrieve are underlooked factors compared to water displacement, which apparently is contended in recent articles anyway right now. 

 

I've stated before that I don't like to throw willows. My reasoning is that they fish too fast and if you want to fish them slow, you need to upsize the blade and have a big, flashy blade or go to a much lighter spinnerbait. Nothing to do with water displacement, although when I believed Clunn's seminar like it was the truth, I would have argued that too. 

 

Dang I need to do homework. 

[Log Catcher]

On 11/2/2021 at 8:07 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

I love that you brought up this seminar. Okay, I have some things to discuss about it. Firstly, Rick says this, but how much of it do you believe was about trying to sell his "Trickster" spinnerbait? Think about it, there ain't too many indiana blades on the market, and Rick further tries to distinguish the trickster spinnerbait from other indiana bladed spinnerbaits by touting the "long drop" blades on the trickster. However, he relates the long drop blades to Indiana by saying they are best able to match visual profile and water displacement achieved. I've read elsewhere that Rick did not tout Indiana blades in this fashion... until he could talk about his trickster spinnerbait. Something to think about. 

 

What I will say, though, is that Rick uses some pretty persuasive logic throughout the seminar. The idea that a bass has an idea of the relative size of a spinnerbait before it even sees it and then has this idea tested when it actually sees it is interesting. But how much is Rick trying to think like a fish? And... furthermore, if indiana blades achieve this proper water displacement and are so convincing to a bass, then why do other blades even exist and why are indiana blades the least common? He says willows are the easiest to fish and work better with a larger array of equipment (reel speeds I believe). That might be true, but I doubt it would cause willows to be so much more popular than indianas if indianas or long drop blades are so much better. 

 

He also says that if you want to catch big fish, that you need blades that displace water (implying not willows). I don't know about this. What I will say though, is that old bass are wary. An obnoxious spinnerbait might alert but not attract big bass. Bill Murphy talks about this too. 

 

I think that the sound or frequency that a spinnerbait is throwing off and the speed of the retrieve are underlooked factors compared to water displacement, which apparently is contended in recent articles anyway right now. 

 

I've stated before that I don't like to throw willows. My reasoning is that they fish too fast and if you want to fish them slow, you need to upsize the blade and have a big, flashy blade or go to a much lighter spinnerbait. Nothing to do with water displacement, although when I believed Clunn's seminar like it was the truth, I would have argued that too. 

 

Dang I need to do homework. 

What I have seen from him was years before the trickster spinnerbait came out. He also said you were always better off with Colorado blades. Willow leaf blades were made for fishing in grass. Every body has there own opinion and I'm not saying this all right or all wrong. Just stating what I have seen and heard.

[jimmyjoe]

6 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I think that the sound or frequency that a spinnerbait is throwing off and the speed of the retrieve are underlooked factors compared to water displacement

 

   I think you've got that right. I think it's the frequency more than the amplitude (or intensity). Yes, the speed changes the frequency, so you need the correct speed. But I've been  experimenting with different weights of spinnerbaits lately (Thank you, @Captain Phil!) and the size, in and of itself, doesn't seem to mean much.

   If you had told me this a year ago, I'd have said you were crazy. But so far, that's what I'm seeing.                jj

[LrgmouthShad]

16 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

Yes, the speed changes the frequency, so you need the correct speed. But I've been  experimenting with different weights of spinnerbaits lately (Thank you, @Captain Phil!)

Bass can only hear low frequency sounds. But also, I've seen people talk about on here that bass seem to become accustomed to colorado blades especially over time and will learn from their mistakes. This is a real thing I believe and could be a reason why willow blades have maintained such popularity and effectiveness (they appear to be silent to a bass because of their speed of rotation). But reel slower..... and frequency changes. How slowly can a willow turn and what frequency does this put off? I dont know and its all guesswork. 

 

I hate on willows but I have literally been beat down next to someone throwing willows while I was too stubborn to change. 

 

Also Captain Phil is an authority on spinnerbaits here. Can we talk spinnerbaits some more over messaging @Captain Phil?

32 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

What I have seen from him was years before the trickster spinnerbait came out. He also said you were always better off with Colorado blades. Willow leaf blades were made for fishing in grass.

I think that might have been a different seminar, yeah. Could be wrong. Thanks

[RDB]

I’m not sure I understand the logic of bigger = bigger.  If it’s about flash, smooth is going to give bigger sized baitfish flash than hammered.  An Oklahoma, with a centerline, is going to have separate flashes which in theory gives a smaller, multi fish flash.  One of the reasons Clunn thinks most fishermen use willows is because they are more forgiving and easier to run true.  If you like willows but want to fish slower, you can use flatter (less cupped) blades which create more resistance.  They also start spinning quicker on start up.

[Scott804]

I don't think bigger = bigger totally but I would say size of the blades is one of the most important factors of the spinnerbait. I have so many different variations of spinnerbaits nowadays though I just throw whatever looks coolest that day unless I have seen the bait or have some idea of what the bait will look like. 

[Cgolf]

Alright for the Clunn theory I respect the heck out of him and he is or in the argument for the goat of bass fishing. The problem is my northern Wisconsin bass, not me, disagree with him. I now have 2 falls fishing up there under my belt with lots of springs generally around the spawn when you have fish at different stages. 
 

Both spring and fall the 1/4 ounce either double willow or tandem with smaller blades have far out produced 3/8-1/2 ounce baits with larger blades. Perhaps we should show the bass his seminar?

[Bluebasser86]

So it's exactly like everything else in fishing, it depends on the situation. 

 

Fishing those big, thumping blades is one of my favorite bites of the year though, they about take the rod away from you. 

 

 

[Catt]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

So it's exactly like everything else in fishing, it depends on the situation. 

 

 

[Cgolf]

One trick I did learn from something KVD wrote is that during a cold front upsize the trailer blade. At the time all I could find was I think a size 7 willow, possibly smaller but it is huge, and ran that on a 3/16 ounce spinnerbait. It looked really funny but it caught fish. 

I wonder if the 1/4 ounce baits work so well because most folks throw heavier and larger spinnerbaits? Could be a pressure thing. For me the biggest factor in wether a spinnerbait gets bit or not is wire diameter. War Eagle and humdinger are my go to baits right now with the Nichols 33 mini getting an honorable mention. 

[Munkin]

22 hours ago, RDB said:

  If you like willows but want to fish slower, you can use flatter (less cupped) blades which create more resistance.  They also start spinning quicker on start up.

 

Giving out all the secrets. 

 

Allen 

[GReb]

Clear water and clear skies I like smaller blades that produce less flash. I typically upsize as conditions get darker, wind gets stronger, or water visibility diminishes. 
 

Same with color. Silver in clear water and blue skies. Gold in clear water and cloudy skies.  Copper in dirty water and cloudy skies. I’ve never had much luck with painted blades

 

Ask 10 different people and you’ll get answers all over the place. Start with a bait you have confidence in for those conditions and make adjustments. If fish are following or blowing up but not touching your bait then change it up.