Choosing The Right Spinnerbait

If I had to pick a lure I could count on to produce good catches of bass nearly year-round, it would be the spinnerbait. This may sound like a strong statement, but spinnerbaits will produce more consistent catches than any other lure.

Very few lures will produce during summer, winter, fall and spring, and in cold, hot, clear or muddy water. But spinnerbaits, when fished at the proper depth, in the right location and with the proper retrieve, will produce bass year-round.

There are a slew of spinnerbaits on the market. With a million different colors and blade configurations available, it can get confusing when trying to decide which bait would work best under a given set of circumstances.

Action is a very important aspect of any spinnerbait, but sound is more crucial. Why? Well, action is not worth a hoot until the fish can see it. And so many times a bass may not see the spinnerbait until it first hears it.

As you retrieve a spinnerbait near a log or stump, for example, the bass is first attracted to the sound. If the sound is attractive, the bass will search it out. Once the bass zeros in on the source of the sound, if the lure has an appealing action and appearance, the fish will strike.

A good rule of thumb in selecting a spinnerbait is to go with a tandem blade when fishing less than 3 feet of water, but a single blade for deeper water. Also, the single blade works better in heavily stained to muddy water. Although spinnerbaits with a single blade will produce more vibration, spinnerbaits with two blades will normally generate more flash and are more weedless. You can also fish them slower and retrieve them near the surface with less trouble than a single-blade version.

While anglers buy more tandem-blade spinnerbaits than single-blade versions, both have their place. Single blades, for example, are easier to cast and are better drop baits. They also produce better in cold water, during low-light conditions and when bass are inactive. Plus, since the single blade creates less friction when retrieved, it is much easier to fish at deeper depths.

Tandem blades generate a tremendous amount of resistance and have a tendency to ride up toward the surface. So, if you're fishing shallow water, tandem blades will normally be your best choice. They also benefit from the extra flash produced and create two different vibrations.

One important factor to consider is the retrieve. A major signal that says a lure is real food is "perceived flight behavior." When a bass is attracted to a spinnerbait being retrieved steadily, it usually swims up to the bait and decides whether to bite it. If the lure doesn't suddenly change speed or direction, as would living prey, most times the bass won't hit it, even if it looks exactly like a live shad or crawfish. This is why you should change the speed and action of your retrieve.

Spinnerbaits are available in many different sizes. Although you would think a smaller spinnerbait would be best for the shallows, this isn't necessarily true. In fact, I'll adjust my lure size to accommodate the bass's feeding activity. For example, if I'm catching fish in 2 to 4 feet of water and they're aggressive, I'll throw a large spinnerbait. However, if these same fish become inactive or sluggish, I'll switch to a smaller 1/4-ounce spinnerbait.

Experiment with a variety of spinnerbait colors, sizes and blade combinations. Remember, the spinnerbait that produced a good catch last week won't work every time you fish. If, however, you remain versatile and adjust to the changing conditions, you will catch more bass on a regular basis.