This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Fish a Spinnerbait

How to Fish a Spinnerbait

​Spinnerbaits are one of those rare lures that can produce bass year round irrespective of water temperature.

Cast and retrieve is still the tried and tested method when fishing a spinnerbait, that being said you can still work them in a more start stop vertical pattern and they will still produce fish.

There are a number of different blades available as well as a wide selection of skirts. There are also tandem rigged hooks available on some spinner baits which can be effective if the bass are biting a bit short.

​How to Fish a Spinnerbait

Spinnerbait fishing can be as simple as casting along cover or a drop off and simply retrieving, varying the speed of the spinnerbait can be one of the best tactics to utilize.

1. Blade Selection

There are normally three main type of blades for spinnerbaits:

  • ​Colorado
  • Indian
  • Willow-Leaf

The most popular or common type is the willow with the colorado next and you will rarely see the indian.

Colorado blades are the largest of the three and create the biggest vibration through the water. They are the best choice in murkier waters, at night and in colder waters when you may want to fish your spinnerbait a bit slower.

They create the biggest amount of resistance when draged through the water and you’ll definitely feel the difference between a colorado blade on a spinnerbait and a much lighter willow.

Indian blades are effectively a cross between a colorado blade and a willow. They neither create too much vibration nor too much flash. The also spin at a speed somewhere between the two.

Best used on hot summer days when bass are more likely to be spooked by flashier lures.

If you see someone tie on a indian blade spinne rbait on purpose, then that angler really knows their blades and when to use them.

Willow-leaf ​sometimes just called the willow blade, these are the most slender of the three blades used on a spinnerbait. You will find that the willow blade is the most popular blade.

It spins faster than the others and because of this it has less vibration and gives off a lot more flash.

It is much easier to use a deeper depths or in and around weeds, it’s the one to choose when bass are at their most active and not to be used if the appear to be sluggish.

​2. Colors

​Like most bass lures you’ll find that there is a huge selection of spinnerbait colors available to buy. But spinnerbaits for bass are one of those lures where simplicity is best and keeping your colors toned down a notch is usually the safer bet.

When the waters are really clear aim to use a simple color that has a more natural color or shading to it.

Remember it is the blades that are doing most of the work when it comes to attracting bass. Using a flashy or artificial type color on a bright day with calm waters will result in lots of bass turning their nose at the spinner bait once they get close to it.

On duller days or when the waters are running a lit more brackish then you can experiment with brighter colors.

This includes the blade colors too. Painted or patterned blades can be very successful on dark days or in muddy waters.

3. Weather Conditions

Lower light days especially if there is a bit of wind can be the most productive time to fish a spinnerbait.

You can use them all year round, you’ll need to adapt the color and the blade type as described above if you intend on using a spinnerbait in summer months when the water is warmer.

4. Location

Spinner baits can be used in open water given the large amount of vibration that the blades give off.

However were they rally start to shine is near a drop off or on the end of a thick weed bed. you can also work them over the top of a weed bed that has a few feet of clear water above it.

Across the top of fallen logs especially of there are a few fallen ob top of each other can be an excellent choice as bass are very happy to lie in wait under logs in ambush of bait fish.

​Tackle Considerations

​Most good spinnerbait setups will be on a casting outfit and not spinning gear. The best rods for spinnerbaits will have a fast action, medium to medium/heavy power rating and be at between 6’6″ and 7′ in length.

The best fishing line for spinnerbaits is usually flourocarbon unless you are working them in and around a lot of thick cover. Then I would opt for braid as a main line with a flourocarbon leader.

  • Updated October 16, 2021
  • Bass