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Posts: 222
Location: Hartland, WI | Why and when do you choose to use one over another? What situations do you throw one over the other...other than the fatigue factor. For me personally i have a problem with throwing spinner baits just because i think the hook up percentage goes down when using one. The treble hooks on bucktails like cowgirls just seems to be far superior than that of a spinner bait. Am I wrong here?
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I use a spinnerbait quite a bit, even over open water. I like what I can do with the bait, including helicoptering it down when a fish follows but moves off after the 8. Works sometimes! I don't think I've lost more fish on a spinnerbait than on a bucktall, but I keep my hooks very sharp and hit the fish twice, HARD.
Too large a trailer can cause problems, if the hook isn't a razor. | |
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Posts: 7119
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Peronally, I've become addicted to spinnerbaiting as I find myself going shallower and shallower. For me the spinnerbait excels for over and through the heavy cover situations where the bucktail would be a bit more work. The bucktail I tend to use more when I'm placing my bait just on the edge of structure and retrieving from there. Spinnerbaits seem to be a dissecting tool for complicated shallow cover, and bucktails for the run-gun or fan casting approach. At least for me.
As far as hooking goes, for me what I've noticed is that fish have more of a tendency to "bump" spinnerbaits and I miss those fish, but when they really attack/eat the spinnerbaits, they're on without a chance of getting off. I've missed a few really nice fish over the years on bucktails that did the attack/eat. Or that might be because I rarely set the hook, personal problem there. | |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | The spinner bait is more versatile as Steve has pointed out. You can work it deeper. I personally have had problems loosing fish on spinner baits, but I am sure that there are guys out there that will tell you how great there hooking percentage is with the spinner bait. Mine sucks, I have always preferred bucktails when I can use them. I will use the spinner bait in slop and while fishing deeper but in any application where I can use the bucktail, I do.
After what I experienced with the double 10's this fall, I know what I will be throwing whenever possible next year. The fish react to those things unlike any bait that I have ever used. Dinner Bell domination in '07. | |
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| Like others have said, it depends on the cover/structure and how deep I'm fishing...of course things like reeds, thru cabbage, large rock reefs that are shallow and easily snaggable I go to a spinnerbait. In Madison spinnerbaits have long been producers on days where they won't look at a bucktail. not sure if it's the profile being more similiar to a gil/crappie or what but they work pretty good in Madison. I just let the fish try to tell me what they want...there were days they would not even LOOK at the big double 10's on some of the lakes I fished this year but would look at and eat a smaller profiled spinnerbait moved just over the weeds...they both work...but where I choose a spinnerbait and a bucktail depends more on the structure, then the fishes mood. I do like Jlongs heavier spinnerbaits for getting a bit deeper and being able to move faster... You'll want to pop into Hulberts booth at the shows this winter...he will have something you will have to have for 07. | |
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Posts: 3514
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I am getting more into using spinnerbaits as time goes on. The lakes I am on do not have much for slop, but we do have reeds, which a spinner bait goes right through.
On all of my spinnerbaits, though, I remove the trailer hook. Maybe I throw them a bit too hard, but the trailer always is cockeyed when it comes in, which catches everything in it's path... I just remove it.
When the fish hit the bait, they seem to really clobber the things. I have had some come up and bump the bait, but if they strike, for me it's been a pretty hard hit.
I have not caught many fish on them, but I don't recall losing one on a spinnerbait either. My time is coming though... It happens with every bait.
Steve | |
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Posts: 222
Location: Hartland, WI | I can see where a spinner bait would excel over deeper water but that is before modifications are done to a bucktail. You can easily construct bucktails that will run as deep as spinnerbaits by adding weights and switching out the blades in favor of willow style.
I have caught fish over deep water on spinner baits...but early this fall my friend did well on modified bucktails over deep water. Also with the 7000 series reels available today cranking bucktails seems to be just as easy as buring spinner baits.
As a guy who usually thows rubber and cranks, i am not as well versed with blade baits. What is this helicoptering (sp) Worrall is talking about? Is it something that is done boatside? I have heard people doing this in weed cover, allowing the batis to drop in pockets...but it seems to me that the line angle would bring the bait right back into the weeds especially if it is further out in the cast.
JJ
Edited by muskie_man1 12/21/2006 9:46 AM
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Posts: 3514
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | In weeds, helicoptering is letting the bait sink into pockets, which is where the spinnerbait shines. When you let the line go slack, the blade on a spinnerbait will still turn due to the design and line attatchment.
You basically get the bait over a pocket, then let it drop in the pocket. Slowly, reeling and maybe a slight sweep of the rod to get it back up and through...it will not snag if it is a single hook model. Get too quick and snap that rod, and the bait will turn sideways, catching the weeds. This is where an inline falls short. Most are made with treble hooks, and if you let the bait fall, the blade stops turning. Then, trying to pull it back up and through is harder because the weeds have more of a tendency to wrap around the shaft of the bucktail.
Steve | |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | No doubt, bucktails are awesome. Proven. Consistent. Efficient. Gotta love 'em.
However, I'm a little non-traditional when it comes to spinnerbaits (and its why I now make my own). Traditional long-arm spinnerbaits just can't achieve the speed that a bucktail can (they will torque up and pull like an SOB or roll over).... and in my opinion, speed is the greatest asset of "blade baits". I'll favor bucktails when fishing in calm conditions, a light chop, or when bulging or burning OVER weeds.
I'll favor a spinnerbait (short-arm) when fishing in a stronger wind (larger waves), when fishing deeper and/or cleaner structures, or when I want a larger profile (either visual profile or lateral line "signature"). LongTale Spinnerbaits excel for helicoptering (bait stays horizontal) or when there is a need for speed (little resistance = effortless to burn).
Sure.... I'll use a spinnerbait to slow roll the depths or "grind" through the weeds.... but for the most part those are unique situations and not the primary function of my spinnerbaits. But, with the greater versatility of a LongTale, I find myself giving more playing time to the spinnerbait than my time-tested bucktails. | |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I like bucktails if I am trying to go over the weeds or if speed is needed. If I am going through the weeds, need to crawl the bait or need to get the bait deep I prefer the spinnerbait. | |
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| I make my own bucktails, and have been using them for years with great success.
Since I started using spinnerbaits, my bucktails never see the water.
The plusses outweigh the negatives when it comes to spinnerbaits.
More weedless is number one. Not as many wasted casts with a piece of weed hanging off of the lure.
You can bring spinnerbaits through stuff that you'd never have a chance to use a bucktail in.
As others mentioned, fluttering or helicoptering a large single spin in weed pockets or right after you buldge it over a weed bed is deadly.
I made some 2 ouncers that have a single Indiana or Willowleaf blade on them that I can run 10 feet down and slow roll them through or right above open water baitfish schools. You can also pump and flutter them in the same situation.
Spinnerbaits have taken over for the bucktails in my box. I should probably sell the 100+ that I have hanging in buckets right now, because they haven't been wet in 2 years. I think the bucktail has seen its day.
Beav | |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | My wife and I had a wild time on a certain lake in western Ontario near Lac Suel where we boated 104 Muskies in 9.5 days on the water in Mid to late August. Waters were a little stained from a bloom. Fish were all packed up tight to shore and Bucktails and spinnerbaits caught 70 of those fish. My wife did better on the Spinner baits and I did better on all black Bucktails. I broke this down to show the importance of being vesatile. Michelle caught 49 fish of those 49 she caught 25 of them using a 1 oz. Bionic Bucktail spinnerbait that was all black with nickel blades. She used a black permanent marker to color the blades all black.It was a great trick by a great woman fisher. Next best for her was the Talonz Spinline all black with black trailor grub. 9 fish on that one. 3 fish each on the Vibrax black and gold and Shumway flasher black and gold. 3 fish on the Crane 205, 2 fish on a squirrly burt, Talonz little claw,Slasher,cisco kid and grandma lure each added one fish. Her take on this was that the spinnerbait was eaiser to retrieve than the inline Bucktails. I took 55 fish on that trip as follows, 21 fish on an all Black Talonz inline bucktail with black trailor grubs. 15 fish on Talonz Little Claws,8 fish on the double bladed Shumway Flashers, 4 fish with top water,3 fish on the Crane 205, 3 fish on the Talonz Slashers and 1 fish on wy wifes spinnerbait(I was testing it)  . We wanted to troll more but with most of the fish tight to the shorelines we were forced to toss baits shallow for the entire trip. In places where we had rock shorlines with deeper water I was more effective with the Crank version Talonz Little Claws. But hey 70 fish on Bucks and spinnerbaits. My elbow still bothers me. We did a lot of bulging the surface with both types of spinner and both were very effective on this lake. But dont forget to be versatile and mix in shallow cranks like the Little Claw and Crane baits,Top water and even spoons when faced with shallow weedy conditions. Kingfisher
Edited by Kingfisher 12/21/2006 2:15 PM
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Posts: 785
| I'm with the Beaver, I make my own bucktails and spinnerbaits, and while I make equal quantities of both I mostly use spinnerbaits. I like them becouse you can just fish with them and when the cover changes on you it doesn't matter, all you do is change the retrieve and the spinnerbait does the rest. I like them in early season and in dark water, but lately have been using willow blades and a lot of weight to make models that can be burned as fast as any bucktail in the summer. They are a Big profile baits that can be fished effectively at any speed. As far as hooking I did have a 4 lossed fish in a row streak last year with them, but didn't lose another fish the rest of hte season on spinnerbaits. I also think fish have less a tendancy to nip at spinner B's as they do with bucktails. Odly enough I much prefer a bucktail after dark and I really can't give a good reason as to why. I fish both a lot and all in all still us bucktails for most burning, but when weeds are hugging the surface you can have a lot of wasted cast with bucktails. No one mentioned grinding yet which is something I do all the time lately, Grinders are good but I don't think you can best a Rad Dog in the cabbage. | |
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| Bucktails and spinnerbaits are both very effective lures, and you should also include buzz baits in the mix.
For fast presentations on or near the surface, buzz baits and bucktails are my preference. I like Boogerman and Grim Reaper Buzz Baits. Shumway Flashers, Mepps Musky Marabous, Llungen Tails, and Showgirls are my favorite bucktails. Cowgirls and Sillygirls offer an even bigger profile and deeper presentation. For the most part you are using bucktails above or around weeds. I also weight down and troll 15 inch Dutch Lures bucktails for an even bigger profile and deeper presentation
Spinnerbaits are much more applicable to use in any situation. Rad Dogs, Weed Warriors, and Grinders in and around weeds are great. For a bigger profile I like Longtales and Muskie Machinery spinnerbaits. Slow rolling and grinding enable spinnerbaits to cover much more of the water column at a variety of speeds. Spinnerbaits are also very effective to troll. | |
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| I've always favored spinnerbaits over bucktails. Maybe that's because I fished for bass a lot before I started to fish for muskies. The biggest plus is being able to pull it through weeds and everything else without hanging up. I also like to use them without a trailer hook. One thing I've wondered is whether more people use the spinnerbaits with the trailer hook, or without, especially when in thicker weeds? | |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Whoo-boy, here I am swimming upstream again. I like bucktails! Big ones, little sparkley ones, Mepps ones, Shady Tails, they're all good. I had a problem early in my muskie fishing with spinner baits, here fish were just nosing them around and not hooking up. Those bucktail treble hooks solved that problem. Buckies rule!
And, Violent Strike buzz baits come in a real close second, got my very first topwater muskie on that puppy. m | |
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bucktails vs. spinner baits