River spinnerbaits? 2024
gall reply :
So this is the year I work on new baits aside from cranks, i wanna start using spinnerbaits. I've heard, read and experienced how effective they are on smallies. Any suggestions on weights blades, brands, colors you guys like to use in river and creeks. Both are primarily shallow around me and usually pretty clear.
heavyduty reply :
Sick Custom Baits, across the river from you in Elizabethtown at River Bottom Reels. Susky Dream, Susky Delight, Purple Haze Gold, Chartreuse/White, Spooked Out Shad and several others. I generally throw 3/8. Lots of guys in your area swear by them.
gall reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 8:38 PM, heavyduty said:Sick Custom Baits, across the river from you in Elizabethtown at River Bottom Reels. Susky Dream, Susky Delight, Purple Haze Gold, Chartreuse/White, Spooked Out Shad and several others. I generally throw 3/8. Lots of guys in your area swear by them.
Well hot dang I was trying to remember the name of them and couldn't. I hope they have a stand at the outdoors show if not I'll still go ha.
Sam reply :
Gall, this is what the Forum is all about.
Good luck and be sure to buy three of each color!!!! The Bait Monkey loves you.
roadwarrior reply :
Siebert Outdoors Compact Double Willow. Silver blades/ white skirt.
http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Compact-Double-Willow-Spinnerbait-406.htm
WI_Angler1989 reply :
My favorites are the 1/4 War Eagle Finesse spinnerbait and Mepps Aglias. The Mepps are inline spinners, so I'm not sure if that's something you're interested in.
As for colors of W. E. Finesse, I've had a lot of success on a variety: sexy shad, mouse, gold shiner, coleslaw, and a chartreuse I can't remember the name of.
flyfisher reply :
On 1/17/2018 at 9:36 PM, roadwarrior said:Siebert Outdoors Compact Double Willow. Silver blades/ white skirt.
http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Compact-Double-Willow-Spinnerbait-406.htm
Thanks for the reminder. Just ordered some spinnerbaits, fogy bubble blades and jigs as I sit and watch the snow fall here in central VA
@Siebert Outdoors
Gundog reply :
On 1/18/2018 at 12:18 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:My favorites are the 1/4 War Eagle Finesse spinnerbait and Mepps Aglias. The Mepps are inline spinners, so I'm not sure if that's something you're interested in.
^^^^This. Inline spinners in shallow creeks and rivers can be deadly. I like Mepps and Rooster tails. Usually 1/4 ounce. In clear water I mostly use green/ brown. Also I like Thomas lures spoons and spinners. Made in PA.
gall reply :
I always forget about in lines! One. Creek I fish they destroy in lines.ill have to stock up in some of them too. Also I'll check out Siebert.
evilcatfish reply :
Nichols low pro for me, pretty much the only spinner I throw in rivers. The Siebert and war eagle are good too though
Bobby F reply :
War eagle gets a thumbs up ,
smalljaw67 reply :
I like my own spinnerbaits for river smallies. Spinnerbaits are my favorite lure and fishing them in the river is what got me into making my own in the late 90s. I like weights in 1/4oz to 1/2oz but my best river smallmouth spinnerbait is one I make I call the SS 44. The "SS" stands for smallie slayer and the 44 is because I made the bait using 4 different wire diameters and 4 different wire lengths before finding what worked best. I made it for burning across the current so it doesn't roll over but it is also great for the areas where there are patches of water willow and eel grass, it comes through that grass exceptionally well. As you can tell from my rambling I get a little carried away with spinnerbaits, they are just so versatile and they not only catch numbers but also big fish. There is nothing like burning a spinnerbait just a few inches under the surface of the water, just deep enough that it doesn't make a wake but is still in full view. You're cranking your reel handle at a pretty fast pace keeping an eye on the spinnerbait flashing just under the surface and then it happens, the strike, and it all seems to be happening in slow motion. You see the swirl on the water and your bait disappear right at the same time and then the rod get pulled forward so hard it almost flies out of your hand. you pull back and the rod strains and the handle of your reel is hard to crank and then the massive 4+lb bronze missile leaps from the water while your heart races as you fight the fish to the side of the boat. That has to be the best strike in all of fishing, pure violence and ferocity, yeah, I love spinnerbaits for river smallmouth!!!
gall reply :
On 1/19/2018 at 5:39 AM, smalljaw67 said:I like my own spinnerbaits for river smallies. Spinnerbaits are my favorite lure and fishing them in the river is what got me into making my own in the late 90s. I like weights in 1/4oz to 1/2oz but my best river smallmouth spinnerbait is one I make I call the SS 44. The "SS" stands for smallie slayer and the 44 is because I made the bait using 4 different wire diameters and 4 different wire lengths before finding what worked best. I made it for burning across the current so it doesn't roll over but it is also great for the areas where there are patches of water willow and eel grass, it comes through that grass exceptionally well. As you can tell from my rambling I get a little carried away with spinnerbaits, they are just so versatile and they not only catch numbers but also big fish. There is nothing like burning a spinnerbait just a few inches under the surface of the water, just deep enough that it doesn't make a wake but is still in full view. You're cranking your reel handle at a pretty fast pace keeping an eye on the spinnerbait flashing just under the surface and then it happens, the strike, and it all seems to be happening in slow motion. You see the swirl on the water and your bait disappear right at the same time and then the rod get pulled forward so hard it almost flies out of your hand. you pull back and the rod strains and the handle of your reel is hard to crank and then the massive 4+lb bronze missile leaps from the water while your heart races as you fight the fish to the side of the boat. That has to be the best strike in all of fishing, pure violence and ferocity, yeah, I love spinnerbaits for river smallmouth!!!
Small I was hoping you'd chime in, was it this forum or the othee one yoi were talking about cranks and spinnerbaits? So you. Might be able to answer this head type do you use the hidden head or? I see a lot of talk of compact spinnerbaits you know blah blah 3/8-1/2oz in a 1/4oz size.
soflabasser reply :
Spinnerbaits are a very good lure to use for river smallmouth bass. I like to use sizes 1/4 oz and 1/2 oz. Choose the color that works best in the area you are fishing in.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/19/2018 at 6:35 AM, gall said:Small I was hoping you'd chime in, was it this forum or the othee one yoi were talking about cranks and spinnerbaits? So you. Might be able to answer this head type do you use the hidden head or? I see a lot of talk of compact spinnerbaits you know blah blah 3/8-1/2oz in a 1/4oz size.
I don't like the hidden head bait at all. I had a custom mold made when they were all the rage but I have sold it after using it for a season, very one dimensional spinnerbait IMO. I like doing different things with a spinnerbait and I don't use trailer hooks so hidden weight spinnerbaits are out for me. I like burning a spinnerbait and then just stopping it dead and letting it free fall into holes and then ripping it up, a hidden weight doesn't have a nose first fall that lets the blades rotate or "helicopter" on the fall, instead it falls almost flat so the blades just kind of do nothing. As I said before, I don't use a trailer hook and for a hidden weight head it is a must, the weight is distributed along a good portion of the hook shank so you only have a small amount of the hook that is free, it leads to fish being barely hooked when you get a hard strike, it is almost like the issue with big football jigs blowing the fishes mouth open on hook set. It isn't as bad with largemouth but I lost a lot of smallmouth on it and while I don't use a trailer very much, if you want to use one with a hidden weight spinnerbait you need glue or you need one with a large wire keeper to hold the trailer in place. Yeah, they are nice in that you get the smaller head size but even before they became a thing I would just use a standard head size with a 2X long shank hook and custom make a smaller size wire frame with downsized blades to keep my baits compact and remember, the hidden weight isn't making the bait compact, it is just reducing the profile, the bait is still as long as a regular spinnerbait, the difference is a 1/2oz bait will have the profile of a 3/8oz bait but it is still a full size 3/8oz bait. I would also caution you to not knock one before you try it, for me, I use a spinnerbait in a lot of different applications and so I want specific properties but you may find the way you like to use one works well with a hidden weight head, and there are benefits like being able to use the heavier bait with smaller profile but it just want my cup of tea, so my advice would be to experiment and see what works.
scaleface reply :
Strike King Rocket Shad . I love those little things for river smallmouths . I have to wrap some wire around the double hook because I have had a couple come off during the fight . Either casting in shallow fast water or in deep holes , those lures catch them .
gall reply :
On 1/19/2018 at 6:52 PM, smalljaw67 said:
I don't like the hidden head bait at all. I had a custom mold made when they were all the rage but I have sold it after using it for a season, very one dimensional spinnerbait IMO. I like doing different things with a spinnerbait and I don't use trailer hooks so hidden weight spinnerbaits are out for me. I like burning a spinnerbait and then just stopping it dead and letting it free fall into holes and then ripping it up, a hidden weight doesn't have a nose first fall that lets the blades rotate or "helicopter" on the fall, instead it falls almost flat so the blades just kind of do nothing. As I said before, I don't use a trailer hook and for a hidden weight head it is a must, the weight is distributed along a good portion of the hook shank so you only have a small amount of the hook that is free, it leads to fish being barely hooked when you get a hard strike, it is almost like the issue with big football jigs blowing the fishes mouth open on hook set. It isn't as bad with largemouth but I lost a lot of smallmouth on it and while I don't use a trailer very much, if you want to use one with a hidden weight spinnerbait you need glue or you need one with a large wire keeper to hold the trailer in place. Yeah, they are nice in that you get the smaller head size but even before they became a thing I would just use a standard head size with a 2X long shank hook and custom make a smaller size wire frame with downsized blades to keep my baits compact and remember, the hidden weight isn't making the bait compact, it is just reducing the profile, the bait is still as long as a regular spinnerbait, the difference is a 1/2oz bait will have the profile of a 3/8oz bait but it is still a full size 3/8oz bait. I would also caution you to not knock one before you try it, for me, I use a spinnerbait in a lot of different applications and so I want specific properties but you may find the way you like to use one works well with a hidden weight head, and there are benefits like being able to use the heavier bait with smaller profile but it just want my cup of tea, so my advice would be to experiment and see what works.
That's what I would like to be able to burn it especially across riffles and seams. Then letting it spin down in an eddy. With blades do yoi use willow blades for the ability to burn it? Also any special color blades or stamped not sure if that's the right word.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/20/2018 at 12:46 AM, gall said:That's what I would like to be able to burn it especially across riffles and seams. Then letting it spin down in an eddy. With blades do yoi use willow blades for the ability to burn it? Also any special color blades or stamped not sure if that's the right word.
Willow leaf blades and you want blades smaller or ones with a shallow cup to them. The reason is that when the blades spin they create not only vibration but torque. The faster you retrieve the bait, the faster the blades spin and the faster the blade spins the more torque it creates. Use a blade too large and it creates too much torque and it causes the bait to lean to one side and sometimes even roll over so it is important that the blade size be right for the head size. The one problem with burning type spinnerbaits is they really aren't great for using for anything other than burning as they don't put out a lot of vibration and the flash is less than a regular bait of the same size.
gall reply :
On 1/20/2018 at 2:38 AM, smalljaw67 said:Willow leaf blades and you want blades smaller or ones with a shallow cup to them. The reason is that when the blades spin they create not only vibration but torque. The faster you retrieve the bait, the faster the blades spin and the faster the blade spins the more torque it creates. Use a blade too large and it creates too much torque and it causes the bait to lean to one side and sometimes even roll over so it is important that the blade size be right for the head size. The one problem with burning type spinnerbaits is they really aren't great for using for anything other than burning as they don't put out a lot of vibration and the flash is less than a regular bait of the same size.
This is why I get so excited when you reply to one of my post you're truly a wealth of knowledge. So the wire gauge for the actual spinnerbaits is it a lighter gauge or a heavier one? Sorry to pick your brain apart jusy trying to get a good basis
lbriggs reply :
I vastly prefer in line spinners for the fast current I fish in for smallies. Mepps are my favorite. I like the size 3 and 4 sizes, black fury or a silver blade with a squirrel tail dressing. It's also nice as a multi species lure and big crappies, pike, perch, drum, and even rock bass will hit them too. I stay away from traditional arm spinnerbaits because unless they are a heavier willow leaf make they tend to roll in the water. In line spinners remedy this perfectly. Also don't count out a small panther martin as a perfect finesse spinner, which can be the perfect bait for smaller rivers and creeks. Caught quite a few 2 and 3 pound smallies on a size 0 or 1 panther martin for trout.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/20/2018 at 5:04 AM, gall said:This is why I get so excited when you reply to one of my post you're truly a wealth of knowledge. So the wire gauge for the actual spinnerbaits is it a lighter gauge or a heavier one? Sorry to pick your brain apart jusy trying to get a good basis
It depends on the size, for larger 1/2oz I like .035" diameter wire and for 3/8oz and 1/4oz I use .031" wire. That is a general statement as there are times when I'll use the .035" on the smaller baits and times I will go up to .040" for a 1/2oz bait. But 90% of the time, I'm using .031" and .035", I want a lot of vibration but I also have to have some durability. Sick Custom Baits uses like a .028" wire and I've used that and you can get away with it with smaller fish but a 4lb smallmouth is going to bend that wire up, and it will be bad at times. I find .035 is like the best of both worlds and I can adjust the blade spacing to get a little better vibration. On burner type spinners it isn't about vibration however, it is about flash and speed, this is a good technique for clearer water, from gin clear to a little off color. I usually have more success with more natural presentations when the water is gin clear but when they are chasing a fast moving spinnerbait is a killer way to go and when that water has some color to it where you can see bottom in 3' but it is hazy, that is the optimum time for burning the spinnerbait, the fish can see it from a distance and chase it with having the cover of darker water, it works really well.
zeth reply :
When I was a teenager I would catch tons of smallies on humdinger spinnerbaits on the Milwaukee river.
bowhunter63 reply :
War Eagle finesse Spinnerbait in sexy mouse or regular mouse color with 1 gold blade.River bass tear those up.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/23/2018 at 1:10 PM, bowhunter63 said:War Eagle finesse Spinnerbait in sexy mouse or regular mouse color with 1 gold blade.River bass tear those up.
I agree with you, for some reason that mouse pattern is highly effective. If you like War Eagle baits you better buy all the old stock you can get.
Munkin reply :
Like Smalljaw has mentioned there are many different ways to fish a spinnerbait. Specific models work better in certain situations than others. Personally I like the hiddenweight heads for fishing the river but not because I burn them. I build all my baits on a .032 or .032 1/4oz (Think it is called R1) wire frame. Along with smaller blades this allows me to have a heavier bait with a smaller profile. Now I can fish deeper in clear water or the bait doesn't roll in current.
Allen
bowhunter63 reply :
On 1/24/2018 at 12:52 AM, smalljaw67 said:I agree with you, for some reason that mouse pattern is highly effective. If you like War Eagle baits you better buy all the old stock you can get.
I agree change is never good.The new company doesn't have a good track record.
gall reply :
So form what you guys are saying maybe avoid war eagle? Well now since it's in New ownership?
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/24/2018 at 8:00 PM, gall said:So form what you guys are saying maybe avoid war eagle? Well now since it's in New ownership?
I wouldn't say that yet. War Eagle makes a really good spinnerbait with good wire and top of the line swivels. The issue is they were purchased by Pradco and they typically move production out of the U.S. for their lures. If they do that I'm guessing they will use cheaper components, especially the swivel, but I'm just guessing. Anyway, what I would do is go to a Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, or another store that sells tackle and pick up the package and see where it is was made and if they have the brand of swivel named.
burrows reply :
On 1/24/2018 at 8:00 PM, gall said:So form what you guys are saying maybe avoid war eagle? Well now since it's in New ownership?
I'm just going to make an order soon before any changes are made it will take a little time before they make any changes if they do make changes and I'm sure they will. The company was sold this past november I believe so their should be plenty of OG product on the shelfs I think changes will no doubt happen in about six months if they do start making reforms to the product.
Spankey reply :
A lot of good info. Work a few Mepps heavier types of straight line spinners at the river. You will get results.
scaleface reply :
I also like to use the Strike King Mini Spins with a little extra weight added to the hook shank .
Bdnoble84 reply :
On 1/19/2018 at 5:39 AM, smalljaw67 said:I like my own spinnerbaits for river smallies. Spinnerbaits are my favorite lure and fishing them in the river is what got me into making my own in the late 90s. I like weights in 1/4oz to 1/2oz but my best river smallmouth spinnerbait is one I make I call the SS 44. The "SS" stands for smallie slayer and the 44 is because I made the bait using 4 different wire diameters and 4 different wire lengths before finding what worked best. I made it for burning across the current so it doesn't roll over but it is also great for the areas where there are patches of water willow and eel grass, it comes through that grass exceptionally well. As you can tell from my rambling I get a little carried away with spinnerbaits, they are just so versatile and they not only catch numbers but also big fish. There is nothing like burning a spinnerbait just a few inches under the surface of the water, just deep enough that it doesn't make a wake but is still in full view. You're cranking your reel handle at a pretty fast pace keeping an eye on the spinnerbait flashing just under the surface and then it happens, the strike, and it all seems to be happening in slow motion. You see the swirl on the water and your bait disappear right at the same time and then the rod get pulled forward so hard it almost flies out of your hand. you pull back and the rod strains and the handle of your reel is hard to crank and then the massive 4+lb bronze missile leaps from the water while your heart races as you fight the fish to the side of the boat. That has to be the best strike in all of fishing, pure violence and ferocity, yeah, I love spinnerbaits for river smallmouth!!!
So this. This epitimizes everything that embodies the beauty of creating your own lures. The passion that comes through in this post is absolutely inspiring.
Log Catcher reply :
I would try to find the colors you want in the War Eagle screaming eagle version. It is 1/2oz. spinnerbait on 1/4 oz. frame. I have better luck with them than the full sized ones.
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