Favorite way to work a spinnerbait?

[Toddn76]

I have been fishing for years and have not used spinnerbaits that much!  I am more of a soft plastics and crankbait guy...I do however want to start using them more and my questions is; What is the best way to work a spinnerbait?  Steady retrieve?  Start and Stop? Jigging?  If you have any tips about what type of retrieve works better in different situations I would appreciate it

[Curado]

I rarely use a steady retrieve. All those can work at different times. I usually experiment with alot of retrieves until I figure out what they want. Sometimes they might just not want a spinnerbait though.

[Matt Fly]

I like to slow roll them for better quality bass.   This allows me to stay in touch with the bottom contours, just enough to keep the blades slowly turning.

I also like casting past my targets and guiding my spinner into the tree trunk, dock pilings, a branch.   I hit them hard enough to make some noise and kill it with tension on my line causing it to flutter down with the blades turning.   This looks like an injuried baitfish, bass like to kill it on the fall.

Blue skies- double silver willow leafs, white, white/blue as close to cover as I can get it into tightly.   The more visible light, the more bass bury up.

[senile1]

Like Mr. Fly, I tend to slow roll my spinnerbaits and bump them into cover.  I also like to reel the lure up just above cover and then stop and let it drop into it, pull it back up with a rod sweep and continue the slow roll.  Although all of the presentations mentioned will work at times, I've had the most luck with this one.  

[basser89]

I do have luck on a steady retrieve at times but I am usually working it past some type of cover when I'm doing this (the bass are usually real aggressive when I'm using them this way). Other favorites are ticking them just over the top of grass bed, ripping them free from time to time. Burning them right through standing timber and laydown logs banging into as much as I can, and as Matt said slow rolling. Varying the retrieve, making the blades stop briefly, and just making the bait look real erratic can really entice them into biting as well. Hope this helps!

[outdoor4shore]

Guys here are saying that certain ways produce more quality bass using spinnerbaits, but to be realistic, the best way to work a spinnerbait is a way that relates to the bass and their current situations. Change your presentation when bass exhibit different characteristics, and when the surrounding atmosphere exhibits different characteristics as well. You obviously arn't going to quickly swim a spinnerbait when water temps are extremely cold, as bass will be less willing to chase a fast moving object. Remember basics here, and you'll do just fine, vary your retrieves, and make your presentation something that won't be turned away from. Swim it quickly, stop and go, roll it along, collide with nearby structure, and make your bait something that just can't be left alone...

[Guest avid]

As with all lures, confidence is the key.

Probably the best time and place to work a spinnerbait is on an overcast windy day.  Cast the spinnerbait through the wind swept points.  This is your best bet for "proving" to yourself that you can do it.  

It gets easier once you've caught a few.

good luck and have fun.

[Rattlinrogue]

I use all kinds of retreives.My two favorites are the following:Throw or pitch the spinnerbait into laydowns,especially when there are several matted together.The thicker and nastier the better.Just pitch it in the thickest matt of wood and bring it out.When I hit  a limb or any other piece of wood I kill it for a moment and then keep it coming.When you pause after hitting wood the blades flutter downward like a dying baitfish.I catch a lot of bass this way.I rarely get hung up,and if I do I can usually get it free without going in after it.My second way is to cast in open relatively shallow flats that are dotted with stumps,thick with grass,and having two creek channels down and through it.I try to keep it just barely above the submerged grass and often snag it on grass and rip it free.On floating grass I'll cast and retreive it along the edges of the mats,and I'll also pitch and retreive it into and through holes and open spots in it.

[Kana]

there are many retrieves, and everyone works at a differnt time.  but i have caught bass of good size casting past a target and retrieving steadily with quick bursts.  i also try to make as much contact as possible, be it weed tips, rocks, timber or what have you.  they dont work all the time, but when they do its kinda like a senko, no wrong way to use it but more proper techniques will get you bigger, better, and more fish!

[Whopper-Stopper]

Here are my favorite ways and favorite time to use them.  Around here in March, when most people don't even know the bass are biting, the bigger bass come to the shallows to bulk up on food for the spawn.  

At first, all they'll hit are soft plastics; But once the water has warmed up some, they start chasing. So I'll cover an area by burning the spinnerbait just under the surface. You have to do a lot of casting. If I don't have one slam it that way. I'll keep working it the same way but this time I'll jerk it hard while retrieving it.  If this doesn't produce, I'll move out to slightly deeper water and start my retreive slower but still close to the surface.  I'll reel a few feet and then let it fall. When it gets close to the bottom, I'll jerk it really hard. I mean jerk it like you're setting the hook on a ten pound bass. Then, lower the rodtip and reel fast to pick up slack and continue with a steady retrieve. Usually, by the time you've reeled all the slack line, a bass will almost break you're arm.  Okay, now I'm exagerating, but they will hit it really hard.

For me, this really produces.  This march, on a spinnerbait alone, I caught 37.6 pounds of bass in one weekend. It seemed like a black colorado blade spinnerbait worked the best.  

[cwb60]

Hey Whopper-Stopper

"around here in March" has really got me intrested.  I"m in NC and never really thought about bass fishing in March.

However, I am a relative newbie.

Charles

[Whopper-Stopper]

I hadn't ever thought of fishing that early until a couple of years ago either.  

I started fishing here this year in february after a slightly warmer than normal winter. A buddy of mine called me up one day while it was 40 degrees. He said You'll never believe it, but I've been out here for an hour and caught four bass. So I get an extra month of fishing this year.

[Guest bigtex]

I have been fishing for years and have not used spinnerbaits that much! I am more of a soft plastics and crankbait guy...I do however want to start using them more and my questions is; What is the best way to work a spinnerbait? Steady retrieve? Start and Stop? Jigging? If you have any tips about what type of retrieve works better in different situations I would appreciate it

I think you just answered your own question. You need to use those things that are highlighted in different situations.  There is not one presentation that is better than the other except on certain days and that is where you have to experiment.

[Alpster]

Kind of like some of the posts above, try just breaking the surface of the water with the spinner blade(s). Bounce the spinnerbait off of stumps & stick ups. Make a lot of noise when you bang them against structure. The reaction strikes are priceless. JMHO

Ronnie

[alhuff]

i love a slow steady retrive around weeds/wood, just about any cover....

like Alpster said...."The reaction strikes are priceless."

but play around with them and i think you will find a new favorite.

Alfred