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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | As I get older and my back ages in dog years, I find myself going more and more to baits that I can cast and retrieve (basically) straight in. Trying to get away as much as I can in the hot summer months from jerking and twitching myself into a state of excrutiating pain, and I'm a new believer in the spinnerbait.
Though I've figured out a few tricks to throwing them, what are other people's advice, tips, tricks for scoring with spinnerbaits this time of year? |
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Slow rolling em parallel along the deep weedline is a consistent producer for me, on the opposite end of the spectrum is going into the slop and whirlybirding em in pockets and ripping em out. Nothing beats the slow roll of a big CJ'S!! |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Cast that sucker behind the boat, and put out just enough line so that it occasionally breaks the surface, then run 4-5 mph over the weedflats making crazy S turns. |
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| Spinnerbaits are really overlooked. They do well casting, slow rolling/jigging, or trolling.
Rad Dogs, Grinders, and Ducktails Weed Warriors are great in the slop or just basic casting. Funky Chickens are great to troll.
I am sure you have some of Keith's Violent Strikes which are also great to cast
Check out MuskieMachinery's new line of killer spinnerbaits (the Copter, the Huey, the Switchblade, and the Warthog) |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Try the ever so slow roll technique, but bring your bait up the outside of the weed edge. This calls for precise boat control and not the haphazard, with the wind drift that we as Muskie folks like to call a "controlled drift". The drift does work but not when being in the exact place for every cast is needed for continued success. Keep your boat just on top of the weedline, by this I mean in clear water you should be able to see weeds on one side of the boat but not on the other side of the boat. Quarter your casts out from the weedline. Let the bait fall on a semi tight line for a 5 count then slow roll to the boat. If you do not score or do not have any follows let the bait fall for an 8 count and so on. Let the fish tell you how deep they are. The real key here is bring your bait up the face of the weedline, as the bait turns to come up put a little more speed on it to try and trigger any fish that is following. Keep in mind that this method will result in many fish seen at boat side so your figure 8 technique needs to be very good. I have caught many, many fish doing this with a total of 3 having been caught on the retrieve and the rest being caught on the "8". Be ready and look behind the bait on every cast as the fish may be a long ways behind but still coming. 1 1/2 oz to 2oz bait seems to work best for me. Use your own favorite color pattern for the body of water that your are on. 7 1/2' to 8' rod length in minimum needed to play the fish at boatside and to reach the fish sometimes on the figure 8. This is a Very lazy way to fish but can be done with great success at times. Works very well when the guy controlling the boat is fishing a jig parallel to the weedline. |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | The past couple of seasons I have thrown a lot of spinnerbaits with good success. The grinding technique Muskyone mentions is a fantastic way to work them. I have had really good success post-frontal and on pressured lakes fishing the shallow slop with varying retrieves depending on the fishes moods. It's truly one of the most versatile baits out there, especially on rivers that I fish with all the rocks, timber and other junk in the water. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Like Mike said... count down then slow retrieve. Then count down deeper next cast. I love all white! Body, baldes and trailer grub. Awesome method for huge Pike too |
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Throw them or pitch them in any fallen trees along the shoreline. Then on you next pass- Check out the size of the trunk and/or check out the size of the living trees around the fallen tree to see how long the tree might extend out in the water. Most fishermen fish the first 10 feet of the tree from where it enters the water. I like to fish the trees from 20 feet to maybe 40/50 feet out on second pass. Spinnerbaits are weedless and treeless 99% of the time. The softwoods will give you a problem once in awhile(no trailer hook) because of their willowlike branches> I also like to change handles sometimes during the retreive(crankbaits also), this gives the bait a every fast pause or skirt flare. I also sometimes paint the inside of the blade with a orange,blue or even black to break up the shine in the water. Good luck. |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Keep in mind I'm not too schmart. Could somebody please explain slow rolling a spinnerbait? So far I've just cranked 'em in.
I like Andrew's new job because he's posting.
Kevin
The plan needs a dictionary of musky terms. |
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| Slow Roll - Spinnerbait presentation in which the lure is retrieved slowly through and over cover objects. |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | M-one, it sounds like you are casting deep and bringing the spinnerbait in shallow towrds the weeds corect?
Are your fish coming out of the deep water or coming straight out from the weeds (under the boat) ans smashing it right near the boat? |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Thanks Tom. Sometimes I need the simple things explained to me. LOL.
Training camp's around the corner. I haven't forgotten our agreement.
Kevin
The plan requires details. |
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Posts: 172
| Have any of you taken fish on the fall (countdown)? |
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| Great stuff guy's. Don't forget to take your linesmans pliers and OFFSET one hook to the right and the other to the left about 1/4". I also OPEN the gap on my hooks- that is where the big linesmans pliers come into play. I like to open the gap about 1/4" so the hooks bite into something. I also upgrade the size of the trailer hook. Sluggo hooks work good as well.
If a fish eats the bait and you do this your odds are way better  They are one of the very best hooking and holding baits I use. I love the spinnerbaits both single and tandem. |
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Posts: 34
Location: Iowa | I haven't had hits on the fall, but lifting it in the boat they seem to scare the hell out of me and bust on the water. Ghosts seem to work good for me when slow rolling. |
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| I have had one fish on the fall that I can recall, with a Black/Orange CJ's spinnerbait last June  |
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Posts: 350
Location: WESTERN WI | In shallow weeds flats I prefer to bulge and once in a while spatter water with the blade on the surface. I found this works great for triggering strikes as well as allowing fish to hone in on the bait better in the darker/stained water systems I fish. I have thrown one of Dick Pearson's Grinders for almost three weeks straight and it just keeps triggering fish. The down side to this is my hooks are turning into nubs from my pet peeve of having razor sharp hooks at all times. Also great for getting into areas no other baits could go without getting fouled or snagged.
Edited by Got Esox? 6/22/2006 12:25 PM
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | My favorite technique with Spinnerbaits is to exploit the speed trolling conept... only via casting.
Short-arm spinnerbaits seem to cater to this speed thing... as you can set them up to pump out a lot of vibe with minimal resistance. Less resistance = less fatigue when casting. High vibe = great search bait for active fish. Its definitely my passion at the moment
Toss in the ability keep your speed at a greater depth by just using a heavier head... and you can really have fun on those deeper structures. You can bomb a breakline or rake a reef in a matter of minutes with a deep/fast running spinnerbait... where it may take hours with a Dawg or Crank. WAAAAAY overlooked by most.... and in heavily pressure areas these deeper structures typically hold larger fish. |
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Posts: 2015
| If I could only fish one bait the rest of my life it would be a spinnerbait -most of you know this - but .....one key to success is to set the hook when something does not "feel" right. I have had many fish "push" the bait forward - the blade quits turning, you see the line jump/tick a little, you loose contact with the bait - set the hook!
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | a couple dudes really nailed it above. I can't beleive I didn't use spinnerbaits before 3 years ago. They have been my most consistant producer second to topwater the past few years. I love crankin' the heavy ones through weeds the best, not grinding per se, just bringing right through the snot and ripping it free upon contact. the key is to learn the rip while not gathering more junk. Most of the fish hit during or just after contact it seems. second favorite method has become night fishing with them on windier nights. I like the bigger profile baits with short to mid length arms for all things but reed and rush fishing, where longer arms are better. Grinders, Rad Dogs, and my personal favorite, the G.P. Thumper(biggest of the lot with oversized plastis tail).
This is one of the best threads in a long time. I have learned alot from it already, in reading other peoples' unique techniques. |
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Bassfishermen's defination>Slow Rolling a Spinnerbait- to reel in spinnerbait slow with bait dropping in depth but blades still turning. example- when you are fishing a steep shoreline, you try and keep the bait about a foot off the bottom. If the shoreline goes up a 45 degree angle-you assume the lake bottom follows the same angle. So You want your bait to drop at a 45 degree angle so you slow roll the spinnerbait. I think some fisherman slow roll a spinnerbait on the bottom or off the bottom with a nice slow retreive so bait stays deep. |
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Posts: 22
Location: Lou's Bay on the 'goon | I believe I had this happen tonight- throwing a black funky chicken.. line went goofy- line jumped a second and then back to normal thought it was a brush with the weeds, there will be smart hooksets from now on. Thanks
Next time you on the 'goon in Lou's bay, drop in for a beverage and bring a story. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Good post...
Here's another question. Do you prefer spinners with one blade or two and which one under which conditions.
For whatever reason, on my local water if I buy one that has a larger Colorado or Fluted blade and a smaller blade on the shaft I don't seem to see fish on it. Cut off the smaller blade and the bait starts to produce...????????? I have no explanation, I just know that over time this has been more the rule than the exception.
What's your preference? |
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Posts: 285
| As a chronic pain expert, I recommend advanced pain control techniques. spinnerbaits are easier than jerkbaits or twitch baits, but just sitting there in the boat will really help ease the achy and spasm-prone back muscles. Camel Wides Lights don't help but can ditract you while sitting there waiting for spasms to subside.
For even more aggressive pain control, lay on your side on the couch with a musky-related video for a combination of action and comfort.
If that doesn't work a good prescritpion painkiller (Ultram), chiropractic, physical therapy and stretching with resistance bands for shoulder/upper back work (I really like the Everlast double-resistance bands to help work the shoulder joint and mid back--TJ Maxx carries these from time to time, about $8), and Remicade (a biologic modifier made from protiens cloned from hamster ovaries--no kidding) every 8 weeks seems to help. Try 7 vials of 100ml with 500ml saline solution. If you shop around you can get this amount infused IV for about $4,700, and if you're lucky insurance will cover it.
Or you could try the smells-like-a-Journey-concert-in-your-boat technique, but that has its own risk/reward ratio.
I like spinnerbaits in wind-blown reeds, and Pearson's grinder method, where you let the bait fall and sit on the bottom, then reel in steady and slow. Burst out of any weed snags with a rip, and hold on! Another odd spot that seems to work with spinnerbaits is sandy shoreline, esp when there are small sandy spots along an otherwise weedy or scrubby shoreline.
Mauser is a spinnerbait expert, I watched him catch 3 pike and a musky in about 90 minutes off the shore on Sab Bay's Cedar Island, Sabaskong Bay Lodge. (I was using the sitting-there technique at the time, so I got the net for him.)
Perhaps he can add some actual advice next time he logs in.
Heading up to Sab Bay/Nestor Falls TODAY, will report back hopefully with pics when I am home next week.
Late,
papa joe
Maple Grove MN |
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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Since I brought the subject up, I might as well give my trick, well its really a Worrall rip off:
Cast the spinnerbait (I like the big willows, but I'm with Mark, one big colorado, forget the little thing spinner) into (allll the way into cover if possible/needed) cover, stop the bait in mid-air before it hits the water, start reeling ASAP, and keep that bait just OVER the weeds, but as slow as possible. The bait rides high, but isnt zipping along, allowing for even a neutral fish to just turn her (big) head and chomp down. I know grinding is really popular, but I'm aiming for the most clean (weed-free) casts I can get in.
(not showing off, I just really like the girl who netted this fish!).
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Hey Slamr... since you are giving away all of Worrall's tricks why don't you explain the "bent willowleaf" technique? That one is an essential part of "tuning" a spinnerbait for the desired speed&thump (or for the lazy guy... its a way to get the most vibe with least resistance/fatigue).... in my opinion.
Similar to Worrall's Willow trick.... I fold the front edge down on my Colorado blades. It lowers the running angle a little... yet the "fold" pushes more water similar to fluted indiana.... and the resistance is reduced for more speed or less fatigue. These tricks may or may not make a difference... but any time you can "fiddle" with a lure to add your own personal touch... your confidence increases and you fish "better" as a result..... right?
Edited by jlong 6/23/2006 9:12 AM
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Greg, that's the great part about fishing your spinnerbait in this fashion. You get a chance at the fish in both situations. In a deep breaking lake you may actually be casting at some suspended fish as well. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Since I fish a lot of flooded willows and cottonwoods in the spring, I have been paying more attention to throwing them where the bait has to go from sun to shade or vice-versa. I think it just gives me another 'edge' to fish.
S.
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Forget throwing them by the those willows. I would pitch spinnerbaits in and around the single trees and with a flick of the footpedal you can have that spinnerbait do almost a circle around the tree. You can also pitch crankbaits between the trees. Pitch-grab bait in hand and swing it underhand to your target- right before it enters water bring rodtip up about 3/4 inches for silent entry- you can also move rod sideways a few feet for a circle pitch(if you want to pitch bait behind a tree etc). Cranks need to be square bill-I use bagleys square bills-BB2/BB3-bass and BB4's-Muskie- these won't get hung up. That picture reminds me of Table Rock(MO.) in early 90's-everyone was flippin/Pitchin worms/tubes- so you had to come up with something different. |
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| They must have moved the mountains and snow since the 90's. More evidence of global warming. |
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Posts: 5171
| Post some pictures of these I would like to see them.Bill |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | good points Jason. I also like using heavier indiana blades for those reasons. Good thump, ;ess resistance, and deep running. they also wander less making them more weedless. Can someone better explain the willow bending? |
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Posts: 743
| sorenson's pictures, even no fish, are better than pics from the midwest w/ fish!!
Man..what a beatuiful place to live, boat and fish.
if there were more muskies out there... |
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Posts: 2361
| tomcat - 6/27/2006 1:56 PM
sorenson's pictures, even no fish, are better than pics from the midwest w/ fish!!
Man..what a beatuiful place to live, boat and fish.
if there were more muskies out there...
They sure beat the heck out of all those Webster pics we keep seeing. I am sick of that one lake house everybody catches a fish in front of. If I ever fish Webster I am going to know where to go, LOL. Love those willow tree/isolated weedbeds, ideal for lining up the fish. |
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Posts: 2361
| jlong - 6/23/2006 8:05 AM
Hey Slamr... since you are giving away all of Worrall's tricks why don't you explain the "bent willowleaf" technique? That one is an essential part of "tuning" a spinnerbait for the desired speed&thump (or for the lazy guy... its a way to get the most vibe with least resistance/fatigue ).... in my opinion.
Similar to Worrall's Willow trick.... I fold the front edge down on my Colorado blades. It lowers the running angle a little... yet the "fold" pushes more water similar to fluted indiana.... and the resistance is reduced for more speed or less fatigue. These tricks may or may not make a difference... but any time you can "fiddle" with a lure to add your own personal touch... your confidence increases and you fish "better" as a result..... right? ;- )
I looked at this and read this and looked and read again and still don't understand, Hulbert must be wrong, I don't know everything yet. How can any bait PUSH MORE WATER and the RESISTANCE BE REDUCED? Seems somewhat improbable.
Is PUSH the term you meant to use? Or is it more involved with turbulence? |
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Posts: 2024
| FSF,
I agree, seems counter intuitive. I'd be curious to have it explained more thoroughly, too.
Anyway, so last fall I bought a Violent Strike single mag. willow per suggestions on this board. When I got it the first thing I did was bend the blade a little in front of (toward the swivel) the blade's midpoint. Holy smokes does that thing push a wake! For all you bulgers or spinnerbait-over-the-weed freaks, you gotta try this. It will be clipped on my rod everyday on LOTW in a couple weeks.
Another technique some down here in IL use is to cast the spinnerbait up onto the bank and drag it to the water's edge. As the bait slides in RIIIIPPP it. If the lake you fish tends to hold fish super shallow or tight up against shore, this might be something to consider. I haven't monkeyed around with it too much myself, but did one evening last fall with the aforementioned spinnerbait and nearly had the rod ripped out of my hands. Also, I'm not sure if this has something to do with the forage base so common down here - shad - that tend to ball up near shore, in any case it would be worth a shot. The triggering mechanism is speed and water displacement. It's virtually the same concept as speeding the bait up or pumping it in as it nears the boat, only what I'm talking about is done at the beginning of the cast.
Again, I'm not sure about LESS resistance if it puts out MORE thump and displaces MORE water, but it sure is a breeze to throw on a 7'6 MH rod and big 7000 model reel (I think the reel is the key ingredient there). Anything else and you'll definately feel the difference.
Edited by esox50 6/27/2006 8:11 PM
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | FSF,
Yah..... I agree... seems counter-intuitive to push more water with less resistance. My theory is that the blade spins slower (less revolutions) and in a "broken up" manner that gives you that "throb" feeling through the rod tip. Thus, you have fewer "pushes" of water as teh blade turns... but of greater volume (if that makes sense). The end result is a lure that can scream through the water.... and produce plenty of THUMP.... without the constant drag of a smooth, fast-spinning blade.
For example.... some of the #7 Willows I use flare out nicely (higher angle from the shaft) but the pull like a dead elephant carcass (lots of resistance). The rod tip has a high frequency but subtle throb to it. Bending the blade decreases the frequency of that throb... but the pulsation is much stronger or more intense.... and the resistance is less.... allowing for more speed. I really like doing this on larger #8 Willows when I want to reach super speeds while casting. Not sure if that makes sense... as it is difficult to write clearly.... but that is what I meant earlier when I said "push more water with less resistance". Maybe I should have said "increased thump with less resistance"?
jlong |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I don't know much about messing with spinner bait blades except every time I do it, the lures don't work so well. I have tried changing blades and stuff like that on a few of my CJs, but the lures never seem as affective after that. Sometimes it can be hard to improve a bait and all one does is mess it up.
I suppose it depends on the bait and the lake one is fishing as to how much room there is for improvement. What will work for one spinner bait won't work for another and the same goes for lakes. Fish in one lake will like something and the same thing won't work at all on another lake a few miles away.
Muskies are confusing things. They are kind of like trying to figure out the opposite sex. As soon as one thinks they understand something, they change. |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Herb b..... that's why Worrall's Willow trick and my Colorado Cupping concept are so nice. The ability to "tune" a spinnerbait to produce whatever speed, thump, etc. that the fish want THAT day on THAT lake is priceless. If you mess up the blade.... just pop a new one on and your back in business.
Most musky fisherman like to tinker... and add their own special "twist" to their presentation... which is why this "trick" is so wonderful... in my opinion. It may be nothing more than providing the angler with some false confidence.... but if they have confidence in that lure they will fish that lure better. The way I see it... you can't go wrong by bending a spinnerbait blade. |
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