How To Use A Spinnerbait

Ask any bass fisherman what is their favorite fishing lure and the majority without a doubt say a spinnerbait. Simply put, spinnerbaits catch bass. Not only will they catch you bass, but they are extremely easy to use.

For that reason, in this post, we will show you some tips on how to use a spinnerbait so you too can catch more bass.

How to use a spinnerbait?

Searching. One of the best uses for a spinnerbait is when you are just searching for bass. They work great in searching for fish because you can cover a lot of water. So if you are trying to find out where the bass are, begin by throwing a spinnerbait.

Yo-Yo approach. A very effective way to use a crankbait is the yo-yo approach. This same approach can be just as effective when fishing with a spinnerbait. To do the yo-yo approach begin by throwing out your lure. Allow the it to fall, then lift up the tip of rod and once again lower your rod to the surface of the water. As you raise and lower you rod make sure you reel in the slack. Always be ready as bass tend to bite it on the fall. This is a great way to fish drop offs, steep banks and ledges.

Bumping. Bumping a spinnerbait into a log, rock or structure is a great way to generate a reaction strike. So as you are retrieving the lure allow it to bump into logs, laydowns, stumps, rocks, or anything else you can make contact with. Once you have made contact, pause and allow the fish to take your bait. After a second or two pause continue your retrieval. Do this a few times on the way back to the boat and you just might land yourself a huge bass.

Topwater. By design spinnerbaits are made to imitate baitfish. So whenever you see baitfish feeding on the surface it is time to throw a spinnerbait. Not only can they be fished down on the bottom or bumping into structures, but they also can be retrieved going over structures and vegetation.

Slow Roll. A favorite method among many bass fisherman is to slow roll it. What I mean by slow roll is to retrieve it very slowly. This approach can work very effectively when the water is cold and fish are moving very slowly. It is also is another great way to generate reaction strikes as it allows the lure to be dragged across the bump and hitting anything it comes in contact with.

Wake Bait. Turn your lure into a wakebait. Cast your lure to your desired location and begin your retrieval. As you begin your retrieval the bait will naturally want to come to the surface. Don’t allow it to break the surface of the water. This will create a nice wake, much like a wake bait. This method sends a lot of vibrations throughout the water and creates a lot of commotion on the surface of the water.

Burn it across the water. Many spinnerbaits on the market are designed to be retrieved very quickly. Just casting it out there and retrieving it will generate bites, but the best way is to vary the speed. Start by burning it and then giving it a pause and then burn it again. Changing up the speed will leave the bass no option, but to come up and get it.

Change it up. Whether fishing with topwater lures, crankbaits, tubes, jigs the important thing is to adapt to what the fish want. What may be an effective way to use a spinnerbait today, may not work the next day. In order to be a successful bass fisherman don’t be afraid to change it up. Remember a lot of the action from spinnerbaits comes from you when you are retrieving it. Don’t be afraid to stop it, pause it, twitch it or whatever it may take to get a bite.

When to use a spinnerbait?

Low light conditions. Since spinnerbaits make a lot of commotion and give off a lot of vibration they work very well under low light conditions. Throw one when fishing in muddy water, on cloudy days, or at night. Remember darker colors work better when fishing in low visibility waters as it will help to create a better silhouettes and make it easy for bass to see. Also, it is important to remember the bigger the profile the bigger the vibrations and the easier it will be for the bass to feel your lure swimming by.

Cold water. How do you catch a largemouth bass in cold water? You throw a spinnerbait! Under cold weather conditions bass will be moving much slower than normal. This means they will not want to travel very far for their next meal. The great thing about spinnerbaits is they can be slow rolled making it appear to be a very appealing and an easy meal. Throw a spinnerbait in cold water and during winter bass fishing.

Windy days. It is important to remember when fishing with spinnerbaits that they are designed to generate reaction strikes. The blades are designed to imitate a wounded baitfish. You don’t want the bass to have a good look at the lure, if they do, they won’t bite it. Windy days are great for throwing spinnerbaits as it helps to distort the lure look of the lure.

What is the best equipment for fishing with spinnerbaits?

Fishing Rod. When fishing with a single hook such as in the case with a spinnerbait it is important to have a rod with power to set the hook. A good power rating is a medium heavy. For more information on what we think are the best fishing rods for spinnerbaits check out a previous post found here.

Fishing Reel. When fishing with spinnerbaits it is important to use a high-speed reel. A high-speed reel will allow you to vary your speeds much easier than a slower reel. Baitcasting reels are always preferred as they handle better with larger lures. For more information on choosing the best reel for spinnerbaits check out a previous post found here.

Fishing Line. As mentioned before you will be fishing around a lot of cover for that reason it is important to choose a heavy line. It is important to note that a heavy line will not affect the action of your spinnerbait.

How do you fish a spinnerbait? Share with use your thoughts in the comment section below.