Wake Spinnerbait

[Sparky2Weld]

Hi All,

Something I have never been to clear on is when and when not it is a good time to wake a spinnerbait. I have heard many old hands remark that this (fall Nov in MO) is the time to wake a spinnerbait, don't go sub surface. Is that because the bass are normally shallow and the shad are creating a fuss near the surface bank areas or just a wives tail? Again they relate it to this time of year. thanks folks, great forum

[Glenn]

That's a good question. It makes sense when you think about it. But I don't like to think too much.

I like to keep it simple: let the fish tell me. In other words, there's never a "right" or "wrong" time to use a particular retrieve. Just try it and see if it works. You never know until the fish tell you.

I've had fish hammer a waked spinnerbait during the summer just as hard during the winter. I've had bass engulf a slow-rolled spinnerbait in the winter just as much as they do in the summer. I've even caught bass on buzzbaits on New Year's Day when there's ice on the ramp!

Fish don't read the same books we do. They sometimes bite lures and retrieves that "don't make sense" to you and I.

Your best bet with a spinnerbait is to try different retrieves until you find how they want it that day. Rinse and repeat the next day, and so on.

[Sparky2Weld]

That's a good question. It makes sense when you think about it. But I don't like to think too much.

I like to keep it simple: let the fish tell me. In other words, there's never a "right" or "wrong" time to use a particular retrieve. Just try it and see if it works. You never know until the fish tell you.

I've had fish hammer a waked spinnerbait during the summer just as hard during the winter. I've had bass engulf a slow-rolled spinnerbait in the winter just as much as they do in the summer. I've even caught bass on buzzbaits on New Year's Day when there's ice on the ramp!

Fish don't read the same books we do. They sometimes bite lures and retrieves that "don't make sense" to you and I.

Your best bet with a spinnerbait is to try different retrieves until you find how they want it that day. Rinse and repeat the next day, and so on.

Well that is about the most sensible reply I've heard, and on top of that common sense. I will try your suggestions.

One thing I am poor about and that is tying on different lures or even different color spinnerbaits. I did try waking the bait (war eagle screaming eagle) then subsurface retrieve at different speeds. No Soap. The very next day on about the same condition a guy went to the same spot and caught three nice LM waking a 1/2. Makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Anyway, I will use your recommendations. I do know they were feeding on shad and crawdads. I should have tried probably a wiggle wart, maybe a jig and trailer....not sure about a lipless. You think of anything else I would appreciate it, I am headed back to Bull Shoal right after Thanksgiving, big fish were up shallow in about 62 degrees. thanks a ton and best Thanksgiving.

[.ghoti.]

One thing to keep in mind while waking a spinnerbait, or any other speed/depth retrieve, is to break it up. Do not just chunk and wind. Speed it up, slow it down, stop it, jerk it, change rod position, etc. If there's something to bump the bait into, by all means ram it. Anything to make it more erratic. Experiment and let the fish tell you how they like it.

Also, while waking, speed it up enough to make the blades pop out of the water occasionally. This works nicely with willow leaf blades.

[J Francho]

Also, while waking, speed it up enough to make the blades pop out of the water occasionally. This works nicely with willow leaf blades.

That little splash totally looks like fleeing baitfish, works well when there are bass and bait in proximity. One of my favorite spinnerbait tricks.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

That's a good question. It makes sense when you think about it. But I don't like to think too much.

I like to keep it simple: let the fish tell me. In other words, there's never a "right" or "wrong" time to use a particular retrieve. Just try it and see if it works. You never know until the fish tell you.

I've had fish hammer a waked spinnerbait during the summer just as hard during the winter. I've had bass engulf a slow-rolled spinnerbait in the winter just as much as they do in the summer. I've even caught bass on buzzbaits on New Year's Day when there's ice on the ramp!

Fish don't read the same books we do. They sometimes bite lures and retrieves that "don't make sense" to you and I.

Your best bet with a spinnerbait is to try different retrieves until you find how they want it that day. Rinse and repeat the next day, and so on.

Same reply I had but now I have nothing to say.

[Sparky2Weld]

One thing to keep in mind while waking a spinnerbait, or any other speed/depth retrieve, is to break it up. Do not just chunk and wind. Speed it up, slow it down, stop it, jerk it, change rod position, etc. If there's something to bump the bait into, by all means ram it. Anything to make it more erratic. Experiment and let the fish tell you how they like it.

Also, while waking, speed it up enough to make the blades pop out of the water occasionally. This works nicely with willow leaf blades.

That helps a bunch, thanks. I am headed to Bull Shoals right after Thanksgiving and the LM were/are in the shallows in the back of creeks chasing shad and CD's. I love to throw a spinnerbait. Kinda tuff to find something to bump into at Bull SHoals, where I fish, if they are on main lake points there is some submerged trees, but in the creeks is where they are at now. Thanks, this has been a good informative post for me

Any comment on War Eagle Screaming Eagle?????

[Sparky2Weld]

That little splash totally looks like fleeing baitfish, works well when there are bass and bait in proximity. One of my favorite spinnerbait tricks.

Ya know, I was doing that and thought I was messing up, then it dawned on me that is exactly how some bait fish react,

OK, I think I got it, vary and when you are done vary again until they hit. I guess I watched to many videos of the pro's chunking and winding...Kevin VanDam especially

A friend of mine is waking a spinnerbait in the back of creeks with a large trailer on 1/2 booyah and doing good. He says they are hitting it as soon as it hits the water..in the shallows.

[Sparky2Weld]

Same reply I had but now I have nothing to say.

I think I got it now, started this spinnerbait game at this level FAR TOO late in life, but still enjoying it. Caught fish on spinnerbait, in previous years, but it is obvious I am not using the right technique cause another guy is into then and I ain't. Thanks

[Colton Neal]

Generally when there is good wind and cloud cover in shallow water. Use a tandem blade willow/Indiana combo for added lift.

Good times can be in the pres-pawn when you want to cover lots of water like large flats, or in the fall when bass are feeding on shad, you can flicker a spinner-bait on top

[Sparky2Weld]

Another bust today on the wake spinnerbait. Throwing a war eagle screaming eagle, small trailer. Cloudy, light wind, just right for clear water Bull Shoals. I waked and waked, no soap. Slowed it down, no soap, moved to crank (craw dad wiggle wart) and jig, no soap. Headed to deeper water (30 to 40) and caught three spooning. Talked to one other boat and they had one LM keeper from about 2ft deep water on a spinnerbait. Surface temp 56 degrees so I may be running out of season to get this "wake technique" down. Will try again tomorrow. Appreciate all the inputs.