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Fall 2018
3/8-ounce War Eagle Gold Spinnerbait with dual willowleaf gold blades in the Sexy Mouse color and a Zoom Swimmin’ Fluke Jr. trailer
3/8-ounce War Eagle Gold Spinnerbait with a single gold Colorado blade and a chartreuse/ white skirt.
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Tried-and-true 3/8-ounce, tandem blade War Eagle Gold Spinnerbait with gold blades, a white skirt and a split-tail trailer
soft plastic trailer options, it’s time to put them together and create a pairing to tempt a bass into biting.
SHAD EATERS: When the bass are feeding on shad, I like to use a double willowleaf blade spinnerbait, as the blades shape and the flash resemble baitfish. With this spinnerbait option, I’ll use a soft plastic swimbait to continue the baitfish imitation.
If I am fishing a river, the water depth and current will dictate the size of the swimbait, but either the Swimmin’ Super Fluke or Swimmin’ Super Flue Jr. will get threaded onto the bait.
STAINED WATER OR BOTTOM CRAW FEEDERS: If I’m fishing stained water or the bass are relating to the bottom feeding on crawfish, I’ll use a spinnerbait that has either a Colorado or Indiana blade.
I choose these blade styles as their shapes cause increased vibration. In stained water, vibration is an important factor to allow bass to key on the bait through their lateral line.
When mimicking a crawdad, these blade styles also better serve a slow bottom retrieve than other styles.
For the trailer in these situations, I want to use something that has bulk. This will keep my bait down in the water column and allow me to use slow roll retrieve while keeping the blades moving. I like a Zoom Z-Craw, likely in pearl white or chartreuse.
I choose this bait due to its body profile. It features some bulk for the weight and dual kicking feet that have action throughout the water column. Double tail grubs and other craw imitators can work as well.
COVERING WATER: When I’m looking to cover water. I’ll use a tandem blade combination, with a willowleaf in front and a smaller Colorado blade on the wire arm.
I choose this pairing as it allows a quicker retrieve, while the willow has increased flash and the Colorado increased vibration.
A standard split-tail spinnerbait trailer is likely what I’ll pair it with. This trailer option has a compact profile for easy distance casting or pin- point accuracy on closer targets, like laydowns or boat docks.
This trailer’s action can also be changed by the retrieve. A smooth return will impart a subtler action, while a stop-and-go will increase it.
I use the War Eagle spinnerbaits. I prefer their head design and wire gauge, which allows me to fish in a multitude of scenarios and get the feel of what my bait is doing, always. Their unique nickel or gold head colors catch the bass’ attention in any water clarity. The skirts on a War Eagle are also wire tied on, resulting in a more natural profile in the water.