Compact spinnerbaits

[Drew03cmc]

As a guy who fishes pressured or shallow, clear water often, I find myself gravitating towards the more compact spinnerbaits. I just had a day wading a smallmouth river on a 1/4oz Gan Craft Killers Mini II in gechikar with a 3.3 Keitech trailer. I also use the Jackall Super Eruption Jr and the Shimano Bantam Swagy TW. Do you have any other compact baits you prefer for shallow, clear or highly pressured waters?

[roadwarrior]

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/compact-double-willow-mustad-hook

[Derek1]

Zman came out with a finesse sling blade. Should be money for what your looking for. Can’t wait to get a few myself. 

[Log Catcher]

I would go with the War Eagle Screamin Eagle or their Finesse spinnerbait.

[Bdnoble84]

Reminds me i need to pick up some 1/0 spinnerbait hooks to make some downsized 1/8 and 1/4 oz versions. 

[Drew03cmc]

26 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

Zman came out with a finesse sling blade. Should be money for what your looking for. Can’t wait to get a few myself. 

I have tried these and wasn't too impressed. I actually have some Sling Blades I need to offload.

24 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

I would go with the War Eagle Screamin Eagle or their Finesse spinnerbait.

My issue here is the Indiana blades.

37 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/compact-double-willow-mustad-hook

I need to try some of his stuff. Does anyone have a picture of those compared to a standard size frame?

[scaleface]

I use compact spinnerbaits in current or deep water , otherwise I'll throw a spinner bait with more wire almost 100 per cent of the time . Compact doesnt mean light . I pour my own and have 1/2 ounce versions on small frames .

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/compact-double-willow-mustad-hook

 

Beat me to it.

 

51 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

 

I need to try some of his stuff. Does anyone have a picture of those compared to a standard size frame?

 

Give me 20 minutes.  

 

[Derek1]

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

I have tried these and wasn't too impressed.

I’m surprised. I really like the regular sized ones. I catch a lot of fish on them. 
I’m still gonna give the finesse ones a shot. 

[casts_by_fly]

Siebert 1/2 oz compact (two colors) vs Siebert standard 1/2 oz vs strike king 3/8 and 1/2 oz models. Total length difference is about 1/4-1/2” shorter to the end of the skirt. The skirts are a bit thinner I think. They certainly fish smaller, maybe thinner wire and compaction in the water. Smaller blades for sure. 

my only downside is that the tail of the lead head goes further down the hook shank than I’d like and almost eliminates using a trailer. To be fair, if you’re fishing a compact spinnerbait you probably only want a small trailer or none. 

 

[Drew03cmc]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I use compact spinnerbaits in current or deep water , otherwise I'll throw a spinner bait with more wire almost 100 per cent of the time . Compact doesnt mean light . I pour my own and have 1/2 ounce versions on small frames .

I only go 1/4 in super shallow water. My Eruptions and Shimanos are 1/2oz and very compact. I need some 3/8 definitely. 

40 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Siebert 1/2 oz compact (two colors) vs Siebert standard 1/2 oz vs strike king 3/8 and 1/2 oz models. Total length difference is about 1/4-1/2” shorter to the end of the skirt. The skirts are a bit thinner I think. They certainly fish smaller, maybe thinner wire and compaction in the water. Smaller blades for sure. 

my only downside is that the tail of the lead head goes further down the hook shank than I’d like and almost eliminates using a trailer. To be fair, if you’re fishing a compact spinnerbait you probably only want a small trailer or none. 

 

I don't think the head on these would work for me. I like a 3.3-3.5" paddletail trailer.

[GReb]

Seibert makes a great finesse compact spinnerbait. Thin wire but always falls back into place. Great vibration. 

[casts_by_fly]

33 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

I only go 1/4 in super shallow water. My Eruptions and Shimanos are 1/2oz and very compact. I need some 3/8 definitely. 

I don't think the head on these would work for me. I like a 3.3-3.5" paddletail trailer.

you could push a 3.3 up on it, but you’d want to glue it in place. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Nichols is what you want! 

[QED]

I highly recommend the Strike King Mini-King Spinnerbait.  It is 1/8 oz and works well on UL/L/ML gear.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I really like Picassos Invis wire thunder willow.  Its similar in size to the war eagle McClelland finesse in size and profile, but you can get them in heavier weights.

[DitchPanda]

The war eagle Mike Mcclelland finesse spinner bait is very nice. Nichols are also very compact. My favorite the past year have been the ones offered by site sponsor Siebert outdoors. Everything he offers is great quality per cost.

[Jason Penn]

the bassman compact is a really small bait. in fact, it has a colorado on the front blade because the frame is too small for a willow.

 

they are expensive, and don't have super high quality blades, but the frame is very durable. it's the super stainless/camo wire.

[Bankbeater]

Strike King Red Eyed Spinnerbaits in the 3/16 size. 

[Drew03cmc]

20 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Nichols is what you want! 

Any models in particular?

12 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I really like Picassos Invis wire thunder willow.  Its similar in size to the war eagle McClelland finesse in size and profile, but you can get them in heavier weights.

I will have to check that one out.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

Any models in particular?

I like the 3/8oz pulsator frame very much. I’d recommend ordering what you want custom by sending Brooks Woodward an email detailing the spinnerbaits you want. You can pick between any of their skirt colors, head colors, blade colors, blade sizes, and blade combinations, with the exception that they will not build anything with a front Indiana because they do not carry that in their stock. You can always just ask for their standard size colorado/willow. I like a larger back blade than the one they outfit with, though. 
 

Here are a few pulsator frames that I either ordered custom or fashioned up myself. I use these for clear water. The clearest water I throw spinnerbaits in

[FryDog62]

Best compact spinnerbait I’ve ever used: 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Northland_Tackle_Mimic_Minnow_Spin/descpage-NLTMMSP.html

 

 

[Munkin]

You should look at the War Eagle screaming Eagle and finesse. Otherwise have Siebert make you some on a R2 .035 frame with smaller blades.  Double willows a 3.5 and 4, colorado front blade either 2 or 3 depending on the bait color. 

 

Allen 

This is a bait I made to match Yamamotos Natural Shad color.  I am rotating through 4 of them but I have caught 153 bass and a catfish on this bait since May last year. 

 

Allen 

 

[padon]

war eagle screaming eagle is good so is the finesse spinnerbait. ive been using the bassman spinnerbaits lately too, they are expensive but work well. im gonna have to look into the siebert.

[TriStateBassin106]

War Eagle finesse spinnerbaits, only spinnerbait I throw when I'm fishing ponds/pressured lakes.