Short Arm Spinnerbait

[papajoe222]

One of my favorite, late summer/early fall baits is a short arm, single blade spinnerbait. As there are few offered from lure companies, I make my own from standard 1/2oz. baits.  It's a simple enough modification that most anyone can do. Before the weeds up here start dying off, I can run one of these over the top of the weedbed and then let it helicopter down its edge. Lately, I've been partial to an Indiana blade as I prefer to run it at a good clip over the tops and a Colorado blade tends to run on its side when doing that. Occasionally, it will get slammed when running over the tops, but most hits occur as the bait helicopters down the edge. If you don't have any Indiana blades, just downsize to a 3/8oz. bait.  For those of you that fish bluffs, this is a killer presentation when allowed to drop down. Cast parallel to the bluff as it will pendulum toward you from the resistance of that big blade.

If you're looking to throw something different this fall, give a short arm a shot.

[bowhunter63]

Absolutely ,Great bait right now 

[jbrew73]

Do you have any before and after pictures of how you make them? 

[Pat Brown]

Also make my own short arms with regular spinnerbaits I'm not not super crazy about the skirt color or something and I'll tie my own new skirt on too.

 

Seems like frogs and spinnerbaits and buzzbaits always end up tweaked these days!  

[FishTank]

This guy has caught me a few fish when no other spinnerbait would.  It's an OSP High Pitcher in this color of pink. It has a shorter arm than most and comes in 1/2oz. 

 

[gim]

I’ve got two discontinued versions of the original Terminator Short Arm Thumper left. Those things really give off a lot of vibration and the blades are big. Honestly there’s almost too much resistance for my liking but they do catch fish in some situations when I need to reel it slower.

[fishingram24]

Still have a Bill Dance model SK short arm spinner that's close to 40 years old and have not used it in years, keep it around just in case I ever need it.

[Tackleholic]

19 minutes ago, fishingram24 said:

Still have a Bill Dance model SK short arm spinner that's close to 40 years old and have not used it in years, keep it around just in case I ever need it.

Not used in close to 40 years?  Sounds like something I would do.

[WRB]

The 1st spinnerbait I recall was Shannon twin spin in the 50’s. In the 60’s a local was making twin spins using a football jig with spreader wire arms. When going to Arizona State I discovered the safe pin style spinner bait at Roosevelt lake marina tackle shop. This was a short arm single spin with white vinyl skirt around 1961.

I made a mold for the short arm spinnerbait in 1963 and  still have it!

Tom

PS, just looked didn’t find the mold,

 

[papajoe222]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

I made a mold for the short arm spinnerbait in 1963 and  still have it!

Tom

PS, just looked didn’t find the mold,

 

That happens to me more and more lately. I know I have something somewhere because I'd never discard it, but I'll be danged if I can find it when I'm looking for it .

[softwateronly]

@papajoe222, I like what you're getting at.  The little SK rocket shad is a nice option as well, garbage hook, but the rest is durable enough.  Got 2 big fish before I got bit clean off by a northern.   Definitely looking to replace it.  

 

scott