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Fall 2018
T
he spinnerbait is a lure that many bass anglers
began throwing at a young age, as it is versatile,
easy to cast, fairly snag-resistant and an effective way to catch bass! As newer lures have made an
appearance, some anglers have left the spinnerbait by the
wayside, while other still embrace the lure and understand
its incredible potential.
What these anglers realize is that each and every
spinnerbait out there is different and there are numerous
ways a spinnerbait can be customized to the conditions of
the day and fishery.
Here is a look at the three common blade designs and
when they shine:
COLORADO: enhanced vibration, good for cold or stained
water and slow roll presentations
WILLOWLEAF: imparts increased flash, good for clear
water and baitfish scenarios
INDIANA: a combination of both blades, imparts some
vibration and some flash
One of the great things about a spinnerbait is that with
a good split ring pliers, you can quickly change out the blades
and configurations to fit the conditions. I use a pair made by
Eagle Claw.
the spring, when I need to slow roll my bait. Either of these blades will emit a lot of vibration even with the slow retrieve.
From late May through June, I like a tandem blade combination with a small Colorado blade on the wire shaft and then a willowleaf blade at the end of the bait.
This combination is an all-round good choice for both flash and vibration. When the bass are feeding on shad heavily in late summer or the fall, a double willowleaf configuration puts off a lot of flash, thus emulating fleeing baitfish.
TRAILER OPTIONS
Optimum trailer options will vary, depending on the water clarity, temperature and what the bass are feeding on.
ACTION WITHOUT BULK: A standard split-tail plastic is an overall good choice to provide some additional action, without adding too much bulk.
COLD, DEEP OR EXTRA ACTION: A double tail grub is a good is effective in all three scenarios.
BULK UP: A plastic swimbait will beef up the presentation and is a great option if the bass are feeding on baitfish. I use Zoom Swimmin’ Super Fluke or Swimmin’ Super Fluke Jr.
BLADE CHANGES THROUGH THE CONDITIONS
TIMES OF YEAR: Some of my favorite blade configurations include a single Colorado or Indiana blade in
SCENARIOS FOR TRAILER BLADE COMBOS
Now, that we’ve gone over the different types of spinnerbait blade designs, blade configurations and possible
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