The Spinner Bait, All Year Bass Baits
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
The spinner bait is one
of the most versatile lures on the market. It can be used almost all
year for largemouth bass, spotted bass, shoal bass and smallmouth bass.
This
is a strange looking lure and nothing in nature truly resembles the
size or shapes of this lure. Many anglers believe that the flash and
vibration
of this lure makes the bass think it is some kind of bait fish.
But
whatever they may think, bass will destroy spinner baits until the
water temperature
dips below 50 degrees. The angler that fully utilizes this lure can
catch not only numbers of bass, but it accounts for lots of larger
than average
bass.
The blades come in three basic styles. The willow leaf blade
is designed for lots of flash. The Colorado blade is designed more
for vibration and
the Indiana blade is a slight combination of the other two blades.
Blades come in thousands of colors and sizes. Choices are completely
to the angler.
There are almost endless blade combinations. The average angler
should use two blades in tandem. The most common blade combination is
a
willow leaf blade as the main blade and then a smaller size in either
another
willow leaf blade or a Colorado blade.
Hammered copper, all silver
and a huge variety of painted blades are designed for the anglers
that want
to mix the lures blade colors as well as sizes. If the water
is clear almost all colors are easy for the bass to see. In stained or
dirty
water, bright
blades show up best. There are several materials that can be
used to make up the skirts with mylar and tinsels the current and most
popular
additions.
Colors are once again the choice of the angler. Many experienced
fishermen
choose either white, chartreuse or a combination of the two.
But there are no real rules. Another factor about spinner baits is that
they
can be fished at all depths at any time of the year. Run them just
under
the
surface in the spring and summer. In the winter, drag a bait
as
deep as 30 feet.
This lure in many combinations and fished in all depths
can be
extremely productive.
