Are Spinnerbaits Good for Bass? Reasons & Tips

We all know that spinnerbaits are very effective, but are they suitable for all types of fishing? What about bass fishing? Are spinnerbaits good for bass?

In our opinion, they’re not just good for bass—they’re the best. And we have our reasons; two main reasons strongly convince us of their effectiveness for bass. Besides these, many other smaller reasons support the case for spinnerbaits.

Why Are Spinnerbaits Good for Bass?

Versatility in Different Conditions

Spinnerbaits are fantastic for bass fishing because they are incredibly versatile. You can use spinnerbaits in all sorts of conditions, whether it’s the chilly waters of winter or the warm waters of summer. Spinnerbaits work well in various types of water, from muddy and stained to clear. You can fish them just below the surface or deep down, making them suitable for any fishing situation.

These lures are also great for navigating different types of cover, like weeds, brush, rocks, and logs. This means you can rely on spinnerbaits no matter where you’re fishing. Their adaptability provides a reliable option for catching bass in different environments, which is why many anglers love them.

You might find it interesting: Do Bass like Bait or Lures? Tricks & Tips Inside!

Attraction Mechanisms

Spinnerbaits attract bass through their unique vibration and flash. The spinning blades create vibrations in the water that bass can feel with their lateral line, a special organ that helps them detect movement and vibrations.

This makes the lure hard for the bass to ignore. The flash from the blades looks like the scales of a baitfish reflecting light, making the lure even more enticing.

One of the best things about spinnerbaits is the variety of ways you can retrieve them. You can try different techniques like slow rolling, where you reel in the lure slowly just above the bottom, or burning, where you reel in quickly to create more flash and vibration.

Another method is yo-yoing, where you let the bait fall and then quickly pull it up. These different techniques allow you to present the lure in various ways, making it more likely to catch the bass’s attention.

More Reasons to Love Spinnerbaits

• Easy to Use: Spinnerbaits are simple to use, making them great for beginners. You don’t need a lot of skill or experience to start catching bass with these lures.
• Wide Variety: Spinnerbaits come in many sizes, colors, and blade types. This variety allows you to customize your bait to match the conditions and preferences of the bass in your area.
• Effective Year-Round: Spinnerbaits are effective in every season. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, you can count on spinnerbaits to help you catch bass.
• Great for Cover: These lures are excellent for fishing in areas with lots of cover. They can move through weeds and brush without getting snagged, which is perfect for catching bass hiding in these spots.

Types of Spinnerbaits and Their Uses

Spinnerbaits come in various designs, each with its unique advantages and best uses. Here are some common types of spinnerbaits and how they can help you catch more bass.

Short-Arm Spinnerbaits

Short-arm spinnerbaits have a shortened top wire arm, which makes them perfect for a technique called “helicoptering.” This means letting the bait drop off ledges or steep drop-offs, allowing it to sink more vertically.

The unique action of sinking straight down can attract bass hiding in deeper water or near ledges. If you’re fishing in areas with sudden depth changes, short-arm spinnerbaits are a great choice.

Long-Arm Spinnerbaits

Long-arm spinnerbaits have a longer top wire arm, making them ideal for fishing in grassy or brushy cover. The extended arm helps the bait move through vegetation without getting snagged. This design is excellent for fishing in areas with heavy cover where bass often hide.

By using long-arm spinnerbaits, you can navigate through weeds and brush more effectively, increasing your chances of hooking a bass.

Twinspins

Twin spins feature two blades, which create extra vibration and flash in the water. This makes them especially effective as bottom or drop baits. The dual blades generate more movement and light, attracting bass holding close to the bottom or in deeper water. If you’re targeting bass that are not active and staying low, twinspins can help get their attention.

Check our recommendations on Best Spinnerbaits for Bass Fishing (Top 7)

Spinnerbait Techniques

Spinnerbaits can be super effective, especially if you know the right techniques. Here are some popular methods to try:

Contact Technique: The contact technique involves bumping the spinnerbait against stumps, grass, and weeds. This small change in direction can make the bass strike. Polarized sunglasses help you see underwater obstacles and cast them more accurately. Aim for areas where bass might hide and let the spinnerbait bounce off objects to trigger a reaction.

Wake Technique: In murky, shallow water, you can create a wake by casting past a logjam or heavy cover, raising your rod tip high, and reeling quickly. The spinnerbait will rise to the surface, creating a wake just below it. This disturbance attracts bass, making it a great method for feeding near the top.

Buzz Technique: The buzz technique is similar to the wake technique but with a twist. Reel quickly with your rod tip held high so the blades of the bait break the surface, creating a splashing sound. This can be especially effective in murky water, where the noise draws bass in to investigate.

Helicopter Technique: Let the lure sink to the bottom on a tight line when fishing steep banks or drop-offs. The spinner blade rotates as the bait drops, mimicking a dying baitfish. Once it hits the bottom, reel in the slack, raise the rod tip slightly, and let it drop again. This technique works well for bass holding at different depths.

Slow-Roll Technique: For bass hiding in deeper water along drop-offs or submerged cover, cast toward shallow water, point the rod tip down, and retrieve very slowly. The goal is to move just fast enough for the blades to turn, letting the bait sink as it swims. A heavier bait (3/4 to 1 ounce) is best for this technique, keeping the lure close to the bottom where bass often lurk.

Selecting the Right Blades

Choosing the right blade for your spinnerbait can make a big difference in your fishing success. Here are some common blade types and their best uses:

Single Blade

Single-blade spinnerbaits are great for deeper, clearer water or when fish aren’t very active. These blades create a lot of water resistance, allowing for a slower presentation. This slow, steady action is ideal for cold water or low light conditions, making the lure more appealing to bass.

Tandem Blade

Tandem blade spinnerbaits use two blades and are perfect for murky water or fishing in thick cover like grass. The two blades can be different colors, adding more flash and making the lure more visible to the bass. This increased visibility can be crucial in attracting fish in cloudy water or heavy vegetation.

Colorado Blade

Colorado blades produce the most vibration, which makes them ideal for fishing in deep, murky water or at night. The strong vibration can attract bass even when visibility is low. These blades are also effective during the early pre-spawn period or when the bass is sluggish and stays in shallow water.

Indiana Blade

Indiana blades have a shape that falls between Colorado and willow leaf blades. They provide a good balance of flash and vibration, making them suitable for active bass in stained-to-clear water. These blades are versatile and can be a great all-around choice for different fishing conditions.

Willowleaf Blade

Willowleaf blades are long and thin, making them excellent for fishing in vegetation. Their shape makes them less likely to snag on weeds. Willowleaf blades create a lot of flashes, imitating a baitfish, which is particularly effective in clear water. This flash can attract bass from a distance, making them a favorite among many anglers.

Blade Colors

The color of the blade can also impact the effectiveness of your spinnerbait:

• Clear Water: Silver blades are often preferred because they reflect light well and mimic the natural flash of fish scales.
• Murky Water: Gold or copper blades work better as they stand out more and can attract bass in low visibility.
• Shallow Clear Water: White blades reduce excessive flash and can be more subtle, while plastic blades with a hint of metal flake can add just enough attraction.
• Smallmouth Bass: Chartreuse or white blades are effective even in crystal clear water, offering a bright, noticeable lure that can draw strikes.

Tips for Effective Spinnerbait Fishing

Experimenting with different retrieves is key to finding success with spinnerbaits. Here are some additional tips to help you get the most out of your spinnerbait fishing:

1. Use Polarized Sunglasses: Polarized sunglasses can help you see submerged covers like stumps, rocks, and weeds. This makes it easier to target specific areas where bass might be hiding.
2. Add Trailers and Trailer Hooks: Adding a plastic or pork trailer to your spinnerbait can make it more attractive, buoyant, and lift better. A trailer hook can help catch bass that strike short. If the terrain allows, reversing the trailer hook can improve your strike-catch ratio.
3. Experiment with Colors: Carry spare skirts and blades in different colors and sizes. Sometimes bright, flashy colors will attract bass, while other times, more subtle colors work better.
4. Quality Matters: Invest in high-quality spinnerbaits with ball-bearing swivels and good hooks. These will perform better and last longer than cheaper alternatives.
5. Quiet Presentation: For a quieter approach, try casting onto the shore and gently pulling the lure into the water. This can be less startling to fish.
6. Support Local Bait Shops: Local bait shops often stock items suited for local waterways and can provide valuable advice on what works best in the area. Supporting local shops also helps ensure a strong fishing community.

Common Challenges and Our Recommended Solutions

Despite their versatility, some anglers struggle to catch bass with spinnerbaits. Here are some common challenges and suggestions to overcome them:

Not Catching Fish

Sometimes, even with good techniques and high-quality lures, you might not catch any fish. This can be due to water conditions, fish activity levels, or how you present the bait.

Our Solution:

• Adjust Techniques: Try different retrieve styles. Experiment with slower or faster retrieves, and vary the depth at which you fish the spinner bait.
• Change Blade and Skirt Colors: Match the blade and skirt colors to the water conditions. For murky water, use darker colors with gold blades. In clear water, try lighter colors with silver blades.
• Target Different Areas: Focus on fishing near cover like laydowns, weeds, or stumps. Sometimes, changing the location can make a big difference.

Spinnerbaits Collecting Vegetation

Some anglers find spinnerbaits to be “vegetation collectors,” making them less effective in certain areas.

Our Solutions:

• Use Willowleaf Blades: Willowleaf blades are more snag-resistant and can navigate through vegetation better.
• Change Retrieval Techniques: Try techniques that keep the bait above the vegetation, such as the wake or buzz technique.

Additional Tips for Effective Spinnerbait Fishing

Pro angler Jason Christie prefers using spinnerbaits in water temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees. This temperature range pushes bass to the bank, making them more accessible. He also favors off-colored or dirty water, pushing fish to shallow covers like rocks, laydowns, stumps, docks, or grass.

Always use sharp hooks and carry a variety of spinnerbaits. Polarized sunglasses help you see shallow cover where bass hide. Experiment with different techniques to improve your spinnerbait fishing and catch more big bass.

Check our recommendations on some of the best lures/baits for bass fishing other than spinnerbaits:

FAQs

How can I choose the best spinnerbait for my local fishing conditions?

Choosing the best spinnerbait depends on water clarity, temperature, and cover type. For clear water, use spinnerbaits with silver blades and natural-colored skirts. In murky water, gold or copper blades and brighter skirts work better. In colder water, slow retrieves with Colorado or Indiana blades are effective, while warmer water favors faster retrieves with willow-leaf or double willow blades. For thick vegetation, willow-leaf blades are best to avoid snagging. Always keep a variety of spinnerbaits in your tackle box.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using spinnerbaits?

Avoid using the same retrieve style repeatedly. Experiment with slow rolling, yo-yoing, and burning to see what works. Use the right blade and skirt colors for the water conditions. Don’t ignore cover; aim for areas where big bass might hide, like weeds, logs, and rocks. Make sure your spinning lures have sharp hooks for a good hook set.

How do I modify or customize spinnerbaits for specific fishing situations?

Customize your spinnerbaits by changing blades to match conditions. Use Colorado blades for more vibration in murky water and willow-leaf blades for clear water or vegetation. Adjust skirt colors to match local baitfish or stand out in different water conditions. Add plastic or pork trailers to increase appeal, and use trailer hooks to catch short-striking fish. Reversing the trailer hook can improve your hook set. Keep these modified spinnerbaits ready in your tackle box.