Spinnerbaits For Smallies 2024

smbrule reply :

What is your favorite brand of spinner bait for smallies?

Not interested in in-line spinners.

Also, are there spinnerbaits available there are more compact than typical spinnerbaits in 3/8 and1/2 oz sizes? And, are some available that have a hook size smaller than typical?

Steve K reply :

Bass Pro carries an exclusive line of KVD Signature, Strike King spinnerbaits that you can get in 1/4oz. But other than that I am not sure about compact ones. I just use the 3/8oz. and 1/2oz. models in his line up.

A-Jay reply :

Northstar makes a nice bait. (and is a BR Sponsor)

A white on white bait that is a bit heavier and can be burner just under the surface is a very consistent producer for me, especially in clear water.

A-Jay

http://www.northstar...249/7791821.htm

smbrule reply :

Thanks for the Northstar link.

I've some spinner baits are weighted like the hidden weight ones from Northstar. and like them. Don't have any in 1/4 oz and have not been to find any "hidden" weight ones in that size.

There compact series is particularly interesting. And also that the heads only are available as I have a lifetime supply of spinner bait blades.

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 2/1/2012 at 9:06 PM, smbrule said:
are there spinnerbaits available there are more compact than typical spinnerbaits in 3/8 and1/2 oz sizes? And, are some available that have a hook size smaller than typical?

SOB lures... Mini-Me series

roadwarrior reply :

I have no idea why the responses on this thread are all about "downsizing". Pigs like to eat! I fish the 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade; chartreuse skirt with a gold blade or white skirt and silver blade. And here is another tip: replace all you skirts with Lumaflex.

http://store.jobabylures.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=J&Category_Code=SKL

WCCT reply :

I throw a 1/2oz chartruese/white with gold willow or a chartruese willow blade. I also like white on white. Burning a spinnerbait is the real deal. I will also upsize at times to a 3/4 oz. Like RoadWarrior said, why downsize. Big smallmouth will crush a big spinnerbait.

basscrusher reply :

I can't argue with the big bait = big fish theory, but...if you wanna use smaller spinnerbaits, a few come to mind.

1) Strike King rocket shad. Very compact. Casts like a...well, a rocket.

2) strike King red eye special. The 3/16 oz size is my go-to. On the pressured waters where I fish, small is sometimes the only way to go.

3) terminator makes a smaller tungsten spinnerbait. Pricey.

OkobojiEagle reply :

More water carries small to average sized smallmouth than "pigs". Small spinners will catch more smallmouth in these waters, as well as bonus walleye and panfish.

bumpnbtm reply :

_{War Eagle Screamin Eagle in gold shinner has put more fish in the boat for me than any other bait that I carry in the warm months}

bowhunter63 reply :

In smaller rivers black 1/2 once always works good in summer.I use brighter colors in the spring.I want to get some Lumaflex skirts.Seen the video on them.Really look good.

J Francho reply :

I like a chartreuse skiirt and painted willow blades for smallies.

J_Pearson reply :

On 2/3/2012 at 11:38 PM, J Francho said:

I like a chartreuse skiirt and painted willow blades for smallies.

I agree. A 1/2oz. chartreuse skirt + painted willows has been my best producer for smallies. I've also had success throwing chart/white skirt, but typically stick to all chartreuse. They slaughter it.

BradH reply :

Chartreuse & white, painted blades and a trailer hook if there isn't too much junk in the water. When I started rolling my own I bought a couple walleye blade assortments with painted and metallic blades. After I ran out of metallic blades I threw a few together with painted blades. I won't go back, 75% of what I do now is with painted blades. Most of what I use is 3/4 anymore but I think I still have some lighter ones floating around. Dinks will still eat a big spinnerbait. I started putting a small ziptie around the skirt collar a couple years ago, they last longer that way.

Glenn reply :

3/4oz with lumaflex skirt. Check out the smallie I catch at the end of this video using that exact spinnerbait: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/spinnerbaits-bass-fishing.html

MaineBassMan reply :

I'm with RoadWarrior with this one. I hardly ever down size for smallies. I usually throw 1/2 oz. and 3/4 oz. spinnerbaits. I use the same tackle that I use for Largies on smallies, just because their called smallmouth doesn't mean that they can't eat big bait. I caught a 3 pound smallies that had big fat 9 inch Alewife stuck in his throat. They just slowly work it down their digestive system.

Will Wetline reply :

smbrule, you commented that you "have a lifetime supply of blades." Why not purchase the rest of the stuff from one of several component suppliers and assemble your own?

Here's my favorite for post spawn smallies:

Like others have said, a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait burned just under the surface on sunny, windy days will make you smile even though your arms are sore.

Here's a pic of a bass with a mouthful:

retiredbosn reply :

The river I grew up fishing the main fish forage for smallies was the common creek chub. The best spinner bait I found was the Pro Clacker spinnerbait, I use the 3/8 ounce. I've caught numerous smallies on 1/2 ounce jigs with a full size Paca Craw trailer, smallies can and do eat large forage, no need to downsize unless you just like throwing smaller baits.

http://shop.assassin...rbait-CS-02.htm

nastynate reply :

I have not yet caught a smallie on a spinner bait, but i havnt really put alot of effort into it. This year im gonna learn the trick to entice a strike.

Nick reply :

Those painted blades are really the deal for Northern smallies, but down South, they go begging unless you have some super dark water. I agree with RW about using big blades, but only if the conditions dictate it. In off colored high waters, the big War Eagle is the ticket, but as the waters return to normal clarity downsizing may be called for if you must throw a blade. Tiny blades are favored to burn these lures in real clear waters esp. in early fall and they can be effective when the big blades are too easily ignored. I like the Screaming Eagle by War Eagle for that.

Moreover, regardless of what lure and size you select, you must know the appropriate situation to use it. That knowledge is worth a lot more than any brand of spinnerbait.

smbrule reply :

Will Wetline said--smbrule, you commented that you "have a lifetime supply of blades." Why not purchase the rest of the stuff from one of several component suppliers and assemble your own?"

That is exactly what I'm been going to do. Have been making spinnerbaits and jigs for the past thirty years and so have all the materials. Have been in contact with Northstar Custom Baits as they have the hidden weight heads. Will give me something to do until the ice goes off the lakes.

smalljaw67 reply :

I love catching river smallies on a spinnerbait, nothing like burning a 1/2oz spinnerbait just below the surface enough that you can see the bait and then out of nowhere the bait makes an abrupt move to the side and the rod bends so hard and it feels as the fish is trying to pull the rod from your hands! spinnerbaits for smallies actually got me making my own since I couldn't find one that worked like I wanted it too. I make one specifically for the river so I can reel it fast in current without it rolling over, most of the spinnerbaits I bought in the 90's would roll over if you reeled them faster than a moderate pace and trying to get smallies that are in gin clear shallow water to hit a spinnerbait required a high speed approach and so here we are over a decade later and my spinnerbaits are still catching smallies!

Brandon K. reply :

X2 on the SOB mini-me spinnerbait. It's a hidden weight spinner, the 3/8 oz. has the same head size as a 1/4 oz. The wire comes staight out of the head and then bends back over the head about an inch over it. This gives it a very compact look. I had used a hundred different spinners trying to find the perfect one for the Ohio River. I've never had one roll on me, even in the swift current coming over shallow points and bars. If you do decide to get some order them staight from SOB and get the twisted loop line tie. A big smallie can straighten out the wire with the R-bend. This has happened a few times to me but they bend back very easy and still run straight.

Crestliner2008 reply :

Fleck makes a dandy of a spinnerbait for smallies. Called the Winni Special, it's 7/8 oz. bad boy with chartreuse blades. Great bait! Big & flashy is what gets the smallies attention when they are shallow. Sunny, windy day is definite putting the odds in your favor, as Wilbur says.

Hooligan reply :

Without a doubt my best spinnerbait for smallies last year was a 3/4 ounce Willow/willow in Table Rock with blades I painted. I caught a lot of fish on New Gill, too.

Brick reply :

On 2/1/2012 at 9:06 PM, smbrule said:

What is your favorite brand of spinner bait for smallies?

Not interested in in-line spinners.

Also, are there spinnerbaits available there are more compact than typical spinnerbaits in 3/8 and1/2 oz sizes? And, are some available that have a hook size smaller than typical?

There are some hidden weight spinnerbaits that have a smaller profile by hiding a lot of the weight under the skirt. You can order them from this website, and make your own, or you can look for prepackaged baits shaped like this.

http://lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Bass-Spinnerbait-Heads/Hidden-Weight-Spinnerbaits.html

ClackerBuzz reply :

On 2/8/2012 at 1:30 AM, smalljaw67 said:

I love catching river smallies on a spinnerbait, nothing like burning a 1/2oz spinnerbait just below the surface enough that you can see the bait and then out of nowhere the bait makes an abrupt move to the side and the rod bends so hard and it feels as the fish is trying to pull the rod from your hands! spinnerbaits for smallies actually got me making my own since I couldn't find one that worked like I wanted it too. I make one specifically for the river so I can reel it fast in current without it rolling over, most of the spinnerbaits I bought in the 90's would roll over if you reeled them faster than a moderate pace and trying to get smallies that are in gin clear shallow water to hit a spinnerbait required a high speed approach and so here we are over a decade later and my spinnerbaits are still catching smallies!

nice blades smalljaw. i've been looking for a threat on making them. what gauge wire do you use?

smalljaw67 reply :

On 3/3/2012 at 1:17 PM, ClackerBuzz said:

nice blades smalljaw. i've been looking for a threat on making them. what gauge wire do you use?

ClackerBuzz, the wire diameter I use depends on what kind of bait and what size I'm making, a normal 1/4 or 3/8oz spinnerbait I'm using .035 wire, occasionally I'll use .032 piano wire, for a 1/2oz bait and larger I like .040, that is the biggest I use.

Pete-K reply :

1/2 oz short arm baits and up to 1 oz. Even used these when we were wade fishing the creeks around here. And we caught them from 1/2 lb to 5+ lbs in these feeder creeks. Bigger bait caught just as man small fish as big fish.

ClackerBuzz reply :

tks smalljaw. i've read alot of people like throwing chartreuse blades in muddy water. i have lots of nickle blades i'd like to sand with fine grit paper and paint. do you ever paint ur blades or do u buy them already colored? if you paint, any paint brand recommendations? tks

ClackerBuzz reply :

On 2/4/2012 at 10:48 AM, BradH said:

Chartreuse & white, painted blades and a trailer hook if there isn't too much junk in the water. When I started rolling my own I bought a couple walleye blade assortments with painted and metallic blades. After I ran out of metallic blades I threw a few together with painted blades. I won't go back, 75% of what I do now is with painted blades. Most of what I use is 3/4 anymore but I think I still have some lighter ones floating around. Dinks will still eat a big spinnerbait. I started putting a small ziptie around the skirt collar a couple years ago, they last longer that way.

i use a straight shank trailer hook for my spinnerbaits and buzzbaits but occasionally feel short strikes or bumps. i guy recommended a #1 or #2 treble hook w/ the bottom hook snipped off to make it weedless. did anyone ever experiment with it?

A-Jay reply :

On 3/10/2012 at 11:46 PM, ClackerBuzz said:

i use a straight shank trailer hook for my spinnerbaits and buzzbaits but occasionally feel short strikes or bumps. i guy recommended a #1 or #2 treble hook w/ the bottom hook snipped off to make it weedless. did anyone ever experiment with it?

I tried the treble hook trailer a few times attempting to get smb that were slashing at the bait but not really eating it. This did not improve the hook ups much if at all. Also fishing mostly open water or sparse cover, there was no need to snip off a hook point.

I did see a tip where guys reverse the direction of the single trailer hook to acclimate the point down in an attempt to improve hook ups from fish striking the bait from below. (which is mostly my case). I have yet to try it but will implement it this year and see what happens. Definitely not a weedless method however.

Good Luck

A-Jay

smalljaw67 reply :

On 3/10/2012 at 10:26 PM, ClackerBuzz said:

tks smalljaw. i've read alot of people like throwing chartreuse blades in muddy water. i have lots of nickle blades i'd like to sand with fine grit paper and paint. do you ever paint ur blades or do u buy them already colored? if you paint, any paint brand recommendations? tks

I do occasionally paint blades but I do it for others, I haven't noticed a difference with more or less fish using painted blades but in certain circumstances I believe it helps. I power paint my baits and the blades, the only thing I do is strip the lacquer off ot the ones with it on and after they are painted I'll put a thin coat of epoxy over the blade to help keep it from chipping. I use both solid and metallic colors and here are some samples.

Stingray23 reply :

On 2/4/2012 at 2:14 PM, flippin and pitchin said:

Revenge 1/2 oz. various colors and Peppers 1/2 double willow in green glimmer shad. If they are on a blade bite these two will do it 99% of the time.

Revenge are my favorite

Jeff H reply :

Assassinator makes a sweet, high quality, hidden weight Compact model that is worth a look!

angler3 reply :

My favorite spinnerbaits are a toss up between strike king and terminator with war eagle being a runner up. All 3 have different purposes for different situations. War eagle makes a screaming eagle that is an awesome compact spinnerbait.

A-Rob reply :

1/2 oz

booyah

bass pro

strike king

they've all worked good

won a tourney on the bass pro white spinnerbait on smallies

flyeaglesfly5186 reply :

Call me cheap, call me stingy, call me not a "real" fisherman. But my favorite brand has no name. It's the cheap $1 each ones at Wal-Mart. I've bought about 20 of them in different colors and sizes and fish whatever feels right that day for spinners. No need to drop $$$ on a spinner bait. With a little inginuity, pliers, and some spare parts I can modify these cheapies to do what I want, when I want them to. One trick I do love is putting a second hook off the main hook with a piece of rubber tubing. Works awesome for catching the late hits.

CHRGD reply :

Painted blades as well for me. Clear water to muddy water, 1/2oz. Been using Terminators, War Eagles, Boo Yahs. I see there are alot of guys who build their own. I was wondering if anyone knows where I could get some of the willlow leaf blade that are beveled, like they use on the Terms. I am looking for a 4.5 and 3's or 3.5's? I've been painting my own with some rust-ol-em, and seems to work ok, but I do see some chipping. I may also look into a powder paint sprayer, thanks.

mikebone reply :

3/8 oz strike king white spinnerbait with a white kalin grub trailer

nquattro0123 reply :

booyah micro pond spinner 1/2 oz.

stkbassn reply :

On 2/1/2012 at 9:06 PM, smbrule said:

What is your favorite brand of spinner bait for smallies?

Not interested in in-line spinners.

Also, are there spinnerbaits available there are more compact than typical spinnerbaits in 3/8 and1/2 oz sizes? And, are some available that have a hook size smaller than typical?

I love War Eagle spinnerbaits. They make a 5/16 Finesse Spinnerbait that casts very well and has a smaller profile. I've caught some good fish on these. I would check out War Eagle and Northstar for sure.

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Spinnerbaits For Smallies 2024

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