Spinner Bait Basics:

The spinnerbait comes in several colors and sizes. The heads vary in size and weight. The deeper you need to fish the larger weighted head you will want. Also the bigger bait the bigger the fish “rule” comes into play. Matching the lure weight to the weight options marked on the fishing rod you intend to use will be important. Another thing to look at is the skirt color. Choose the skirt color based on the natural forage, water clarity and brightness of day. There are there are three basic spinnerbait blade types and each is designed to attract the bass differently. The three main styles are the Colorado, the Oklahoma and the Willow. More detailed information below.

Skirt Colors:

A chartreuse and white skirt or a solid white is the most common choice. A solid black or a combonation of darker colors is a good choice for night fishing or very muddy waters. Brighter colors work best in stained water.

Sizes:

The 1/4 oz spinnerbait is used for super slow fishing or very shallow waters. This size will have smaller blades and will also attract other game fish besides bass so be prepared to get bites from other species.

The 3/8 oz spinnerbait is a great size for shallow water (under eight feet) and is a must have size in any tackle box. It’s size is more typical of the natural bait that bass eat.

The 1/2 oz spinnerbait fishes well from 6 to 12 feet deep. It is another must have size for most waters. Check your rod lure weights when using this or larger sizes. The 3/4 oz spinnerbait has extra bulk to attract bass in dirtier water and fishes well from 8 to 18 feet deep. The 1 oz spinnerbaits are mainly used to “cut” through heavy cover or fish deep water. Make sure your rod can handle this weight.

Blades:

Colorado. These are generally the large of the blades but come in all sizes. They are designed to create more vibration and “call” bass from further distances.

Willow. This is the narrow shaped blade that looks like a willow leaf. It has less vibration but more flash than the Colorado. This is often used in combination with a Colorado blade but is commonly used as both the top and bottom blades.

Oklahoma. This looks like the combination of both the Colorado and Willow blade. It is more like a widened willow blade- to add more vibration.